The Plum Queen follows a recently widowed woman as she reflects on her life and loves. It is a beautiful and immersive exploration of sexuality, womanhood, and the cost of safety and stability.

I did not want this book to end. Lathrop did a phenomenal job painting every scene. The details of all the places Lenore had lived and worked became places I felt I was living in alongside her. California felt expansive, warm and sticky with fruit juice, while New York felt busy, cosy and full of potential.

The characters were laid out so precisely, with Lenore's honesty showcasing the strengths and flaws of those she loved, whilst also reflecting back Lenore's own shortcomings. Lenore's journey through life and seeing how her feelings shift towards the people in her life as she grows, created beautiful, poignant moments and there were multiple scenes that brought tears to my eyes (even in public which is a feat!).

The exploration of Lenore's sexuality was also handled with so much care. I loved seeing the choices she had to make, the way she had to come into understanding herself and reality of her sexuality in comparison to the other women in the book. Lathrop explores vulnerability of loving someone who does not and cannot love you back, and the way that hidden love can impact a friendship. This felt like she was hitting a raw nerve as a queer person who grew up in an all-girls school.

I did notice the use of skeins of thread as a metaphor for temperature in water being used, and while it is a very effective metaphor it is used three times in the book which felt like a lot. I think the motif of thread might need to be worked through the novel a little more for the metaphor to be used through the book seamlessly.

Overall, this is one of those books I am so grateful I got to read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys queer lit fic, It captured a lot of what I enjoyed about The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but in a way that felt elevated. I would recommend it to people who enjoyed We Do What We Do In The Dark by Michelle Hart, and maybe In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado.

A thoughtful examination of queer identity and queer female friendship over time - a slow burn character study with a very satisfying payoff.

5-star read! By page six, I was welling up. By page eight, I was so ready for the ride! Lathrop has created such an honest depiction of grief in all its forms--in death, in the feelings that come with abandonment and lost love. Really lovely read--highly recommend.