
Mutual Interest
Olivia Wolfgang-Smith
(Author)Description
"A timeless queer love story and a meditation on power, capitalism, and the flow of history . . . This novel is a revelation and a joy.” -Anna North, New York Times bestselling author of Outlawed
A classic in the making: a mesmerizing novel about marriage and ambition, sexuality and secrecy, and the true costs of building an empire.
At the turn of the 20th century, Vivian Lesperance is determined to flee her origins in Utica, New York, and avoid repeating her parents' dull, limited life. When she meets Oscar Schmidt, a middle manager at a soap company, Vivian finds a partner she can guide to build the life she wants-not least because, more interested in men himself, Oscar will leave Vivian to tend to her own romances with women.
But Vivian's plans require capital, so the two pair up with Squire Clancey, scion of an old American fortune. Together they found Clancey & Schmidt, a preeminent manufacturer of soap, perfume, and candles. When Oscar and Squire fall in love, the trio form a new kind of partnership.
Vivian reaches the pinnacle of her power building Clancey & Schmidt into an empire of personal care products while operating behind the image of both men. But exposure threatens, and all three partners are made aware of how much they have to lose.
For readers of Hernan Diaz's Trust and Colm Tóibín's The Magician, with echoes of Gustave Flaubert and E.M. Forster, Mutual Interest is a beguiling story of queer romance, empire, and power.
Product Details
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
Publish Date | February 04, 2025 |
Pages | 336 |
Language | English |
Type | |
EAN/UPC | 9781639733323 |
Dimensions | 243.8 X 6.8 X 1.1 inches | 1.4 pounds |
About the Author
Reviews
“A queer take on the classic Gilded Age historical novel.” —Town & Country, "The 36 Must Read Books of Winter 2025"
“For those (like me) eagerly awaiting The Gilded Age Season 3 . . . Mutual Interest follows a lavender marriage that blossoms into a business partnership, charting the ascent of a wellness brand as thoughtfully as it renders the love stories (both platonic and romantic) that shape its history.” —Bustle, "The Most Anticipated Books Hitting Shelves This Winter"
“Wolfgang-Smith is nothing short of virtuosic in her wry and witty world-building . . . This is a novel of families won and lost, love, envy, and betrayal told in a remarkably fresh and entertaining way, with immersive period detail and compelling emotional stakes. Mutual Interest is essential reading.” —Shelf Awareness
“Hernan Diaz's Trust but make it gay? Narrated in the sly-eyed style of Plain Bad Heroines? I am absolutely buying what this book is selling, an epic and intimate tale of three secretly queer aspiring business titans who band together-and in the case of two of them, marry-to build an empire.” —Electric Lit, Most Anticipated Queer Books For Spring 2025
“Wolfgang-Smith's remarkable skill with story and language brings readers into queer life in the early days of the twentieth century.” —Booklist
“A high-drama romp through wealthy New York society in the early decades of the 1900s. With witty asides and tongue-in-cheek philosophical rambles, larger-than-life characters and vivid, melodramatic scenes, it reads a bit like a dishy soap opera.” —BookPage
“A delightful Gilded Age historical fiction romp about marriage ambition and building a life outside of traditional expectations.” —Paste Magazine
“Wolfgang-Smith explores tensions in the private lives of three queer misfits turned business titans in her stunning latest . . . Wolfgang-Smith's sharp, sardonic narration brilliantly brings to life both the Gilded Age and her unforgettable protagonists. It's a virtuosic performance.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Wolfgang-Smith approaches historical fiction as a costume ball, affecting a fizzy, omniscient narration: At the book's most fun, it's Edith Wharton or Henry James, with more camp and a winking tone . . . All's queer in love and industry: a memorable tale uniquely told.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This queer love story set in post–Gilded Age New York, from the author of Glassworks, explores sex, power, and capitalism through the lives of three queer misfits.” —The Millions
“Puts a queer spin on empire and capital in a complex tale of three individuals with overlapping needs.” —The Mary Sue
“Scintillating . . . The enticing prose is enhanced by its polished historical setting. Moving from the late 1890s into the early twentieth century, the omniscient narration details opulent parties, clandestine gay clubs, soap factories, and chaotic silent film sets . . . Explores turn-of-the-century alliances, ambitions, and the complications of concealing one's queerness within a narrow social code.” —Foreword Reviews
“Olivia Wolfgang-Smith writes with gusto, confidence and humor, and it's a magical combination. Vivian Lesperance is a delightful, brilliant woman vying to enter a society that has no room for her, and I rooted for Vivian every step of the way. But it's the love story that beats at the heart of this novel that won me completely: Squire and Oscar forever and ever.” —Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of HELLO BEAUTIFUL and DEAR EDWARD
“A glittering portrait of post-Gilded Age New York, Mutual Interest is also a timeless queer love story and a meditation on power, capitalism, and the flow of history. Wolfgang-Smith's writing is as wise as it is witty; this novel is a revelation and a joy.” —Anna North, New York Times Bestselling author of Outlawed
“A sumptuous delight . . . as witty as it is deadly serious, as joyous as it is razor-sharp. I loved every single brilliant page.” —Clare Beams, author of THE GARDEN
“The alluring world of Mutual Interest is populated by a remarkable, defiant cast of characters . . . Olivia Wolfgang-Smith has created something towering, labyrinthine, and utterly captivating.” —Temim Fruchter, author of CITY OF LAUGHTER
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