Perfume & Pain by Anna Dorn
While my first two recommendations are tied to specific aspects of Chappell Roan’s persona and background, the next ones are more vibes-based. Perfume & Pain is a literary fiction title that references the lesbian pulp fiction of the ’50s and ’60s. If you’re not familiar with the genre, lesbian pulp was campy and melodramatic, somewhere between erotica and soap opera, and it usually had an unhappy ending lest anyone get the idea that being queer is acceptable. This book is just as melodramatic, and it’s perfect if you want to read a sexy, satirical story about a lesbian writer making terrible decisions. The campy aspect matches Chappell Roan’s over-the-top stage persona.
