"Pulp" by Robin Talley | Book Review

In 1955, eighteen-year-old Janet Jones keeps the love she shares with her best friend Marie a secret. It's not easy being gay in Washington, D.C., in the age of McCarthyism, but when she discovers a series of books about women falling in love with other women, it awakens something in Janet. As she juggles a romance she must keep hidden and a newfound ambition to write and publish her own story, she risks exposing herself - and Marie - to a danger all too real.

Sixty-two years later, Abby Zimet can't stop thinking about her senior project and its subject - classic 1950s lesbian pulp fiction. Between the pages of her favorite book, the stresses of Abby's own life are lost to the fictional hopes, desires, and tragedies of the characters she's reading about. She feels especially connected to one author, a woman who wrote under the pseudonym "Marian Love" and becomes determined to track her down and discover her true identity. 

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I've read a couple of Robin Talley's books and this one is hands down my favorite. It was so amazing! The characters were likable and interesting, the pacing of the story was excellent and I feel like I learned so much. Despite being queer myself, I feel like I don't know enough about queer history and this book was a really eye opening experience for me on that front.

I've always known things aren't as good for queer people as they are right now (and we still have a long way to go!), but reading about someone's life during a more repressive time really makes things more real. Especially when it's contrasted with modern life where it seems like most people are accepting and so many people are gay, queer, etc.

Okay, enough of my queer history geek fest! Back to the story.

The characters were fantastic! They really act like teenagers and think like teenagers. Abby really reminded me of myself a few years ago when I was eighteen and I loved seeing how she started to grow up in the story. The character development was really strong for both Abby and Janet. I also really liked Janet and how much she grew through the story.

But what I loved most of all was the messages about love towards the end of the story. (This is where the spoilers come in!) The fact that Abby comes around to the fact that someone doesn't need to find a fairy tale romance to live a full and satisfying life just made this book for me. I almost cried. Honestly. It's such a good lesson and I'm so glad that YA books are finally getting around to teaching that being in love isn't the end all, be all.

If you like queer books, history, and fabulous character development then this book is for you. Just be warned, you'll probably want to start learning a lot more about LGBT history in the US

Rating: 5 stars!