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Lucky Red: A Novel

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A thrilling, raucous, and gloriously queer debut about a scrappy orphan bent on making her own luck in the American West—and finding friendship, romance, and her true calling along the way, now in paperback.

“A powerful feminist battle cry . . . [and] rollicking good fun.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
LONGLISTED FOR THE VCU CABELL AWARD • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Autostraddle, Chicago Public Library, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal

The heart wants what it wants. Saddle up, ride out, and claim it.
 
When Bridget arrives penniless in Dodge City, already disillusioned by feckless men and the uncompromising landscape, she has only her wits to keep her alive. Thanks to the allure of her bright red hair and country-girl beauty, she’s recruited to work at the Buffalo Queen, the only brothel in town run by women. Bridget takes to brothel life, appreciating the good food, good pay, and good friendships she forms with her fellow “sporting women.”

But with the arrival of some infamous outlaws at the start of winter, tensions in Dodge City run high. When the Buffalo Queen’s peace and security are threatened, Bridget must decide what she owes to the women she loves and what it looks like to claim her own destiny.

A thoroughly modern reimagining of the Western genre, Lucky Red is a masterfully crafted, propulsive tale of adventure, loyalty, desire, and love.

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Published Jun 20, 2023

320 pages

Average rating: 6.47

17 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Maddieholmes
Aug 28, 2023
9/10 stars
Content warning for death, violence, graphic descriptions, on-page sexual violence, murder, prostitution, explicit scenes, and related topics. I had an incredible time with this book. Our main character is Bridget, and alone in Dodge City, Kansas, she makes a life for herself in the Buffalo Queen whorehouse. I think the first and only other Western book I've read is Outlawed by Anna North, and this book did similar things by centering the story on women and queer folks. This didn't have any of the alternate timeline aspects, this could have been 100% real. I liked Bridget and her journey, and all of the secondary characters are so well done. I loved Spartan Lee and thought the relationship with Bridget was so incredible. I thought this was going to be a slow-burn character study, but the plot completely changed with about a quarter to go. I was completely blown away by the ending and really enjoyed this. Would recommend!

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