Review by Booklist Review
Mary, sis, hunny--it's just a haunted handbag. It might also be Sully's ticket out of Hearst, Pennsylvania, if they can get the ghost, Rufus, to vacate the bag. Like any upstanding ghost, Rufus has unfinished business; he also has a bad case of ghost amnesia, so Sully needs to dig into their small town's history to help Rufus find peace. Their research also makes them realize that, despite being the only nonbinary person in town, Sully might have a place in Hearst after all. Without overwhelming the narrative with exposition, there is a plentiful amount of queer history discussed, dually serving to educate the reader and to help Sully discover the context that has created a world where they can exist as an out, queer person. Despite a veneer of mystery, the plot is largely driven by Sully's growth rather than action or intrigue, making this a choice more suited to character-driven readers. A surprisingly light read, this is an excellent entry point for readers curious about history and open to the paranormal.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A queer teen uncovers secrets from his town's past in this heartfelt novel by Murphy (Faith: Greater Heights) and Van Ness (Gorgeously Me!). Nonbinary teen Sully's plan for fleeing small-town Hearst, Pa., after graduation collapses when their internship with a New York City--based influencer is suddenly canceled. Upon discovering a pristine vintage leather bag at a thrift store, a new plan is born. But the bag is haunted by Rufus, the sassy ghost of a 1950s "female impersonator" with no recollection of his past. Rufus promises to vacate the bag if Sully helps him unlock his memory. To gain access to Hearst's archival records, Sully agrees to help their city council member mother unsnarl an ownership dispute that could upend regressive, wealthy Beauregard Hearst's control of the town. Sully soon teams up with preppy gay classmate Brad, and the duo soon stumbles onto messy--and potentially groundbreaking--discoveries. The collaborators seamlessly connect Rufus's and Sully's stories, showing through both the resilience of queer life and the bigotry they each face. Messages of acceptance are wrapped in a romp that moves beyond simple platitudes. Characters read as white. Ages 14--up. (May)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Van Ness, a hairstylist known for the TV series Queer Eye, teams up with best-selling author Murphy for this story about one teen's very gay summer. Recent high school graduate Sully is ready to leave behind the woes of being a nonbinary fashionista in small-town Hearst, Pennsylvania, and jet off to the Big Apple, where a yearlong internship with an influencer awaits. At their going-away party, they burn some bridges and go out with a bangin' first kiss. But the flaky influencer drops Sully before they even leave town, and they're left with no backup plan. Scoring what might be "one of the rarest vintage handbag finds of all time" might help, at least with acquiring the funds to escape. Sully is shocked when a ghost emerges from the bag--Rufus, a gay man, "female impersonator," and mid-20th-century Hearst resident. While Sully works to pick up the pieces of their own life, they also help Rufus recover his memories, discovering surprising depths to their hometown along the way. This quirky, passionate, rebellious, and quick-witted novel brings aspects of modern queer culture into direct, literal conversation with elements of its past. It's a monument to what came before, a testament to continued struggles, and a celebration of queer joy. The main characters' arcs are well-constructed; Sully's and Rufus' dual journeys of discovery flow well together, informing Sully's emotional growth while keeping Rufus independently well-rounded. Characters read white. Quippy dialogue and a kinetic pace distinguish this uplifting novel.(Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
