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Mutual interest : a novel  Cover Image Book Book

Mutual interest : a novel / Olivia Wolfgang-Smith.

Summary:

"From Glassworks author Olivia Wolfgang-Smith, a decadent, dishy novel set in the early-1900s about a business empire built by three queer people fighting to live life on their own terms. Vivian Lesperance moves to New York City at the turn of the 20th century with one goal in mind: she will not let her life be dictated by her small-minded family in Utica. Instead, she will set a new and independent course for herself among the rich and nouveau rich, and in the apartments of the women she loves. Oscar Schmidt chooses the soap industry-and a move from Ohio to New York-in a doomed attempt to run away from his own attraction to men. But while working as a straight-laced middle manager by day and cruising the waterfront and gay clubs at night, Oscar faces dual threats to his new life. No one is fooled by his guise of easy bachelorhood, and his business is threatened by Squire Clancey, the socially awkward scion of a wealthy New York family, whose passion for candle making and unlimited resources lead to shortages of the very ingredient Oscar needs to manufacture his goods. Vivian knows she'll never get what she wants in life without effort, so she convinces Oscar to marry her, and then persuades Oscar and Squire to go into business together rather than fight for resources. Clancey & Schmidt Co is born, and with it, a new love affair begins: between Clancey and Schmidt themselves. Meanwhile, Vivian reaches the pinnacle of her power running the business behind a Tiffany's desk-and behind the image of both men. But the threat of exposure-and of an arranged marriage for Squire-looms, and together, the trio must work to maintain the life they've dreamed up, and made real, for themselves. Written in the style of classic authors like EM Forster, but with a modern sensibility and wry sense of humor, Personal Care is a fresh and beguiling story of patriarchy, privilege, and power for readers of Trust by Hernan Diaz and The Magician by Colm Toibin"-- Provided by publisher.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9781639733323 (hardcover)
  • Physical Description: 320 pages ; 25 cm
  • Publisher: New York : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2025.
Subject: Ambition > Fiction.
Marriage > Fiction.
Secrecy > Fiction.
Genre: Queer fiction.
Novels.

Available copies

  • 1 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Lakeshore Branch FIC Wolfg 31681010405975 FICTION Available -

  • Baker & Taylor
    At the turn of the 20th century, Vivian Lesperance operates Clancey & Schmidt, a preeminent manufacturer of soap, perfume, and candles, from behind the image of Oscar Schmidt and Squire Clancey, and when Oscar and Squire fall in love, the trio form a new partnership, in this story of queer romance and power.
  • McMillan Palgrave

    An enthralling, dishy novel about ambition, sexuality, and the rise of a capitalist empire in post-Gilded Age New York.

    “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 Literature, Most Anticipated Queer Books for Spring 2025

    At the turn of the 20th century, Vivian Lesperance is determined to flee her hometown of Utica, New York, and live a life worthy of the society pages she writes for. When she meets Oscar Schmidt, a queer middle manager at a soap company, Vivian finds a partner she can guide to build the life she wants--not least because Oscar will leave Vivian to tend to her own romances with women.

    But Vivian's plans require capital, so they approach Oscar's old-money rival, Squire Clancey. 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 people who loved The Gilded Age and fans of Succession “who wished the show was both kinder and gayer” (Jessie Wright, Copper Dog Books), Mutual Interest is a brilliant, beguiling story of desire and power.

  • McMillan Palgrave
    An enthralling, dishy novel about ambition, sexuality, and the rise of a capitalist empire in post-Gilded Age New York.

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