Pearly Gates

Bonnie Solomon

Book cover for Pearly Gates
Book cover for Pearly Gates

Pearly Gates

Pearly Gates

Bonnie Solomon

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Description

"A heartfelt but playful romp" with "deft prose," "plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor," and a "clever, imaginative world." -Kirkus Reviews

A dead drag queen. A cozy café. A shady deal-and an unexpected family.

Deceased drag queen Pearly Gates has the worst job in the afterlife: cosmic sanitation worker. When her soulmate leaves her, claiming she's incapable of growth, Pearly hatches a plan to win him back. By striking a deal to take over the caseload of a burnt-out spirit guide, she'll prove she's worthy of love-and redemption.

Her mission takes her to Thunderbolt Books & Coffee, a small-town café haunted by a 1920s burlesque dancer. There, she's tasked with guiding a grieving young widow, a terminally ill college grad, and a trans woman searching for purpose. As Pearly works her magic (and charm) to help them heal and connect, she begins to discover something she thought she'd lost forever-belonging.

Then she learns the café's owner is her soulmate reincarnated-and one of her charges is falling for them. Thrown into a love triangle she never saw coming, Pearly must decide: sabotage the relationship or be the good guide she promised to become.

Pearly Gates is a humorous, uplifting fantasy celebrating found family, self-discovery, and second chances-even after life's final curtain call.

Critical Reviews

A "powerhouse of a novel" that "defies any attempt at pat categorization... Packed with hot scenes and exciting personalities, Pearly Gates is a standout." -D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

"Wry, relatable, and deeply human, Pearly Gates is an excellent read and a stellar debut for Bonnie Solomon." -IndieReader

"A lively LGBTQ+ fantasy that blends humor, heart, and the supernatural" with "a strong emotional core, inventive worldbuilding, and a protagonist who is both flawed and endearing." -BlueInk Review

"There's a zesty tenderness to [Pearly] that will have readers rooting for her." -Kirkus Reviews

"Whimsical, wise, electric, deeply human, and unapologetically fabulous, this novel is the serotonin boost I didn't know I needed." -Goodreads reviewer

"Drag queens in the afterlife? Hell yeah. Drag queens as supernatural leaders of a ragtag team of misfits? Heller yeah." -NetGalley reviewer

"I laughed, I cried, I had the time of my life. Y'all need to add this to your TBRs, it's game-changing." -NetGalley reviewer

Publishing Information

Publisher: Bonsol Press
Pub date: 2025-05-19
Length: 350 pages

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