This is an incredible LGBTQ cozy fantasy story involving the afterlife, reincarnation, friendship, found family & soulmates.
We also have trans rep, nonbinary rep, & drag rep in this book & i believe all of the topics were written about beautifully! Pearly will truly stick with me forever, her big heart throughout her struggles absolutely shines and I will never forget her! If you’ve already made your Pride Month TBR this book would be the PERFECT FALL READ. it is very much the feelings of cozy fall, Halloween, pumpkin spice & yummy pastries wrapped up in a book. I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC from NetGalley for Pearly Gates & I am so glad that the cover caught my eye because this book will definitely be my new favorite fall reread for the rest of time!! Thanks again NetGalley for the arc!

this book struck me down. struck me down good. the name. the cover. it all sweeps in to make me feel so overwhelmed with love for this book and the characters within it. and what a character we are met with as our lead.
i have honestly never read anything quite like it. i dont know how to describe it. its like coming to a whole new world, a whole new genre no one saw coming. but a world and book and author we all most definitely need.
Pearly gates is your best ever heavenly drag queen. her soul mate has left her though. and she needs to win him back.
and what comes next is both too big for our living world but all so relatable to our living world. is tough and tender. its soft and sublime. its kind and its emotional. and these are all the things you can read into our Pearl herself. and yes, im now calling her "our" Pearl. for that is what she is. forever more taken under our wings and kept there. i love this Queen!
the humour and clever writing is again beyond what i saw coming and so needed. its placed throughout the book so you are indeed either randomly smiling or actually laughing out loud.
the characters Pearl meets along her way are also worthy of note.
please read this book. and send it into schools and book clubs all over so more people can get comfort and goodness from it.

This may be a debut novel, but you can tell that the author is not new to writing professionally. What a fun, emotional, and unique experience. The blurb hooked me immediately - a deceased drag queen has the worst job in the afterlife: a cosmic sanitation worker. And then her soulmate leaves her! I had to know what happened next. Loved the found family aspect; and I definitely cried.

I had the privilege of reading this early thanks to NetGalley and I’m so grateful I got to experience this story. From the first few pages it felt heartwarming and even relatable, despite the book’s magical and other worldly aspects. This was such a unique story to explain the topic of reincarnation, past lives, and soul searching with a modern twist.

Everything from the setting, to the characters, I was able to picture so vividly in my head. My main take away from this story was its message when it comes to soul searching. I think Pearly Gates does an exceptional job at depicting these fantastical and whimsical aspects of world building while still being relatable. Relatable in a sense that we all reflect on our own lives, our own accomplishments, wants, what-ifs, and maybe even regrets. We’re all put on a level playing field when we’re challenged with our own mortality and the subsequent thoughts that come afterwards.

There were some moments where I thought the story dragged just a smidge, but not anything that would deter me from rereading or recommending this book to others. If anything, I want more Pearly!! I would love to read more of Pearly’s experiences and escapades with other souls as a spirit guide, or even her own experiences of past lives and her own reincarnation. This book is for those who love a cozy fantasy and a found family trope!

With its use of whimsical prose and humor, Pearly Gates examines characters from different walks of life and tells the story of their time with a spirit guide (who happens to be a fabulous drag queen with an over the top personality and also feels like she’s at a standstill). It lets us know that really none of us have our lives together, even intergalactic celestial beings, and that’s perfectly okay.

I loved this book quite a lot, the characters were incredibly dynamic and the world was so colorful that I wanted to live in it! I wanted to physically meet every single character.

The story is very well-written and has enough facets to not be boring. The Pearly/Thunder dynamic was unique but somehow, so familiar in reflection to my actual love life. The found family aspect is more than you could hope for.

The only part I found distasteful was about 25% in, there was a Harry Potter reference. For a book and author that seem so inclusive, it really rubbed me the wrong way to include anything regarding that series. Without that reference, this would have been a 5 star book for me.

Thank you Bonsol Press and Netgalley for this ARC.

I absolutely adored this book – the world building, the pacing, the character development was phenomenal.

“Pearly Gates” is the debut novel from Bonnie Solomon about a deceased drag queen named Pearly Gates, who hates her job in the afterlife as a cosmic sanitation worker. In a bit of an after-life crisis after her soulmate leaves her, she makes a deal with a burnt-out spirit guide to take over his caseload in an effort to prove herself worthy of a new job.

In Pearly’s journey, we meet her charges, Hannah, Danielle, and Sam, and also Charlie, who Pearly quickly realizes is her reincarnated soulmate. Pearly navigates her new role as a spirit guide of three souls with different problems while fighting her internal battle of watching her former soulmate fall for one of her charges.

This book was warm and heartfelt and made me laugh and cry. “Pearly Gates” is the perfect cozy fantasy with queer characters, found family, and unique world. I look forward to what comes next from Bonnie Solomon. Thank you NetGalley and Bonsol Press, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

☁️👻 PEARLY GATES by Bonnie Solomon 👻☁️

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pearly Gates, a d e a d drag queen is a cosmic sanitation worker in the afterlife, and hasn’t been able to move up. Her soulmate thinks she’s incapable of growth and leaves her, and she’s determined to prove him wrong and win him back. She convinces a burnt out spirit guide to hand her his caseload, and this mission takes her to Thunderbolt Books & Coffee, a coffee shop in the Midwest. She starts guiding a young widow, a terminally ill young adult, and a struggling trans woman, and works her magic… and realizes that the cafe’s owner is her soulmate reincarnated. When one of the people she’s guiding falls for the owner, she has to decide what matters most to her.

This book was pure queer joy and was so so fun. Even though some heavy topics were talked about, the world of this book felt so lighthearted, and it was such a joy to read. I do feel like at times a lot was going on, and I wish there was more information about the afterlife and how things worked with the fantasy aspect of this book, but I had a great time reading it. The characters were loveable, the story felt warm and familiar, and everyone had a satisfying journey.

Read this if you like:
- Pixar’s Soul
- Drag Race
- queer joy

Vibes: 👻👑💋🪩👠🍾☁️

Song that matches the vibe: Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan

Full review including content warnings on my StoryGraph.

Pearly Gates is out TODAY - May 19, 2025! Thank you NetGalley, Bonnie Solomon, and Bonsol Press for the eARC. This eARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

I had to dry out before I could write this review. Bonnie, what a debut! First of all, yes capital B in Black woman! Love that for us. Pearly Gates is goofy, silly, sincere, irreverent, and just all around fun! I wish I hadn’t put this book off as long as I did, but I know I’ll reread it.

I took away so many quotes from it and I’m even examining my own life with a completely different lens. The concept of past lives has always fascinated me, but this book took it to an entirely new level.

You ever read a book and wish you could read it again for the first time? That’s Pearly Gates for me. I want to laugh and commiserate and sob the way I did for two days, all over again.

Since I can’t re-live this initial read, let me just say I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews along with NetGalley and this is my honest review. 5 stars and a death drop that I most certainly cannot do in this life, but maybe the next. So much for being a cat in another life lol.

This book is for everyone who wishes their fairy godmother was a drag queen. In a former life, Pearly Gates was a drag preformer. Now, working for the spirit sanitation department, she's still got sass, class, and a whole lot of ass. Unfortunately, the higher-ups don't see Pearly as the star that she is, so she "bends" the rules and takes a job as a spirit guide. The rules keep on bending as Pearly tries to help her human charges, save a coffee shop run by her reincarnated ex-soulmate, and maybe find herself along the way. Get ready for a great show because Pearly Gates is going to death drop into your heart!

Pearly Gates was such a fun and charming read! It’s got that cozy fantasy vibe, with a bunch of quirky characters stumbling through a chaotic life AND afterlife. Found family, soulmates, and lots of heart (plus some personal growth along the way).
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

When Im telling you this put me into my feels I wasn't lying!!! A heart warming and cozy book with several themes of queer identity, found families and overall personal growth not only for our main character but also her "children".

First of all... what hooked me from the beginning was obviously this was written in the POV of a drag queen! EPIC and loved every single second of it! What a fun book as we follow Pearly and her journey as she aids in 3 different lives almost as a spirit guide. I truly was rooting for everyone's success and although there was several tear jerkers moments throughout the book I couldn't put it down.

Pearly... you warmed my heart and I love you! Such a cute and cozy book to pick up.

funny, well written, feel good story with some very fun characters and amazing world building. i think it's a fantastic novel. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

“Pearly Gates” is a novel that centers themes of queer identity, found family, and the process of personal growth. A cozy fantasy vibe and unique cast with heart, humor, moral dilemmas, and hijinks.

Pearly Gates, who was a drag queen in a previous life, is working a waste management job in the cosmic afterlife when her soulmate tells her that she isn’t capable of growth, and leaves her. She makes an illegal and impulsive deal to take on the charges of a burnt-out spirit guide in an attempt to get a promotion and win back her soulmate. The charges? Three humans- a young grieving widow, a terminally ill graduate, and a struggling trans woman. When her deal leads her to Thunderbolt Books & Coffee she discovers that the owner is her reincarnated soulmate, and one of her charges starts falling for them. What will Pearly choose: her job, her soulmate, or her own soul?

This book had me hooked right away, from the cover to the synopsis. Very engaging and vibrant tone while still being cozy. I did have to take a few days after that first chapter, second hand embarrassment kills me every time. There were a few references that pulled me out of the book but they didn’t overall ruin the reading experience (one of them nearly did but I got over it). It did end up being a little predictable but it was still an enjoyable read.

For a debut novel, the author has set a high bar for future works.

So this was a ton of fun! Drag queens, soulmates, sentient cars, laughter and a few tears. This had a bit of everything! Pearly Gates is like Soul (2020) starring Trixie Matel. A soul in the afterlife, Pearly finds herself at rock bottom and attempts to prove herself by trying her hand as a spirit guide for three people in need.

Pearly was a really fun character, while still being grounded and relatable. We follow her journey in helping others reach their full potential, but her own character growth was very much earned and really well done. Her charges, Sam, Hannah, and Danielle were also very relatable and their growth wonderful to see.

This is very much a COZY fantasy, one where the reader is honestly rooting for everyone to succeed (except Mr. Mustard). Usually I have a hard time with cozy books - sometimes authors take cozy to mean uneventful in plot and/or emotional stakes. But Pearly Gates keeps the reader engaged from the first page and never lets up. The “cozy” comes from the warm and empathetic tone of the book. It’s also really fun and vibrant. There is a very cartoon vibe going on - but in a good way. It just reads as a colorful world.

So, yeah, I’d recommend this one!

Wow, this was such a blast! I was hooked by the cover right away, and the summary sealed the deal. We’re talking souls, soulmates, and new lives—heart eyes all around!
Pearly is such a fun character! Sure, she’s got some things to work on and she may need a helping hand.
When she finally realizes that her life is a total mess (and I’m not just talking about her job), she’s ready to make some changes.
After making a hasty unthoughtful deal, she takes on some charges to guide—and honestly, they might just help her find her way too. She sets up shop in a cozy, struggling queer coffee shop, and guess what? The owner is her reincarnated ex-soulmate who’s totally over her.
Pearly has some major lessons ahead, not just for herself but for those she’s helping too.
And of course, there’s one more show to catch!

I didn’t like it I just could not get into the whole thing after souls and after life I guess my imagination don’t run that far

💫 NetGalley ARC Review 💫This book is a gem! The blend of humor, heart, and a touch of the supernatural makes for an engaging read. Pearly Gates is such a relatable character, navigating her way through love and self-discovery even after her death. The cozy setting of Thunderbolt Books & Coffee adds a charming backdrop to the story, and the unique cast of characters—especially the grieving widow and the trans woman—brings depth and warmth to the narrative.

The plot twists are deliciously unexpected, especially when Pearly discovers that the café owner is her soulmate reincarnated. The internal conflict she faces between being a good guide and potentially sabotaging a budding romance adds layers of complexity. Plus, the humor woven throughout, including the lip-sync battle with her body double, keeps the tone light and entertaining.

Overall, this book is a delightful celebration of found family and love in all its forms. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartfelt and whimsical read! 4 stars all the way!

I’ll be honest… this is a book I probably wouldn’t have picked up on my own, but a friend hasn’t stopped recommending it to me and I thought why not. I’m so pleasantly surprised by how moved I am by this novel, which might sound weird but I promise if you’ve read this it makes perfect sense.

I loved the themes of found family, identity, love, and finding meaning in life. This book explores these themes in a way that feels relatable and real—it had me reflecting on my own experiences and relating myself to the characters and what they were going through. And the characters were so unique and comforting, Pearly herself was such a gem of a character that I need a sequel on my desk like tomorrow.

I laughed, I cried, I had the time of my life. Y’all need to add this to your TBRs, it’s game-changing.

Book Review: Pearly Gates by Bonnie Solomon
Bonnie Solomon’s Pearly Gates is a vibrant, imaginative entry in the cozy fantasy genre, blending humour, heart, and a dash of celestial mischief. The story centres on Pearly Gates, a deceased drag queen turned cosmic sanitation worker, who is desperate to win back her soulmate after being told she’s incapable of growth. Pearly’s plan? Take over a spirit guide’s caseload and prove she’s worthy of love and redemption1.
Plot and Setting:
Pearly’s mission brings her to Thunderbolt Books & Coffee, a charming Midwestern bookshop café haunted by a 1920s burlesque dancer. Here, she’s tasked with guiding three struggling souls: a grieving widow, a terminally ill college graduate, and a trans woman searching for purpose. The twist? The café owner is her soulmate, reincarnated, and one of Pearly’s charges starts to fall for him, forcing Pearly to choose between her own happiness and her duty as a guide.
Tone and Style:
Solomon’s prose is described as “sparkling, mischievous, heartfelt, and bursting with life (and afterlife),” deftly balancing laugh-out-loud comedy with genuine emotional depth. The novel is rich in tongue-in-cheek humour, clever world-building, and a brisk pace that keeps the pages turning. The afterlife in Pearly Gates is whimsical and eccentric, yet grounded in acute observations about love, loss, and self-discovery.
Themes and Representation:
At its core, Pearly Gates is a celebration of found family, queer identity, and the messy process of personal growth. The book’s LGBTQ+ representation is authentic and aspirational, offering moments that resonate deeply with readers from the community and beyond. The narrative explores universal themes—grief, acceptance, and the search for purpose—through a lens that is both inclusive and uplifting.
Characterization:
Pearly herself is a standout protagonist: flawed, fabulous, and utterly relatable. Her journey is one of self-acceptance and transformation, mirrored by the growth of those she’s sent to help. The supporting cast—both mortal and spectral—are equally well-drawn, with arcs that are touching, humorous, and satisfyingly resolved.
Strengths:
I love the novel’s cozy atmosphere, it was like rewatching all of my favourite comfort shows. The book’s blend of supernatural antics, queer romance, and small-town charm makes it a perfect pick for fans of “Legends & Lattes” and anyone seeking a feel-good, hopepunk read.
Conclusion:
Pearly Gates is a delightful, genre-blending romp that manages to be both playful and profound. Bonnie Solomon’s debut is a must-read for fans of cozy fantasy, queer fiction, and anyone who believes in second chances—even after life’s final curtain call. Highly recommended for book clubs, comfort reads, and anyone in search of a little more sparkle in their literary life.

When I read the synopsis for Pearly Gates, Bonnie Solomon's new cozy fantasy novel, I felt as though it was written specifically for me.

Dead drag queen Pearly Gates (what a name) is feeling stalled out- she's working a dead end sanitation job in the afterlife, gaining enlightenment feels like a distant dream, and her soulmate has left her, citing her immaturity and lack of purpose. Pearly has to win him back- and so, she strikes a very illegal deal with a burnt-out spirit guide, to take care of his three human charges - a heartbroken young widow, a terminally ill young man, and a trans woman looking for purpose- while he goes on vacation. Things take a decidedly less altruistic turn when Pearly realizes a local café owner is her reincarnated estranged soulmate. What hijinks could possibly ensue?

I ADORED this book. From its first pages I was enthralled by the immersive and inventive worldbuilding, Solomon's humorous writing style, and well-crafted story beats. I fell in love with every character who graced the pages, and lapped up the found family elements. This was so silly at times, yet full of so much heart, and had its moments of deep sadness intertwined with the plot. I felt cared for as a reader, trusting the author and Pearly to shepherd me through the book with care. It is hard to believe this is a debut novel, and I look forward to reading what Bonnie Solomon cooks up next.