I devoured this book! Astrid had me laughing out loud throughout and despite how frustrating she is, I loved her. There is something so special to me about a character that’s unlikeable but also terribly lovable and you can’t help but root for them. The most liked review for Perfume & Pain on Goodreads simply says, “a book that dares to ask, ‘what if bojack horseman was a human lesbian?’” and honestly that entirely sold me on checking it out LMAO

Astrid is a slightly insufferable lesbian writer who spends most of this book on her “magic cocktail” she calls the Patricia Highsmith: alcohol, sativa, Adderall, cigarettes. Her frequent blackouts and string of bad decisions that made me cringe as if I would be reaping the consequences alongside her really fueled my inability to stop reading. I had to know what happened next! Astrid’s friends and lovers were all interesting and intense characters that I couldn’t help but love alongside her. 

I would say this book definitely isn’t for everyone, it’s messy and weird and full of problematic characters and scenarios, it drips with satire, and takes you with it on a manic bender. It was unputdownable for me and for some reason trying to reflect on it now to write this review makes me feel like I was on the Patricia Highsmith while reading it. Lol. Worth a read if you’re looking for something fast, fun, and full of lesbian dramaaaa ~