Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

An incredibly original book that doesn't entirely work for me.

I love the premise of a queer person who can change their body/gender and the struggles that they have because of this. The commentary on gender and desire was really interesting even if I might not have agreed with all of it. I wasn't fully sold on the relationships within this book, but I did believe that Paul was which made some of the break-ups a bit hard to take. The use of binary identities and how they influence people's decisions and wants sometimes had me rolling my eyes, but only because luckily society has somewhat moved on since the 1990s setting of this book.

There's no one way to be queer or trans and I appreciate this book for offering a very specific viewpoint on this. I'd recommend to anyone who likes 'historical' fiction (cos the 90s wasn't that long ago) and fantasy/magic realism.

Odd, intriguing and challenging - at times I didn’t know what I was reading but I knew it was enjoyable and something special!

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

Not only was this one of my top two books of 2019, but it's also one of my all-time favourite fiction titles. Yup, I loved it that much. I suppose because it combines alternative 90s nostalgia with a truly genderqueer character, I was always going to eat it up. A truly imaginative take on queerness, with a character who traverses the binary to enjoy same-sex encounters. It's sensationally sexy and ticks all my queer cultural high-points from the late 20th century. From cruising the Castro to Riot Grrrl music, I wanted to jump into the story and live it all myself. I cannot recommend this book enough.

This was a fascinating read that was very 90s and New York. The character were well rounded for the most part but there were a few places that the story and plot did not work for me. This is definetley one I would revisit in a few years as it is a layered read.

So original and such a wonderful story of self-discovery. This is a book I want to come back to time and time again.

Andrea Lawlor has produced something seriously good here, I'd love to read more by this author.

I loved the use of language, meandering story and characters in 'Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl'. It's plot is hugely entertaining and interesting, but the book also offers so much more.

This novel is speculative, shape-shifting fiction, yet the author has crafted a beautifully fleshed out sense of particular place and time which stands in and of it's self as a highly intelligent, detailed study.

Here we are treated to a marvellous scope of LGBTQ+ culture and 90s pop culture in various parts of the US, (including San Francisco and New York); with gender, sexuality, identity, purpose and direction all explored with young adults growing, changing and coming into their own within a community ravaged by AIDS.

Some parts are funny, some thought provoking, some touching and emotional. It's a wild ride, including a myriad colourful characters and relationships, with a vast array of varied and detailed sexual encounters, as Paul/Polly samples many groups of friends, varied 'scenes' and an array of selves. I honestly loved every minute of it - and all the 90s references had the added bonus of giving me a rush of nostalgia and a push to unearth some old books to reread!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Prepare yourself for one of the most unique takes on gender roles and sexual politics to date. While the book is set in the '90's, and doesn't benefit from the great strides forward in the last 30 years for the trans community in the sense of visibility, it does benefit from taking from the past, whether that's Dennis Cooper, Eileen Myles or Virginia Woolf. What's amazing about this novel is how captivating and readable the premise is. The detail of alt culture is spot on, there are 2 oblique references to "Drugstore Cowboy' ,the film by Gus van Sant, that thrilled me in a way I wasn't expecting. It manages to be strident and ethereal in turn and has some of the hottest sex scenes I've ever read! One to re-read and recommend.

Preorder it, buy it, borrow it, reserve it at the library - this is going to be a huge, cult read and you don't want to miss out. 5 firm stars from me!

Loved this fantastic and unusual novel. A riotous adventure through 90s queer subculture alongside shape-shifting protagonist Paul/Polly and his/her many lovers and friends. Lawlor is a really exciting new voice in fiction and I will be recommending this book far and wide.

Loved it ,loved it, loved it.
It is a refreshing read that deals with a wide range of topics and emotions. The author Andrea Lawlor has manage to pack so much into this book without losing the integrity of the story/plot.
LGBT culture, pop culture, music, own identity.
There are additional stories within the book- which slides into the book so beautifully.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for my eARC of this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review

Paul takes the form of a mortal girl is a sharp and fun novel about 90s identity politics and LGBT culture. Paul Polydoris is a bartender at a gay bar in an Iowa university town, but he has a secret: he can shapeshift. As the narrative moves from Iowa to Michigan to Provincetown to San Francisco, Paul finds music, excitement, struggle, and intimacy, but what is key to keep that freedom to transform.

The novel digs deep into Paul's emotions and connections with other people, but also stays witty and observational. It doesn't so much have a narrative as it is a picaresque that follows Paul's existence and journeying, bartender to bookseller, body transforming and style changing. Short inset stories feel like myths and the book has a slightly mythic feel, but ultimately the shapeshifting feels very real, just a fact of life. Lawlor fills the novel with music and pop culture, so that it almost feels like it has a soundtrack as you read it. There's a lot that different people could take and interpret from it personally, about histories, identities, love, narrative, and a whole lot more.

Paul takes the form of a mortal girl has a carefully created and specific time setting and really creates a sense of place wherever Paul is. It also is a kind of timeless novel, which embraces transformation in a way that is exciting and riotous.