GIRLFRIENDING

A newly out lesbian searches for connection in Daniel’s queer romance about second chances and self-discovery.

Forty-seven-year-old S has divorced her husband and come out of the closet. She leads a low-key, pleasant existence in an unnamed Midwestern town. After she’s suddenly dumped by Z, her friends encourage her to embrace her “lesbian adolescence.” She agrees to go on 10 first dates. As S embarks on this mission, she tries to keep her mind and her heart open. Still, she can’t help ruminating on what went wrong with Z, or on the mysteries and vagaries of love, attraction, and commitment. She’s lucky enough to meet many intriguing and alluring women; she has lots of fun banter and hot sex, and her experiment expands and enriches her life immensely. Her situationships with the women she meets lead to new experiences and deep friendships. Still, S is wary of commitment and unsure of what kind of relationship she wants. She also reflects on her co-parenting arrangement with her ex-husband and her role as a mother. She fears losing her bond with her best friend, Amanda, who may be moving away. S’s story is told in vivid prose and includes sage observations about life and human connection. The protagonist proves to be an engaging companion—her self-reflection, self-knowledge, and self-acceptance as she tries to be brave and vulnerable are refreshing. Readers will find it fun and fulfilling to journey with her as she aims to “live in the present, let go of the past, and aim toward the future at the same time.” Her romantic interests are all distinctive and well drawn, and the evolutions of her relationships into meaningful friendships feel authentic and carefully observed. S’s obsession with Z, while seriously examined, grows somewhat repetitive, and the complete absence of any disastrous dates strains credibility. But otherwise, S’s tale is a charming and insightful exploration of reinvention and connection.

A warmly observed and well-crafted exploration of dating, friendship, and finding oneself in middle age.