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Invisible
Violet Unwin is convinced she is invisible. Overlooked by her adoptive family, her only solace is her uncle’s costume shop. By day, she’s an assistant no one remembers, but after hours, in the wonder of her imagination, she becomes explorer, warrior, queen. Devastated by news of the shop’s imminent closure, Violet finds comfort in an unlikely companion, the ghostly figure of her namesake, the suffragette Vi Unwin.
Medical school dropout Phoebe Frink’s life is in disarray. She has no idea who she is anymore, what to do about it, or how to tell her parents. Taken under the wing of the infamous drag king Mr. Duke, owner of the struggling Banana Bar, fate steps in when Phoebe seeks Violet’s help with costumes for the bar’s fundraising Christmas Ball.
Phoebe is captivated by beautiful, shy Violet, and for the first time in her life, Violet experiences what it is to be truly seen. But for love to be possible, Violet and Phoebe must take a risk on a future they’ve never dared to imagine.
Medical school dropout Phoebe Frink’s life is in disarray. She has no idea who she is anymore, what to do about it, or how to tell her parents. Taken under the wing of the infamous drag king Mr. Duke, owner of the struggling Banana Bar, fate steps in when Phoebe seeks Violet’s help with costumes for the bar’s fundraising Christmas Ball.
Phoebe is captivated by beautiful, shy Violet, and for the first time in her life, Violet experiences what it is to be truly seen. But for love to be possible, Violet and Phoebe must take a risk on a future they’ve never dared to imagine.
- GenresRomanceLGBTContemporary
264 pages, Paperback
Published December 12, 2023
120 people want to read
About the author
Anna Larner
7 books23 followers"Spicy, flirty or sweet coming of age romances - All packed with witty banter, tension, twists and turns."
Anna Larner is an author of lesbian romance books packed with captivating authentic characters, original storylines, and immersive settings. Check out her website for sapphic writing tips!
Whether you're into slow burn romances with mystery and intrigue, Love's Portrait and Invisible, or rollercoaster family dramas set in the majestic Scottish Highlands, Highland Fling and Highland Whirl, there's something for everyone.
Finalist - Foreword INDIES Book Of The Year, Rainbow Awards and Golden Crown Literary Society Awards. https://linktr.ee/annalarner
Invisible: Violet is convinced she is invisible. By day she’s a costume shop assistant no one remembers, but after hours, in the wonder of her imagination, she becomes explorer, warrior, queen.
Highland Whirl: Has commitment-phobic Roxanne finally met her match?
Love's Portrait: Can Molly advocate for what's right, even when it means putting her heart and career in jeopardy?
Highland Fling: Hearts are on the line when a holiday fling with an older woman becomes so much more!
Hooper Street - It's impossible to ignore the girl-next-door! Available on kindle unlimited.
Anna Larner is an author of lesbian romance books packed with captivating authentic characters, original storylines, and immersive settings. Check out her website for sapphic writing tips!
Whether you're into slow burn romances with mystery and intrigue, Love's Portrait and Invisible, or rollercoaster family dramas set in the majestic Scottish Highlands, Highland Fling and Highland Whirl, there's something for everyone.
Finalist - Foreword INDIES Book Of The Year, Rainbow Awards and Golden Crown Literary Society Awards. https://linktr.ee/annalarner
Invisible: Violet is convinced she is invisible. By day she’s a costume shop assistant no one remembers, but after hours, in the wonder of her imagination, she becomes explorer, warrior, queen.
Highland Whirl: Has commitment-phobic Roxanne finally met her match?
Love's Portrait: Can Molly advocate for what's right, even when it means putting her heart and career in jeopardy?
Highland Fling: Hearts are on the line when a holiday fling with an older woman becomes so much more!
Hooper Street - It's impossible to ignore the girl-next-door! Available on kindle unlimited.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 9, 2024
Invisible brought me back to the books that I loved as a youth. It is about finding magic in the every day. The Emporium is the place for the ultimate make believers.
I would call this a young adults adventure and first love romance with paranormal overtones. The young love has all the innocence that comes with being each other’s first. The paranormal brings the past to life as it advances the adventure and the romance.
I enjoyed letting my imagination have free reign for the duration of this novel. I hope you do as well.
I would call this a young adults adventure and first love romance with paranormal overtones. The young love has all the innocence that comes with being each other’s first. The paranormal brings the past to life as it advances the adventure and the romance.
I enjoyed letting my imagination have free reign for the duration of this novel. I hope you do as well.
December 10, 2023
I really enjoyed this author’s previous book, Love’s Portrait, so I was curious about this one. Phoebe Frink has a crisis of doubt so she takes a break from her studies in medicine to reconsider her future. In the meantime, she works at the Banana Bar, a queer establishment and the home of a popular drag king show. She visits a local costume shop and meets Violet Unwin, the niece of the owner of Unwin Emporium which has been a family business since the 1800’s. The shop is not your typical Halloween style store but rather more like a Hollywood inventory of elaborate outfits. Unfortunately, her jerk of a cousin is selling the building and Violet is devastated.
I genuinely had a smile on my face through most of the book because Phoebe and Violet are incredibly sweet people. It reads a bit younger, like a ya book, because of their innocent personalities but they are the perfect match. The tension in the story comes from the pressures of family expectations and the impending stress of their unknown futures. Violet is my favorite character. In spite of the worst childhood, her spirit is magical. She has an artist’s touch when she helps people reinvent themselves through a costume and a swagger. Phoebe’s friend, Mr. Duke/Dee is a treat on the page as well.
There are also some brief historical moments as well as supernatural touches as we get a glimpse at both main characters’ ancestors, women who were suffragettes. Hopefully, the author revisits Harry and Vi’s story in more detail in a future book because I am very interested.
I recommend this book on a day when you need some sunshine.
Received this arc courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I genuinely had a smile on my face through most of the book because Phoebe and Violet are incredibly sweet people. It reads a bit younger, like a ya book, because of their innocent personalities but they are the perfect match. The tension in the story comes from the pressures of family expectations and the impending stress of their unknown futures. Violet is my favorite character. In spite of the worst childhood, her spirit is magical. She has an artist’s touch when she helps people reinvent themselves through a costume and a swagger. Phoebe’s friend, Mr. Duke/Dee is a treat on the page as well.
There are also some brief historical moments as well as supernatural touches as we get a glimpse at both main characters’ ancestors, women who were suffragettes. Hopefully, the author revisits Harry and Vi’s story in more detail in a future book because I am very interested.
I recommend this book on a day when you need some sunshine.
Received this arc courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Violet believes no one sees her especially her family who took her in when she was young. She was close to her Uncle Walter but her aunt and cousin Carl didn’t like that so he distanced himself from her but he lets her runs his costume shop where she can lose herself in and be who she wants. Phoebe is struggling to be the perfect daughter she doesn’t know if she wants to continue being a doctor she gets taking in by Dee aka Mr. Duke who owns a bar that’s is struggling she meets Violet when Dee needs costumes for fundraising they are doing. Violet and Phoebe grow closer and find out things about their families I enjoy this read normally I don’t like to read where characters are teenagers but Violet and Phoebe were mature for their age despite everything going on with them.
Violet believes no one sees her especially her family who took her in when she was young. She was close to her Uncle Walter but her aunt and cousin Carl didn’t like that so he distanced himself from her but he lets her runs his costume shop where she can lose herself in and be who she wants. Phoebe is struggling to be the perfect daughter she doesn’t know if she wants to continue being a doctor she gets taking in by Dee aka Mr. Duke who owns a bar that’s is struggling she meets Violet when Dee needs costumes for fundraising they are doing. Violet and Phoebe grow closer and find out things about their families I enjoy this read normally I don’t like to read where characters are teenagers but Violet and Phoebe were mature for their age despite everything going on with them.
January 10, 2024
Such a special story
Violet is convinced no one can see her and no one cares. Her uncle has had to retire from their family costume shop, and now his son is selling it. Phoebe is struggling, she’d dropped out of medical school and has no idea what to do now. Working for Mr Duke, a drag king who owns a local bar that is falling on hard times, Phoebe meets Violet when she visits the costume store to ask for help with their fundraising ball.
No words can explain how much I loved this book! Never has a story felt so deeply relatable. When I first saw some promotion for this story Anna did quite a while back, I could instantly tell from just the title and the cover art that I was going to enjoy this story, but it completely blew my expectations. Everything about it was amazing, from the affect it had on me personally, to the way it moved my emotions. I spent most of the time reading it with a lump in my throat because I felt so seen and accepted, able to relate, empathise, and sympathise with both Violet and Phoebe.
They were beyond cute together, and apart each of them was so endearing. If I could have reached into the pages and hugged them, I would have. I really wish I could find people like them in life, they embody everything I can understand. Violet had this way about her that made me smile, she had such an amazing imagination and was just the most fun person to be around, so I understood how Phoebe was instantly taken with her. But it’s not just their relationship that makes this story so cute, there is a really special and unexpected connection, and lots of surprises throughout the story to really elevate it.
An exquisite masterpiece of a story, completely unforgettable, and a story that will stay with you for life. My review really doesn’t do it justice, and I can’t urge you enough to get this book and give it a go. It was magical, life changing, and just the most special of stories.
Violet is convinced no one can see her and no one cares. Her uncle has had to retire from their family costume shop, and now his son is selling it. Phoebe is struggling, she’d dropped out of medical school and has no idea what to do now. Working for Mr Duke, a drag king who owns a local bar that is falling on hard times, Phoebe meets Violet when she visits the costume store to ask for help with their fundraising ball.
No words can explain how much I loved this book! Never has a story felt so deeply relatable. When I first saw some promotion for this story Anna did quite a while back, I could instantly tell from just the title and the cover art that I was going to enjoy this story, but it completely blew my expectations. Everything about it was amazing, from the affect it had on me personally, to the way it moved my emotions. I spent most of the time reading it with a lump in my throat because I felt so seen and accepted, able to relate, empathise, and sympathise with both Violet and Phoebe.
They were beyond cute together, and apart each of them was so endearing. If I could have reached into the pages and hugged them, I would have. I really wish I could find people like them in life, they embody everything I can understand. Violet had this way about her that made me smile, she had such an amazing imagination and was just the most fun person to be around, so I understood how Phoebe was instantly taken with her. But it’s not just their relationship that makes this story so cute, there is a really special and unexpected connection, and lots of surprises throughout the story to really elevate it.
An exquisite masterpiece of a story, completely unforgettable, and a story that will stay with you for life. My review really doesn’t do it justice, and I can’t urge you enough to get this book and give it a go. It was magical, life changing, and just the most special of stories.
December 27, 2023
Could not get into this story. Nothing much happening except two young ladies silly banter about costumes and make believe.
December 13, 2023
I was a bit apprehensive, but I really enjoyed this book. It was very unique and well written.
I recommend 4 stars.
Thank You, Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley.
I recommend 4 stars.
Thank You, Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley.
March 5, 2025
Invisible is a short and sweet novel about two young women, Violet and Phoebe, who are both uncertain about their futures.
Both characters had a lot of relatable qualities that made them so easy to sympathise with. They both had their struggles and you couldn’t help but to feel for them. I love the way that women and empowerment were featured in this story, particularly through the Suffragette plot-line.
While I did enjoy this, I unfortunately can’t say I was fully satisfied. There was a certain tension being built through the entirety of this book that I won’t describe as to avoid spoilers, but suffice it to say, it kinda came to nothing. Literally solved within one chapter at the very end. Nonetheless, I still had a fun time with this and am glad that I read it.
I volunteered to review a free ARC of this book for NetGalley.
Both characters had a lot of relatable qualities that made them so easy to sympathise with. They both had their struggles and you couldn’t help but to feel for them. I love the way that women and empowerment were featured in this story, particularly through the Suffragette plot-line.
While I did enjoy this, I unfortunately can’t say I was fully satisfied. There was a certain tension being built through the entirety of this book that I won’t describe as to avoid spoilers, but suffice it to say, it kinda came to nothing. Literally solved within one chapter at the very end. Nonetheless, I still had a fun time with this and am glad that I read it.
I volunteered to review a free ARC of this book for NetGalley.
August 28, 2025
DNF at 40%
Two immature manic pixie dream girls meet and their love story is just a ruse to shoehorn in facts about female historical figures every other paragraph.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Two immature manic pixie dream girls meet and their love story is just a ruse to shoehorn in facts about female historical figures every other paragraph.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
January 9, 2024
What a gem! The main couple are so cute and adorable. The story is so intriguing (first love or is it reincarnation of lost love???). The suffragette subplot is wonderfully done 'Always and Always Facing Toward the Light'. It's the kind of book you want every young girl/woman (sapphic or not) to read and enjoy for the positivity and inspiration.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews