Mutual Curiosity by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith
Vivian Lesperance reinvents herself when she arrives in New York Metropolis in 1899 on the age of 18. She’s realizing her expertise for climbing social ranks whereas hiding her amorous entanglements with different single younger ladies. However as soon as she reaches her mid-20s, Vivian understands she will be able to’t dwell off the nice graces of her lovers ceaselessly. If she needs to fulfill her champagne tastes, she’ll must discover a husband.
Enter Oscar Schmidt, a fortysomething center supervisor at a cleaning soap manufacturing facility who’s hiding his personal secret rendezvous with different males. Vivian sees in Oscar a possibility to maneuver into the New York elite whereas sustaining their “unusual” existence in personal. However Oscar is distracted, wrapped up in a rivalry with Squire Clancey, an eccentric candle maker from an old-money household who retains shopping for up the restricted provides Oscar wants for cleaning soap making.
The place Oscar sees an enemy, Vivian sees the ultimate puzzle piece to construct an empire. With intelligent manipulation, Vivian transforms Oscar and Squire from rivals to companions, and private care and residential items big Clancey & Schmidt is born. As Squire and Oscar notice there’s one thing extra between them than enterprise, Vivian slowly takes over administration of C&S herself, discovering energy and company unprecedented for girls on the flip of the twentieth century.
Mutual Curiosity is queer historic fiction at its most interesting, showcasing deeply layered, messy, imperfect but lovable LGBTQ+ characters hiding in plain sight of these against their existence. The cheeky omniscient narrative voice particularly shines, making the reader really feel as in the event that they’re being taken by the arm on a leisurely stroll by means of this story full of glowing wit and luxurious descriptions of Gilded Age New York.
When you’ve met them, Vivian, Oscar, and Squire will ceaselessly have a spot in your coronary heart.