PERFUME AND PAIN

Natalie Naudus narrates this novel about lesbian artists in the L.A. art scene. Moderately successful writer Astrid Dahl has a few more mistakes to make before letting go of her toxic girlfriends and her Patricia Highsmith diet, which consists of Adderall, alcohol, and cigarettes. Ivy, a grad student who is researching 1950s lesbian pulp fiction, is the perfect sexy distraction. Naudus creates strong voices for the various power femmes and evil gays in this story, with just a splash of valley girl. Her attention to Ivy's character development is particularly evident as she starts off sounding playful and becomes more manic as Ivy is revealed to be unhinged. S.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2024]