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All Hookers Go To Heaven
All Hookers Go To Heaven follows Mag: an East Coast girl raised in a conservative Christian home where she is urged to preserve her purity at all costs. Obsessed with earning a place in heaven, Mag rejects the hyper-sexual youth culture of her small town—that is, until she falls for a sophisticated, fun girl named Marlous while attending a program designed to usher young people into Evangelical Missionary work.
Spiraling into shame and regret, Mag breaks away from the Church and launches herself into the world of sex for hire, attempting to shed her repressive past and become an anti-virgin--the exact opposite of what her religion raised her to be. As she hustles across continents, Mag finds her obsession has shifted. Instead of heaven, now she is focused on chasing the elusive, ever-shifting concept of financial security. In the process, she finds it harder and harder to differentiate the money she earns from her self-worth—and her own identity from that of her sex worker alter ego.
Spiraling into shame and regret, Mag breaks away from the Church and launches herself into the world of sex for hire, attempting to shed her repressive past and become an anti-virgin--the exact opposite of what her religion raised her to be. As she hustles across continents, Mag finds her obsession has shifted. Instead of heaven, now she is focused on chasing the elusive, ever-shifting concept of financial security. In the process, she finds it harder and harder to differentiate the money she earns from her self-worth—and her own identity from that of her sex worker alter ego.
368 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2024
35 people are currently reading
1024 people want to read
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July 7, 2025gay gals against god
October 1, 2024
“Somehow I knew that, despite how badly I’d fucked up, I didn’t deserve to be treated this way. Neither did any of the other hopeful immigrants trapped in this weird, punitive purgatory. The whole thing seemed made up: immigration, borders, permission to work, visas. No one chooses the circumstances into which they are born, and yet the consequences of attempting to change those circumstances are life-altering, traumatic. And for what? All to protect the American dollar? To protect a country that – like Canada – was historically founded on claiming a land that wasn’t even theirs to begin with?”
March 20, 2025
It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the book's subject matters & those detailed in my review overwhelming. I suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters that contain reflections on sexual abuse, rape, promiscuity, substance abuse, religious extremism, bigotry, & others.
There is a necessity that comes with being alive. The body protects its skin by sheltering it from the elements. The psyche longs for the feeling that evaporates when sheltered; mangy mutts must run in the mud to experience the weight of their being in the cosmos. What becomes of the soul that seeks to escape the body? In what world can the two exist as one?
When I came across this book I was intrigued solely based on the title. I devoured the plot as it was served to me & yet, writing about my experiences now, weeks later, I find that the fury with which I read was not reflective of my enjoyment but had more to do with working through a tale as old as time. This statement is confusing; I acknowledge that. This review will not claim to highlight the poverty of the plot, nor will it shadow the characters in slime for their deprived skeletal formations. Rather, what I am trying to say is that this book is very palatable & this is its main flaw.
In essence, this is a story about a woman who grew up in a small town in eastern Canada. The province in which she spent her youth is known to locals as a quaint part of the country. It boasts of a positive reputation internationally & exists near the tumultuous waters that separate it from a mainland of skyscrapers & exhaust fumes. The main character is representative of this reality. Her narrative is very sheltered & as the story progresses, she maneuvers horrible situations with less & less self-awareness. How is this possible?
The story follows Mag as she sheds her strict religious upbringing. Whereas she may have found structure in religion & comfort in the idea that God listened & cared about her every whim; Mag’s foundation cracks as she watches the world crumble without any whisper or revelation from the Great Man above.
The introduction of this narrative was the most intriguing in my opinion because it was unique to the character herself. That is not to say that Mag is the only girl who grew into herself nor is she the only person who veered away from her religious upbringing.
What makes the introduction so interesting is that Mag is aware that others do not experience religion as she does. She is also conscious of the fact that many other groups of people, communities & individuals alike, approach life without religion at all.
Her experiences at the camp, wherein she began a (what you might call) romantic relationship with another girl, welcome the reader into the normal experience that comes along with horribly strict realities. The reader may not have been raised under a religious doctrine nor is it required that they understand the experiences of the LGBTQI+ community. Rather, Mag’s relationship at the camp allows readers to nestle into her shoes, while wearing their own socks.
The author’s approach to the crux of this story gave the tone an interesting flavour. Mag’s pursuit of financial security is admirable & disjointed while also drenched in a layer of sadness. This is not to say that people who work in the adult industry should be pitied, rather, the main character of this story has nothing going for her; she has no friends, no stability, & her family is galivanting the northern Canadian landscape to push their religious beliefs on Indigenous peoples—the list goes on. Though the chapters flow in a singular direction, readers will be forgiven for losing steam halfway through.
Therefore, one may ask why I continued reading this book at all. The answer is not complicated or a jewelled secret; the author has a writing style that fits well & the narrator is troubled enough to be forgiven. She’s just a girl trying her best in a world she was ill-equipped to enter.
It might stand to reason that religious extremist individuals are rarely well-prepared to join the real world but, in truth, they find people who remind them of themselves & they settle into their community. Mag does no such thing.
Every time she meets someone new, the promise of a friendship is offered. The next moment, Mag is alone, & has moved on to a new scenario with new people & none of the life lessons learned. The sadness I described earlier is a direct consequence of the format of this book.
Why does Mag continue to repeat patterns that very obviously do her harm? Why is she so intent on ignoring her so-called friends to put herself in harm’s way? Is money so important to her that she would ignore her safety in pursuit of it?
There are no answers to these questions, the author does not provide insight into Mag’s character. The opposite is done throughout this story & it is even odder because Mag is meant to be maturing. The refusal for the tone of the story to shift to accommodate a changing tide, new experiences & new characters left the story stagnant.
Mag has spent nearly a decade working in the adult industry & she has nothing to show for her. She travels in search of the men who will pay her the most money but who is she as a person? What has she learnt in her years of travel & thousands of conversations?
Though I can appreciate that the story is merely meant to induce a ruminated thought process for the reader, there is not enough girth in the plot for this to be accomplished. There is a semblance of realism in the experiences that Mag shares with the reader & perhaps another individual will forgive the cloistered nature of the main characters’ reflections but, if not for Mag, why is this story being told, to what end & for what purpose?
As always, I do not ask these questions because I want to be meanspirited. I ask these questions because they matter on the whole. Is Mag a person who has an important story to tell—this would depend on the receiver of the web she weaves. Everyone has their journey & our friends are people who care about us & learn to understand us.
The author does not make clear that Mag has people in her life who care about getting to know her & the road she travelled to meet them. There are gaps in Mag’s recollections & portions of this story that read as terribly redundant—such is life, I will not fault the author for this entirely. However, what is the goal of the story?
By this point, it is evident that this was not a book that had me in mind as the target reader. I do not have anyone in mind to whom I would recommend this story because documentaries have existed for decades that make clear the experiences of people exactly like Mag; one could watch these films if one cares to learn from the source, the journey of such a life. When I reflect on my time with this book it is a blur. I appreciated the opportunity to read this book & I will seek out the author again in future as I do hope they write again.
Ultimately, I wanted a more honest exploration of Mag’s character & her experiences. It matters little to simply list bad experiences, small fears, body movements, & trains in the brain; there is a special magic that exists in sharing from the heart to another & Mag intentionally kept herself hidden from the reader & the author did not make strides to correct this. She left her character to sit in stillness when a monsoon wiggled in the background of all her tales. This is disappointing but, not altogether surprising given Mag’s history of communicating with ghosts over fleshy humans with beating hearts.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Invisible Publishing, & Angel B.H. for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
There is a necessity that comes with being alive. The body protects its skin by sheltering it from the elements. The psyche longs for the feeling that evaporates when sheltered; mangy mutts must run in the mud to experience the weight of their being in the cosmos. What becomes of the soul that seeks to escape the body? In what world can the two exist as one?
When I came across this book I was intrigued solely based on the title. I devoured the plot as it was served to me & yet, writing about my experiences now, weeks later, I find that the fury with which I read was not reflective of my enjoyment but had more to do with working through a tale as old as time. This statement is confusing; I acknowledge that. This review will not claim to highlight the poverty of the plot, nor will it shadow the characters in slime for their deprived skeletal formations. Rather, what I am trying to say is that this book is very palatable & this is its main flaw.
In essence, this is a story about a woman who grew up in a small town in eastern Canada. The province in which she spent her youth is known to locals as a quaint part of the country. It boasts of a positive reputation internationally & exists near the tumultuous waters that separate it from a mainland of skyscrapers & exhaust fumes. The main character is representative of this reality. Her narrative is very sheltered & as the story progresses, she maneuvers horrible situations with less & less self-awareness. How is this possible?
The story follows Mag as she sheds her strict religious upbringing. Whereas she may have found structure in religion & comfort in the idea that God listened & cared about her every whim; Mag’s foundation cracks as she watches the world crumble without any whisper or revelation from the Great Man above.
The introduction of this narrative was the most intriguing in my opinion because it was unique to the character herself. That is not to say that Mag is the only girl who grew into herself nor is she the only person who veered away from her religious upbringing.
What makes the introduction so interesting is that Mag is aware that others do not experience religion as she does. She is also conscious of the fact that many other groups of people, communities & individuals alike, approach life without religion at all.
Her experiences at the camp, wherein she began a (what you might call) romantic relationship with another girl, welcome the reader into the normal experience that comes along with horribly strict realities. The reader may not have been raised under a religious doctrine nor is it required that they understand the experiences of the LGBTQI+ community. Rather, Mag’s relationship at the camp allows readers to nestle into her shoes, while wearing their own socks.
The author’s approach to the crux of this story gave the tone an interesting flavour. Mag’s pursuit of financial security is admirable & disjointed while also drenched in a layer of sadness. This is not to say that people who work in the adult industry should be pitied, rather, the main character of this story has nothing going for her; she has no friends, no stability, & her family is galivanting the northern Canadian landscape to push their religious beliefs on Indigenous peoples—the list goes on. Though the chapters flow in a singular direction, readers will be forgiven for losing steam halfway through.
Therefore, one may ask why I continued reading this book at all. The answer is not complicated or a jewelled secret; the author has a writing style that fits well & the narrator is troubled enough to be forgiven. She’s just a girl trying her best in a world she was ill-equipped to enter.
It might stand to reason that religious extremist individuals are rarely well-prepared to join the real world but, in truth, they find people who remind them of themselves & they settle into their community. Mag does no such thing.
Every time she meets someone new, the promise of a friendship is offered. The next moment, Mag is alone, & has moved on to a new scenario with new people & none of the life lessons learned. The sadness I described earlier is a direct consequence of the format of this book.
Why does Mag continue to repeat patterns that very obviously do her harm? Why is she so intent on ignoring her so-called friends to put herself in harm’s way? Is money so important to her that she would ignore her safety in pursuit of it?
There are no answers to these questions, the author does not provide insight into Mag’s character. The opposite is done throughout this story & it is even odder because Mag is meant to be maturing. The refusal for the tone of the story to shift to accommodate a changing tide, new experiences & new characters left the story stagnant.
Mag has spent nearly a decade working in the adult industry & she has nothing to show for her. She travels in search of the men who will pay her the most money but who is she as a person? What has she learnt in her years of travel & thousands of conversations?
Though I can appreciate that the story is merely meant to induce a ruminated thought process for the reader, there is not enough girth in the plot for this to be accomplished. There is a semblance of realism in the experiences that Mag shares with the reader & perhaps another individual will forgive the cloistered nature of the main characters’ reflections but, if not for Mag, why is this story being told, to what end & for what purpose?
As always, I do not ask these questions because I want to be meanspirited. I ask these questions because they matter on the whole. Is Mag a person who has an important story to tell—this would depend on the receiver of the web she weaves. Everyone has their journey & our friends are people who care about us & learn to understand us.
The author does not make clear that Mag has people in her life who care about getting to know her & the road she travelled to meet them. There are gaps in Mag’s recollections & portions of this story that read as terribly redundant—such is life, I will not fault the author for this entirely. However, what is the goal of the story?
By this point, it is evident that this was not a book that had me in mind as the target reader. I do not have anyone in mind to whom I would recommend this story because documentaries have existed for decades that make clear the experiences of people exactly like Mag; one could watch these films if one cares to learn from the source, the journey of such a life. When I reflect on my time with this book it is a blur. I appreciated the opportunity to read this book & I will seek out the author again in future as I do hope they write again.
Ultimately, I wanted a more honest exploration of Mag’s character & her experiences. It matters little to simply list bad experiences, small fears, body movements, & trains in the brain; there is a special magic that exists in sharing from the heart to another & Mag intentionally kept herself hidden from the reader & the author did not make strides to correct this. She left her character to sit in stillness when a monsoon wiggled in the background of all her tales. This is disappointing but, not altogether surprising given Mag’s history of communicating with ghosts over fleshy humans with beating hearts.
Thank you to Edelweiss+, Invisible Publishing, & Angel B.H. for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2024
This reads like a memoir of a former hooker talking about all of the places she’s been, all of the men who hired her, and all of the fellow hookers she met and befriended along the way. Because of the way it is written (someone recounting their experiences), it lacked a bit of emotion and tension. It didn’t feel sad or funny or necessarily harrowing. It just was, but not in a bad way. I respected the way sex work was approached and not villainized. What I loved most, though, was the community and sisterhood between hookers in all of the different countries our main character visited. The female friendships and relationships were complicated but caring, as they navigated the sex work industry together. It does talk about religion and the main character’s conflicting feelings on religion and sex work, but it doesn’t take up a majority of the story. It’s mostly our main character going from place to place, trick to trick, and I found it entertaining to go along with her.
Thank you to Edelweiss for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Edelweiss for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Read
December 6, 2024I stumbled upon this book at Giovanni’s room when I was in Philly, and I just knew I had to buy it because it mentioned religion. It’s a lit fic novel that reads like the memoir of a sex worker and her experience in different countries. I’ve been reading it over the past month, and it was a good book to pick up and put down because the different chapters almost read like short stories. There were a couple of times where the main character would be like “this is when I knew something bad is going to happen…” which really took me out of it. Ultimately, though, I think it was super interesting and covered a lot of topics that I’ve never thought about. I’m grateful I bought and read it. Also, I have such happy memories from that trip, and it was the weirdest experience I’ve had in a bookstore (i almost got into a altercation with a really rude customer)
November 11, 2025
Need a muzzie version of this
June 6, 2025
This was so fucking good and had me staying up late unable to stop reading. Mag is so vivid. The weaving of yearning for meaning, prayer, god, tugged my little Catholic heartstrings. I was totally compelled by raucous stories of sex and drugs, fragile lines between pleasure and anxiety and terror, and juicy love affairs.
All Hookers is political without being didactic or dry, showing the highs and lows of Mags work in a way that so clearly illustrates the need for autonomy and worker-led processes for safety. It explores the harms of criminalisation, pitfalls of decrim, of the Nordic model, the impact of SESTA/FOSTA, many flavours of dodgy clients, and the importance of colleagues and solidarity. The paranoia and looming threat, the reality of misogyny, patriarchal entitlement, colonialism, and the way these interlace and how sex workers wade these waters. Urgh, easy 5 stars. Big recommend.
All Hookers is political without being didactic or dry, showing the highs and lows of Mags work in a way that so clearly illustrates the need for autonomy and worker-led processes for safety. It explores the harms of criminalisation, pitfalls of decrim, of the Nordic model, the impact of SESTA/FOSTA, many flavours of dodgy clients, and the importance of colleagues and solidarity. The paranoia and looming threat, the reality of misogyny, patriarchal entitlement, colonialism, and the way these interlace and how sex workers wade these waters. Urgh, easy 5 stars. Big recommend.
October 13, 2024
This book is such an obvious 5 star read for me. I found it incredibly relatable and as a contemporary read having been published this year, it touches on v relevant issues. So many reasons to read it, I’ll give you a few and yes there are spoilers but you'll still get the shock factor when you read it, just accept the spark notes…
The author for one is v introspective. She’s constantly re-evaluating her own attitudes – towards life, swk, sexuality, desire – and easily connects each in reflection to her faith and religious upbringing. As someone who also had a religious upbringing and still practices to an extent, I tend to tread carefully where discussions of religion are concerned, but I find the author handles the topic respectfully.
Two, the memoir gives us a first-hand account of how poor policy planning affects those on the receiving end; the author is someone that worked during the peak of Backpage’s removal and the US’s SESTA/FOSTA debacle. Despite being a Canadian citizen and living in Europe at the time, there was no escaping the effects of a policy that transcends borders. While she may have been in a somewhat privileged position, she details the ways in which this event was detrimental to herself and others. V insightful.
The book is also another first-hand account from someone that has experienced the effects of swk being criminalized, as the author has a v unfortunate experience crossing the US border. (the absolute second hand anxiety I have every time I read a story like this… I am so grateful so see a trend in publishing where more stories from swkers that have experienced criminalization are being shared – truly terrified for how common it seems to be). During her arrest the conditions she describes at the border processing facility are truly dystopian. I would compare them to the conditions described in another trending book “I Who Have Never Known Men” – dehumanizing cells, designed to disorient with no windows or sun or ability to tell how much time as passed, food of poor quality passed through metal bars, and absolutely no way to advocate for yourself. Truly disturbing to put yourself in the author’s shoes.
The part I found the most fascinating came in the last few chapters re: scarcity mentality. Towards the end of the book the author begins to spiral, seemingly growing more and more anxious with every passing page. I became concerned that she was perhaps shifting towards a more negative outlook on the industry, perhaps gearing up to denounce it altogether and default to a righteous morality. I was pleasantly surprised in the last few pages however with the way she returns to neutrality, assigning the industry neither good nor bad, empowering nor evil. She concludes with commentary on hustle culture and the scarcity mentality that seems to permeate the industry no matter what the avenue of swk, seemingly leaving the reader with open ended questions, the answers to which I think can only be found in ourselves.
I can see this scarcity mentality reflected so easily as a dancer – we so often ignore our own burn out because we’re driven by this constant financial instability that tells us if we don’t make our money now there may not be money later. “Well, tonight was supposed to be my night off, but there’s a hockey game, so I should go in.” “Sure, I could pick up a 3rd, 4th, 5th, stage day, who knows how many shows I’ll have next week.” “Absolutely I’ll dance that event! Who knows if I’ll book anymore shows this month.”
Same goes for other areas of swk. Taking on more clients than you have the emotional capacity for in a day, in a week, because who knows how far along your next booking may be. Maybe tomorrow, maybe in two weeks. All the while the fear of never being booked again hanging over your head, forcing you to compromise on security during dry spells – maybe you give someone a pass on screening because they’re your only inquiry – and so many other boundaries that are constantly being pushed.
As swkers we’re driven by a scarcity mentality that forces us to betray ourselves at every turn, and I love the way this book has the potential to open discussions on why that is, and also, how do we set boundaries between our life and work, how can we create financial security for ourselves while for many of us swk isn’t a viable long-term solution? While the memoir ends inconclusively – the author is alive, well, and likely still working, still living her questions, still seeking answers – I quite enjoy how it ends on an introspective note, inadvertently inviting the reader to seek their own answers.
So obviously, I highly recommend this book. If you are an outsider looking in I implore you to reflect on your own positioning as an ally, as often times I find these books to be a bit voyeuristic in terms of how they invite those with absolutely no connection to or experience in the industry to have a peak inside. I am grateful more stories like these are being published, (personally they help me to feel less alone), however reading these stories should be a starting point for change, not the end – something to learn from as we advocate for ourselves as swkers or advocate for friends and family as allies, not just stories to be read and then tossed aside never to be thought of again.
The author for one is v introspective. She’s constantly re-evaluating her own attitudes – towards life, swk, sexuality, desire – and easily connects each in reflection to her faith and religious upbringing. As someone who also had a religious upbringing and still practices to an extent, I tend to tread carefully where discussions of religion are concerned, but I find the author handles the topic respectfully.
Two, the memoir gives us a first-hand account of how poor policy planning affects those on the receiving end; the author is someone that worked during the peak of Backpage’s removal and the US’s SESTA/FOSTA debacle. Despite being a Canadian citizen and living in Europe at the time, there was no escaping the effects of a policy that transcends borders. While she may have been in a somewhat privileged position, she details the ways in which this event was detrimental to herself and others. V insightful.
The book is also another first-hand account from someone that has experienced the effects of swk being criminalized, as the author has a v unfortunate experience crossing the US border. (the absolute second hand anxiety I have every time I read a story like this… I am so grateful so see a trend in publishing where more stories from swkers that have experienced criminalization are being shared – truly terrified for how common it seems to be). During her arrest the conditions she describes at the border processing facility are truly dystopian. I would compare them to the conditions described in another trending book “I Who Have Never Known Men” – dehumanizing cells, designed to disorient with no windows or sun or ability to tell how much time as passed, food of poor quality passed through metal bars, and absolutely no way to advocate for yourself. Truly disturbing to put yourself in the author’s shoes.
The part I found the most fascinating came in the last few chapters re: scarcity mentality. Towards the end of the book the author begins to spiral, seemingly growing more and more anxious with every passing page. I became concerned that she was perhaps shifting towards a more negative outlook on the industry, perhaps gearing up to denounce it altogether and default to a righteous morality. I was pleasantly surprised in the last few pages however with the way she returns to neutrality, assigning the industry neither good nor bad, empowering nor evil. She concludes with commentary on hustle culture and the scarcity mentality that seems to permeate the industry no matter what the avenue of swk, seemingly leaving the reader with open ended questions, the answers to which I think can only be found in ourselves.
I can see this scarcity mentality reflected so easily as a dancer – we so often ignore our own burn out because we’re driven by this constant financial instability that tells us if we don’t make our money now there may not be money later. “Well, tonight was supposed to be my night off, but there’s a hockey game, so I should go in.” “Sure, I could pick up a 3rd, 4th, 5th, stage day, who knows how many shows I’ll have next week.” “Absolutely I’ll dance that event! Who knows if I’ll book anymore shows this month.”
Same goes for other areas of swk. Taking on more clients than you have the emotional capacity for in a day, in a week, because who knows how far along your next booking may be. Maybe tomorrow, maybe in two weeks. All the while the fear of never being booked again hanging over your head, forcing you to compromise on security during dry spells – maybe you give someone a pass on screening because they’re your only inquiry – and so many other boundaries that are constantly being pushed.
As swkers we’re driven by a scarcity mentality that forces us to betray ourselves at every turn, and I love the way this book has the potential to open discussions on why that is, and also, how do we set boundaries between our life and work, how can we create financial security for ourselves while for many of us swk isn’t a viable long-term solution? While the memoir ends inconclusively – the author is alive, well, and likely still working, still living her questions, still seeking answers – I quite enjoy how it ends on an introspective note, inadvertently inviting the reader to seek their own answers.
So obviously, I highly recommend this book. If you are an outsider looking in I implore you to reflect on your own positioning as an ally, as often times I find these books to be a bit voyeuristic in terms of how they invite those with absolutely no connection to or experience in the industry to have a peak inside. I am grateful more stories like these are being published, (personally they help me to feel less alone), however reading these stories should be a starting point for change, not the end – something to learn from as we advocate for ourselves as swkers or advocate for friends and family as allies, not just stories to be read and then tossed aside never to be thought of again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2025
This was entertaining and fast paced with a whole lot of drama - I finished it in two days! But it was also very surface level. I think the author could have gone deeper in the psychological trauma of being a sex worker. I never felt any emotion for Mag or her peers.
December 4, 2024
Loved every second of this book. Beautifully written and powerful. The author takes the reader through a journey of ever-evolving sexuality. At its core, this is a story about the real villains: capitalism and oppressive legislation, while portraying sex work as exactly what it is—work. The stunning prose had me pausing to savour each sentence. I can’t believe this is the author’s first novel. Highly recommend.
October 2, 2025
It is very rare that a book moves me to tears but this one did. Just beautiful.
October 28, 2024
Easy 5 stars! What I had been missing in novels about sex work was a realistic, clear-eyed depiction of sex work. This was a quick read because I was so drawn in by the story, and as much as there were some wild turns in the book, everything that happened felt grounded and true to character. So so glad I found this.
May 26, 2025
i always struggle to rate books that tell the story of someone’s life – i genuinely don’t see them as having a higher or lower level of quality. i really enjoyed this and it felt incredibly honest, like i was somehow able to sit inside mag’s head as she experienced everything.
October 22, 2024
it was definitely an interesting read. i just had a hard time understanding the main character. she had this desire to make a lot of money, but wouldn’t invest it???? idk.
August 2, 2025
the summer I was traumatized ✨
September 11, 2024
Thank you Alicia Elliot and Invisible Publishing for my free ARC of All Hookers Go To Heaven by Angel B.H. — available now!
» READ IF YOU «
🦄 love a queer, character-driven story
🍾 ever got wrapped up in an obsession over money
👠 want to learn a bit about sex work from a personal perspective
» SYNOPSIS «
Magdalena left her stifling small town and religious parents behind, headed for the bright lights of Montreal. But money troubles drove her to the nearest strip club, where things quickly escalated to sex work, and she went off on world tours with fellow hookers. Years later, she’s starting to get nervous about whether or not she’ll ever be able to leave this dangerous life behind.
» REVIEW «
Y’all this book was EVERYTHING. I am absolutely, hopelessly attached to our girl Mag. Watching her shift her focus away from God and toward the Almighty Dollar was fascinating and sometimes, heartbreaking. Sex work is portrayed in such a normalized way, but without negating the risks and horrors that workers face in this industry.
For me, this story flew by and I think the pacing was excellent, not to mention the prose and character development. Mag’s experiences were unique for me in fiction; I’ve read some other books about sex work but they were mostly memoir. I think this fictional lens really allowed the story to develop in a way that fostered attachment, because Mag will not be leaving my brain (or heart) any time soon.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
» READ IF YOU «
🦄 love a queer, character-driven story
🍾 ever got wrapped up in an obsession over money
👠 want to learn a bit about sex work from a personal perspective
» SYNOPSIS «
Magdalena left her stifling small town and religious parents behind, headed for the bright lights of Montreal. But money troubles drove her to the nearest strip club, where things quickly escalated to sex work, and she went off on world tours with fellow hookers. Years later, she’s starting to get nervous about whether or not she’ll ever be able to leave this dangerous life behind.
» REVIEW «
Y’all this book was EVERYTHING. I am absolutely, hopelessly attached to our girl Mag. Watching her shift her focus away from God and toward the Almighty Dollar was fascinating and sometimes, heartbreaking. Sex work is portrayed in such a normalized way, but without negating the risks and horrors that workers face in this industry.
For me, this story flew by and I think the pacing was excellent, not to mention the prose and character development. Mag’s experiences were unique for me in fiction; I’ve read some other books about sex work but they were mostly memoir. I think this fictional lens really allowed the story to develop in a way that fostered attachment, because Mag will not be leaving my brain (or heart) any time soon.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
December 22, 2024
absolutely beautiful book about the complexities of sex work, queerness and the bittersweet sting of chasing money ❤️
September 20, 2024
Spectacular give me 14 of them right now
March 7, 2025
It was readable and compelling but I felt like I only had a surface level understanding of the protagonist the whole time. I never truly understood her motivation for staying in the sex industry beyond her initial whim; her compulsion to constantly earn money despite her never saving it or perhaps investing (lol that sounds so silly but SERIOUSLY she could've been making BANK and retired early); her knack for getting into harrowing situations despite her so-called hustler's instincts...
I get the sense this novel is autobiographical which is maybe why it felt restrained? I dunno
I get the sense this novel is autobiographical which is maybe why it felt restrained? I dunno
January 3, 2025
Such an amazing book. Really interesting story. Would highly recommend, pretty devastating at parts though. Couldn’t put it down.
August 15, 2025
I saw this on the shelf at a local bookstore and the title caught my eye. I read the back and was immediately intrigued by some of the themes. I always find stories of people breaking out from religious teachings or sheltered upbringings to be very fascinating. There’s a level of naïveté that feels honest and nuanced.
I’m not much of a critic when it comes to books, I can only really gauge how invested I am in what I’m reading. Overall, I found it to be very honest and empathetic. It humanizes an industry that is often dehumanized and the writing felt very personable. I cared about the lead character and was invested in her journey & various relationships. The first person perspective really made it feel like I was reading someone’s diary and it felt intimate in that way. It can be a lot to take in at times and I think that just comes with the nature of the contents detailed throughout the story. Not sure who I would recommend it to, but I found it fascinating and I actually finished it, which is saying a lot for me.
I’m not much of a critic when it comes to books, I can only really gauge how invested I am in what I’m reading. Overall, I found it to be very honest and empathetic. It humanizes an industry that is often dehumanized and the writing felt very personable. I cared about the lead character and was invested in her journey & various relationships. The first person perspective really made it feel like I was reading someone’s diary and it felt intimate in that way. It can be a lot to take in at times and I think that just comes with the nature of the contents detailed throughout the story. Not sure who I would recommend it to, but I found it fascinating and I actually finished it, which is saying a lot for me.
August 15, 2025
sooo good, nuanced and a realistic depiction of the complex lives lived by many people in the sex work industry, including misogyny and violence, criminalisation, transphobia and racism. i couldn’t put it down until i finished it at 3am. sorry to the other people in my hostel room. one of my top books of the year
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September 24, 2024Strong structure and pacing. I was surprised that the book’s many friendships were very short-lived considering the emphasis on female friendships as central to the book.
January 16, 2025
With the topics of sex work, I braced myself for a deep and potentially dark road the author could have taken us down. Instead, this book was an entertaining read I couldn’t wait to get back to at the end of the day.
The life and experiences of Mag were described in a matter of fact way, and always relatable - even if the content was new to me.
The life and experiences of Mag were described in a matter of fact way, and always relatable - even if the content was new to me.
November 9, 2024
4.5
The ending made me bawl my eyes out. I loved this so much!!!!! Sad to put it down :(
The ending made me bawl my eyes out. I loved this so much!!!!! Sad to put it down :(
December 11, 2024
A compelling - compulsive - read.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.
September 16, 2025
2.5 - Undeniable potential for a fresh concept.
December 10, 2024
I picked up this book because of the catchy title and then looked at the back and saw who had recommended it and immediately walked over to the cash register and bought it.
No regrets. This was an enjoyable read from a first person perspective, about growing up and making your way in the world.
Also, a very good addition to what seems to be my collection of east coast books. I may have to start a new shelf.
No regrets. This was an enjoyable read from a first person perspective, about growing up and making your way in the world.
Also, a very good addition to what seems to be my collection of east coast books. I may have to start a new shelf.
January 21, 2025
Sex work world tour featuring intense Christianity!
I can’t tell if I *enjoyed* this book?
It was pretty well written and the topic was somewhat interesting. But it read so much like a memoir and ended with a “main character realised that she had to believe in herself” inspirational movie ending, that I don’t know what to make of it.
I can’t tell if I *enjoyed* this book?
It was pretty well written and the topic was somewhat interesting. But it read so much like a memoir and ended with a “main character realised that she had to believe in herself” inspirational movie ending, that I don’t know what to make of it.
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