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Pearly Gates
Finalist – 2025 Readers' Favorite Awards
Finalist – 2025 American Fiction Awards
Meet Pearly Gates, the sassiest spirit guide in the afterlife—and maybe the least qualified.
After dying and getting dumped by her supposedly eternal soulmate for being “emotionally unevolved,” Pearly—a former drag queen with a flair for drama—lands the worst gig in the beyond: cosmic sanitation. But when she strikes a desperate deal to prove she’s capable of growth (and love), she ends up as a spirit guide at Thunderbolt Books & Coffee—a cozy café full of ghostly mischief, spiced lattes, and a community in need of connection.
As Pearly uses her charm (and a little celestial magic) to help a young widow risk new love, a trans baker rediscover her spark, and a dying accountant romance a ghost from the 1920s, she begins to find something she thought she’d lost forever: belonging.
But when she realizes the café’s owner is her reincarnated ex—and one of her charges is falling for them—things get complicated fast. Between saving the café, dodging afterlife detectives, and sorting out her own messy feelings, Pearly must decide what really matters most.
Uplifting, full of heart, and the perfect fall escape, Pearly Gates is a modern day cozy fantasy filled with glitter, grief, and healing, wrapped in hilarious celestial mishaps and the true magic of found family.
Perfect for fans of TJ Klune and The Good Place.
Finalist – 2025 American Fiction Awards
Meet Pearly Gates, the sassiest spirit guide in the afterlife—and maybe the least qualified.
After dying and getting dumped by her supposedly eternal soulmate for being “emotionally unevolved,” Pearly—a former drag queen with a flair for drama—lands the worst gig in the beyond: cosmic sanitation. But when she strikes a desperate deal to prove she’s capable of growth (and love), she ends up as a spirit guide at Thunderbolt Books & Coffee—a cozy café full of ghostly mischief, spiced lattes, and a community in need of connection.
As Pearly uses her charm (and a little celestial magic) to help a young widow risk new love, a trans baker rediscover her spark, and a dying accountant romance a ghost from the 1920s, she begins to find something she thought she’d lost forever: belonging.
But when she realizes the café’s owner is her reincarnated ex—and one of her charges is falling for them—things get complicated fast. Between saving the café, dodging afterlife detectives, and sorting out her own messy feelings, Pearly must decide what really matters most.
Uplifting, full of heart, and the perfect fall escape, Pearly Gates is a modern day cozy fantasy filled with glitter, grief, and healing, wrapped in hilarious celestial mishaps and the true magic of found family.
Perfect for fans of TJ Klune and The Good Place.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2025
29 people are currently reading
1885 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie Solomon
2 books33 followersBonnie Solomon is a novelist and screenwriter who crafts humorous, uplifting stories set in magical worlds. Her favorite genres are cozy fantasy and hopepunk.
A Midwest native and seasoned Hollywood professional, Bonnie has worked in feature film development with industry giants like Walden Media and DreamWorks Animation. Her notes have helped shape many films, including Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Wild Robot. As a creative consultant, she has written film and TV treatments, edited novels, and coached writers from outline to final draft.
As a queer author, Bonnie is committed to authentic and aspirational LGBTQ+ representation. Her debut novel, Pearly Gates, features a deceased drag queen turned afterlife sanitation worker who cons her way into a spirit guide gig at a small-town bookshop café, where she must help three troubled locals, dodge a pair of celestial detectives, and navigate a love triangle with her reincarnated soulmate.
When she’s not writing, you can find Bonnie cuddling her cat, shaking it loose on the dance floor, or searching for the best latte in LA.
Follow Bonnie for updates and bookish fun:
📬 Newsletter: Sign up here
📷 Instagram: @bonnie.solomon
🌐 Website: bonniesolomon.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
February 4, 2026
In a Nutshell: A fantasy spanning life and afterlife featuring a drag queen at the helm. Creative plot, great found-family vibes, vibrant characters but tough-to-like main character and a bit OTT in language and behaviour. Recommended but not to all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
💃 The plot idea, with the spirit world showing the interconnections between us, the varied jobs in the afterlife that take care of deceased humans, and a bumbling spirit guide trying to figure things out while on the job. Great concept!
💃 The secondary characters, whether living, dead or ageless. Most are intriguing, and not all are goody-goody. Pearly’s three human charges – Hannah, a widow unable to move beyond her grief; Sam a terminally-ill young man confronting his mortality; and Danielle a trans woman struggling to find acceptance after coming out – are so well written! Their interactions create a nice found-family vibe. I also loved Seraphina (IYKYK) in her limited appearance.
💃 The coming-of-age feel, despite the characters being far beyond the formative age and some even being ageless. Of course, some characters are yet to grow even until the end of the book (Looking at you, Pearly!) but at least they have started on the journey towards self-improvement.
💃 The flashbacks depicting Pearly’s earlier lives with Thunder – a creative way of seeing their dynamic across their various human lives.
💃 The LGBTQIA+ inclusivity – spot on! While there are many gender identities and exploration related to issues faced by gender minority (societal acceptance of gender identity, dysmorphia, gender transitioning,…), nothing feels forced into the plot, and it never seems like the story is ticking off a checklist.
💃 The humour, mostly created by Pearly’s ignorant shenanigans. Quite fun.
💃 The descriptions of the various places, whether in the cosmic world or the human one. The ambience feels very real even when surreal.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌈 Pearly Gates. (What a fabulous name!) I love the idea of a drag queen character in the lead. However, some parts of Pearly’s behaviour feels a bit too stereotypical and OTT. This, combined with her atrocious self-centred behaviour in the initial chapters, made it slightly tough for me to root for her wholeheartedly despite wanting to. Plus, she doesn’t receive just comeuppance for the times she behaves inappropriately; rather, she seems to be rewarded for it. Not fair! (Some part of the drag content reminded me of Dominic Lim’s 'Karaoke Queen', which featured a human drag queen whose character was better handled.)
🌈 The ending. With so many characters, there are of course multiple ending arcs. Some of them break the genre norm, which I truly appreciate. The rest feel a bit too contrived. But it is a cozy book after all, so… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Bookish Nays:
🌧️ This would have been a great cozy fantasy had it refrained from foul language. There is not just an abundance of cuss words but also religious blasphemy. This point might not bother all readers, but I do not prefer so many vulgarities in fiction, especially when the book is supposed to be a cozy read. Such language takes me out of complete immersion into the narrative. (This was worsened by the fact that I heard the book on audio, so I couldn’t even jump over the f-bombs.)
🌧️ Never a fan of ‘dumb’ and ‘spastic’ being used offensively.
🌧️ Not a fan of the entire subplot connected to the “dumb” character.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 10 hrs 10 min, is narrated by the author herself. I am wary of picking up books narrated by authors as my experience so far has been quite mixed. However, this author has a lovely voice that is perfect for reading. I mostly enjoyed her performance. I just wish there had been greater variation across the character voices. For a book with so many spoken interactions between the characters, it sometimes became confusing to keep track of who was speaking. Regardless, the audio version is a great way of experiencing this story.
All in all, I did enjoy a major chunk of this indie offering. If the profanity and the offensive subplots had been chucked out, this would have been an even better experience for me.
I am quite impressed that this is a debut novel. Of course, the author seems to have prior writing experience, but general writing and novel writing isn't the same ballgame. The writing in this book is structured and the themes, focussed.
Just a few days ago, the author posted on her Instagram page that Pearly Gates is now officially a trilogy, and books 2 and 3 will be out by the end of 2026. Despite my slight dissatisfaction with the language and a couple of the writing choices, I am still intrigued to see how Pearly’s journey continues. So… count me in!
Recommended to those looking for an offbeat narrative with a flamboyant lead character and are okay with profanity in cozy reads.
3.5 stars. (Rounding up for the novelty of the plot and the umbrella rep.)
My thanks to Bonsol Press for providing the ALC of “Pearly Gates” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
The digital version of this book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
|| My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Pearly Gates, a cosmic entity who was a drag queen in her earlier life, is facing two major issues: 1. Her job as cosmic sanitation worker is in the dumps. (Pun intended.); 2. Her soulmate Thunder has just ditched her for being emotionally backward. So when a burnt-out spirit guide hands over to Pearly his pending caseload of three struggling humans, she hopes to solve both the issues by helping the humans get their act together, and thus get a more fulfilling career and win Thunder back. Unfortunately, things are much more complicated than they initially appear, and Pearly finds herself battling a dilemma that she can resolve only by understanding her true priorities.
The story comes to us in Pearly's third-person perspective.
Bookish Yays:
💃 The plot idea, with the spirit world showing the interconnections between us, the varied jobs in the afterlife that take care of deceased humans, and a bumbling spirit guide trying to figure things out while on the job. Great concept!
💃 The secondary characters, whether living, dead or ageless. Most are intriguing, and not all are goody-goody. Pearly’s three human charges – Hannah, a widow unable to move beyond her grief; Sam a terminally-ill young man confronting his mortality; and Danielle a trans woman struggling to find acceptance after coming out – are so well written! Their interactions create a nice found-family vibe. I also loved Seraphina (IYKYK) in her limited appearance.
💃 The coming-of-age feel, despite the characters being far beyond the formative age and some even being ageless. Of course, some characters are yet to grow even until the end of the book (Looking at you, Pearly!) but at least they have started on the journey towards self-improvement.
💃 The flashbacks depicting Pearly’s earlier lives with Thunder – a creative way of seeing their dynamic across their various human lives.
💃 The LGBTQIA+ inclusivity – spot on! While there are many gender identities and exploration related to issues faced by gender minority (societal acceptance of gender identity, dysmorphia, gender transitioning,…), nothing feels forced into the plot, and it never seems like the story is ticking off a checklist.
💃 The humour, mostly created by Pearly’s ignorant shenanigans. Quite fun.
💃 The descriptions of the various places, whether in the cosmic world or the human one. The ambience feels very real even when surreal.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌈 Pearly Gates. (What a fabulous name!) I love the idea of a drag queen character in the lead. However, some parts of Pearly’s behaviour feels a bit too stereotypical and OTT. This, combined with her atrocious self-centred behaviour in the initial chapters, made it slightly tough for me to root for her wholeheartedly despite wanting to. Plus, she doesn’t receive just comeuppance for the times she behaves inappropriately; rather, she seems to be rewarded for it. Not fair! (Some part of the drag content reminded me of Dominic Lim’s 'Karaoke Queen', which featured a human drag queen whose character was better handled.)
🌈 The ending. With so many characters, there are of course multiple ending arcs. Some of them break the genre norm, which I truly appreciate. The rest feel a bit too contrived. But it is a cozy book after all, so… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Bookish Nays:
🌧️ This would have been a great cozy fantasy had it refrained from foul language. There is not just an abundance of cuss words but also religious blasphemy. This point might not bother all readers, but I do not prefer so many vulgarities in fiction, especially when the book is supposed to be a cozy read. Such language takes me out of complete immersion into the narrative. (This was worsened by the fact that I heard the book on audio, so I couldn’t even jump over the f-bombs.)
🌧️ Never a fan of ‘dumb’ and ‘spastic’ being used offensively.
🌧️ Not a fan of the entire subplot connected to the “dumb” character.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 10 hrs 10 min, is narrated by the author herself. I am wary of picking up books narrated by authors as my experience so far has been quite mixed. However, this author has a lovely voice that is perfect for reading. I mostly enjoyed her performance. I just wish there had been greater variation across the character voices. For a book with so many spoken interactions between the characters, it sometimes became confusing to keep track of who was speaking. Regardless, the audio version is a great way of experiencing this story.
All in all, I did enjoy a major chunk of this indie offering. If the profanity and the offensive subplots had been chucked out, this would have been an even better experience for me.
I am quite impressed that this is a debut novel. Of course, the author seems to have prior writing experience, but general writing and novel writing isn't the same ballgame. The writing in this book is structured and the themes, focussed.
Just a few days ago, the author posted on her Instagram page that Pearly Gates is now officially a trilogy, and books 2 and 3 will be out by the end of 2026. Despite my slight dissatisfaction with the language and a couple of the writing choices, I am still intrigued to see how Pearly’s journey continues. So… count me in!
Recommended to those looking for an offbeat narrative with a flamboyant lead character and are okay with profanity in cozy reads.
3.5 stars. (Rounding up for the novelty of the plot and the umbrella rep.)
My thanks to Bonsol Press for providing the ALC of “Pearly Gates” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
The digital version of this book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
|| My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
June 27, 2025
✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
Pearly Gates by Bonnie Solomon
NOW AVAILABLE AND ON KU
Thoughts
Well safe to say I went into this blindly because I sure wasn't expecting to cry over a cosy fantasy. I throughly enjoyed this more than I anticipated, it had such beautiful messages, oh to live in a world with people like Pearly 🥹 there was such an unexpected wholesome heartwarming feel to this read I was invested so much so I felt as though I finished it quickly. I adored the afterlife element and the perspective of how we're all connected, the overview of how the world works. It's not often ( almost never ) that I do rereads but I'll definitely be rereading this one in the future! I've always said as someone who is a mood reader I love to a bit of everything across all genres and this one definitely delivered!
Plot Summary
An afterlife drag queen Pearly Gates is stuck in cosmic cleanup duty—until she makes a secret deal to guide three struggling souls and prove she’s capable of change. Sent to a haunted small-town café, she helps a widow, a dying student, and a trans woman heal. But when she realises the café owner is her reincarnated soulmate—and one of her charges falls for him—Pearly must choose between doing what’s right and fighting for love.
Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the ALC
Pearly Gates by Bonnie Solomon
NOW AVAILABLE AND ON KU
Thoughts
Well safe to say I went into this blindly because I sure wasn't expecting to cry over a cosy fantasy. I throughly enjoyed this more than I anticipated, it had such beautiful messages, oh to live in a world with people like Pearly 🥹 there was such an unexpected wholesome heartwarming feel to this read I was invested so much so I felt as though I finished it quickly. I adored the afterlife element and the perspective of how we're all connected, the overview of how the world works. It's not often ( almost never ) that I do rereads but I'll definitely be rereading this one in the future! I've always said as someone who is a mood reader I love to a bit of everything across all genres and this one definitely delivered!
Plot Summary
An afterlife drag queen Pearly Gates is stuck in cosmic cleanup duty—until she makes a secret deal to guide three struggling souls and prove she’s capable of change. Sent to a haunted small-town café, she helps a widow, a dying student, and a trans woman heal. But when she realises the café owner is her reincarnated soulmate—and one of her charges falls for him—Pearly must choose between doing what’s right and fighting for love.
Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the ALC
May 30, 2025
Pearly Gates is a cozy fantasy jam packed with heart and soul, in more ways than one.
An afterlife drag queen trying her hand at being a spirit guide is as chaotic and fun as it sounds. Lip syncs and death drops are in abundance, but along the way on Pearly’s mission there are loads of really touching positive messages.
Laugh out loud funny, several dry your eyes moments, and a banger of a soundtrack.
I have a feeling Pearly will be back and I’ll be right here waiting.
Get this on your pride month tbr.
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
Beautifully written and narrated by Bonnie Solomon 🎧
Huge thanks to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
An afterlife drag queen trying her hand at being a spirit guide is as chaotic and fun as it sounds. Lip syncs and death drops are in abundance, but along the way on Pearly’s mission there are loads of really touching positive messages.
Laugh out loud funny, several dry your eyes moments, and a banger of a soundtrack.
I have a feeling Pearly will be back and I’ll be right here waiting.
Get this on your pride month tbr.
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
Beautifully written and narrated by Bonnie Solomon 🎧
Huge thanks to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
March 10, 2025
I was given an advance copy of the book and it was the exact feel good story of acceptance I needed right now! If everyone could embrace one another with the same love, kindness and hilarious flair as Pearly, we’d be in a much better place. With a unique take on how we are all connected, Pearly Gates is a wild and unexpected ride, full of heart. The characters are fully formed, dimensional, and colorful, and they paint an amazingly positive outlook on the future, especially when we help one another.
Not to mention the afterlife! Talk about imaginative. The great beyond in Pearly Gates is filled with the whacky, the weird, and the wonderful, but grounded in acute observation of how the world works. Overall, I can’t recommend this book enough if you are looking for your next cozy fantasy. Its creativity, complex character arcs and full spectrum of representation is top notch –it made me laugh and cry (happy tears). I hope my Spirit Guide is just as fabulous!
Not to mention the afterlife! Talk about imaginative. The great beyond in Pearly Gates is filled with the whacky, the weird, and the wonderful, but grounded in acute observation of how the world works. Overall, I can’t recommend this book enough if you are looking for your next cozy fantasy. Its creativity, complex character arcs and full spectrum of representation is top notch –it made me laugh and cry (happy tears). I hope my Spirit Guide is just as fabulous!
April 30, 2025
Oh my lord I’m curled up in my bed crying into my stuffed animals over this damn book rn
I’ll be honest… this is a book I probably wouldn’t have picked up on my own, but a friend hasn’t stopped recommending it to me and I thought why not. I’m so pleasantly surprised by how moved I am by this novel, which might sound weird but I promise if you’ve read this it makes perfect sense.
I loved the themes of found family, identity, love, and finding meaning in life. This book explores these themes in a way that feels relatable and real—it had me reflecting on my own experiences and relating myself to the characters and what they were going through. And the characters were so unique and comforting, Pearly herself was such a gem of a character that I need a sequel on my desk like tomorrow.
I laughed, I cried, I had the time of my life. Y’all need to add this to your TBRs, it’s game-changing.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Bonsol Press for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own*
I’ll be honest… this is a book I probably wouldn’t have picked up on my own, but a friend hasn’t stopped recommending it to me and I thought why not. I’m so pleasantly surprised by how moved I am by this novel, which might sound weird but I promise if you’ve read this it makes perfect sense.
I loved the themes of found family, identity, love, and finding meaning in life. This book explores these themes in a way that feels relatable and real—it had me reflecting on my own experiences and relating myself to the characters and what they were going through. And the characters were so unique and comforting, Pearly herself was such a gem of a character that I need a sequel on my desk like tomorrow.
I laughed, I cried, I had the time of my life. Y’all need to add this to your TBRs, it’s game-changing.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Bonsol Press for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own*
April 23, 2025
Book Review: Pearly Gates by Bonnie Solomon
Bonnie Solomon’s Pearly Gates is a vibrant, imaginative entry in the cozy fantasy genre, blending humour, heart, and a dash of celestial mischief. The story centres on Pearly Gates, a deceased drag queen turned cosmic sanitation worker, who is desperate to win back her soulmate after being told she’s incapable of growth. Pearly’s plan? Take over a spirit guide’s caseload and prove she’s worthy of love and redemption1.
Plot and Setting:
Pearly’s mission brings her to Thunderbolt Books & Coffee, a charming Midwestern bookshop café haunted by a 1920s burlesque dancer. Here, she’s tasked with guiding three struggling souls: a grieving widow, a terminally ill college graduate, and a trans woman searching for purpose. The twist? The café owner is her soulmate, reincarnated, and one of Pearly’s charges starts to fall for him, forcing Pearly to choose between her own happiness and her duty as a guide.
Tone and Style:
Solomon’s prose is described as “sparkling, mischievous, heartfelt, and bursting with life (and afterlife),” deftly balancing laugh-out-loud comedy with genuine emotional depth. The novel is rich in tongue-in-cheek humour, clever world-building, and a brisk pace that keeps the pages turning. The afterlife in Pearly Gates is whimsical and eccentric, yet grounded in acute observations about love, loss, and self-discovery.
Themes and Representation:
At its core, Pearly Gates is a celebration of found family, queer identity, and the messy process of personal growth. The book’s LGBTQ+ representation is authentic and aspirational, offering moments that resonate deeply with readers from the community and beyond. The narrative explores universal themes—grief, acceptance, and the search for purpose—through a lens that is both inclusive and uplifting.
Characterization:
Pearly herself is a standout protagonist: flawed, fabulous, and utterly relatable. Her journey is one of self-acceptance and transformation, mirrored by the growth of those she’s sent to help. The supporting cast—both mortal and spectral—are equally well-drawn, with arcs that are touching, humorous, and satisfyingly resolved.
Strengths:
I love the novel’s cozy atmosphere, it was like rewatching all of my favourite comfort shows. The book’s blend of supernatural antics, queer romance, and small-town charm makes it a perfect pick for fans of “Legends & Lattes” and anyone seeking a feel-good, hopepunk read.
Conclusion:
Pearly Gates is a delightful, genre-blending romp that manages to be both playful and profound. Bonnie Solomon’s debut is a must-read for fans of cozy fantasy, queer fiction, and anyone who believes in second chances—even after life’s final curtain call. Highly recommended for book clubs, comfort reads, and anyone in search of a little more sparkle in their literary life.
Bonnie Solomon’s Pearly Gates is a vibrant, imaginative entry in the cozy fantasy genre, blending humour, heart, and a dash of celestial mischief. The story centres on Pearly Gates, a deceased drag queen turned cosmic sanitation worker, who is desperate to win back her soulmate after being told she’s incapable of growth. Pearly’s plan? Take over a spirit guide’s caseload and prove she’s worthy of love and redemption1.
Plot and Setting:
Pearly’s mission brings her to Thunderbolt Books & Coffee, a charming Midwestern bookshop café haunted by a 1920s burlesque dancer. Here, she’s tasked with guiding three struggling souls: a grieving widow, a terminally ill college graduate, and a trans woman searching for purpose. The twist? The café owner is her soulmate, reincarnated, and one of Pearly’s charges starts to fall for him, forcing Pearly to choose between her own happiness and her duty as a guide.
Tone and Style:
Solomon’s prose is described as “sparkling, mischievous, heartfelt, and bursting with life (and afterlife),” deftly balancing laugh-out-loud comedy with genuine emotional depth. The novel is rich in tongue-in-cheek humour, clever world-building, and a brisk pace that keeps the pages turning. The afterlife in Pearly Gates is whimsical and eccentric, yet grounded in acute observations about love, loss, and self-discovery.
Themes and Representation:
At its core, Pearly Gates is a celebration of found family, queer identity, and the messy process of personal growth. The book’s LGBTQ+ representation is authentic and aspirational, offering moments that resonate deeply with readers from the community and beyond. The narrative explores universal themes—grief, acceptance, and the search for purpose—through a lens that is both inclusive and uplifting.
Characterization:
Pearly herself is a standout protagonist: flawed, fabulous, and utterly relatable. Her journey is one of self-acceptance and transformation, mirrored by the growth of those she’s sent to help. The supporting cast—both mortal and spectral—are equally well-drawn, with arcs that are touching, humorous, and satisfyingly resolved.
Strengths:
I love the novel’s cozy atmosphere, it was like rewatching all of my favourite comfort shows. The book’s blend of supernatural antics, queer romance, and small-town charm makes it a perfect pick for fans of “Legends & Lattes” and anyone seeking a feel-good, hopepunk read.
Conclusion:
Pearly Gates is a delightful, genre-blending romp that manages to be both playful and profound. Bonnie Solomon’s debut is a must-read for fans of cozy fantasy, queer fiction, and anyone who believes in second chances—even after life’s final curtain call. Highly recommended for book clubs, comfort reads, and anyone in search of a little more sparkle in their literary life.
April 17, 2025
When I read the synopsis for Pearly Gates, Bonnie Solomon's new cozy fantasy novel, I felt as though it was written specifically for me.
Dead drag queen Pearly Gates (what a name) is feeling stalled out- she's working a dead end job in the afterlife, gaining enlightenment feels like a distant dream, and her soulmate has left her, citing her immaturity and lack of purpose. Pearly has to win him back- and so, she strikes a very illegal deal with a burnt-out spirit guide, to take care of his three Midwestern human charges - a heartbroken young widow, a terminally ill young man, and a trans woman looking for purpose- while he goes on vacation. Things take a decidedly less altruistic turn when Pearly realizes a local café owner is her reincarnated estranged soulmate. What hijinks could possibly ensue?
I ADORED this book. From its first pages I was enthralled by the immersive and inventive worldbuilding, Solomon's humorous writing style, and well-crafted story beats. I fell in love with every character who graced the pages, and lapped up the found family elements. This was so silly at times, yet full of so much heart, and had its moments of deep sadness intertwined with the plot. I felt cared for as a reader, trusting the author and Pearly to shepherd me through the book with care. It is hard to believe this is a debut novel, and I look forward to reading what Bonnie Solomon cooks up next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonsol Press for providing me with an ARC of this book!
Dead drag queen Pearly Gates (what a name) is feeling stalled out- she's working a dead end job in the afterlife, gaining enlightenment feels like a distant dream, and her soulmate has left her, citing her immaturity and lack of purpose. Pearly has to win him back- and so, she strikes a very illegal deal with a burnt-out spirit guide, to take care of his three Midwestern human charges - a heartbroken young widow, a terminally ill young man, and a trans woman looking for purpose- while he goes on vacation. Things take a decidedly less altruistic turn when Pearly realizes a local café owner is her reincarnated estranged soulmate. What hijinks could possibly ensue?
I ADORED this book. From its first pages I was enthralled by the immersive and inventive worldbuilding, Solomon's humorous writing style, and well-crafted story beats. I fell in love with every character who graced the pages, and lapped up the found family elements. This was so silly at times, yet full of so much heart, and had its moments of deep sadness intertwined with the plot. I felt cared for as a reader, trusting the author and Pearly to shepherd me through the book with care. It is hard to believe this is a debut novel, and I look forward to reading what Bonnie Solomon cooks up next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonsol Press for providing me with an ARC of this book!
March 30, 2025
I absolutely loved this book and I could not put it down!
This is so far from what I normally read that I was both intrigued and worried I wouldn’t like it. The story is so emotionally charged that I don’t think I’ve been this engaged in a story for a long time.
Pearly Gates is a heavenly drag queen who, after her soul mate leaves her, decides to set out to prove she is worth loving. She works her way into a role where she takes charge of three souls with different problems, and she has to help them to work through them. It’s a story of empathy, love both found and lost, and laughter. This author makes me laugh out loud as tears are filling my eyes.
It’s not the ending I was expecting, and part of me is a little hopeful that it means there’ll be a sequel. But, there also has to be something said about how Pearly recognises that she is fierce, loveable, and very capable without leaning on Thunder for help. She’s ready to take the next steps on her own and smash it! If we could all take on the world like Pearly, it would be a much better place.
The world set up, the story, the delivery, everything was perfect. I really can’t recommend this book enough.
——
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest opinion.
This is so far from what I normally read that I was both intrigued and worried I wouldn’t like it. The story is so emotionally charged that I don’t think I’ve been this engaged in a story for a long time.
Pearly Gates is a heavenly drag queen who, after her soul mate leaves her, decides to set out to prove she is worth loving. She works her way into a role where she takes charge of three souls with different problems, and she has to help them to work through them. It’s a story of empathy, love both found and lost, and laughter. This author makes me laugh out loud as tears are filling my eyes.
It’s not the ending I was expecting, and part of me is a little hopeful that it means there’ll be a sequel. But, there also has to be something said about how Pearly recognises that she is fierce, loveable, and very capable without leaning on Thunder for help. She’s ready to take the next steps on her own and smash it! If we could all take on the world like Pearly, it would be a much better place.
The world set up, the story, the delivery, everything was perfect. I really can’t recommend this book enough.
——
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest opinion.
June 20, 2025
This is such a beautiful story!
Let me tell you I CRIED!
This is so cozy, reaching and speaking on different challenges that some people in their lives go through, it was approached and spoken about in this book so gracefully and sensitivily without losing the raw emotion that comes with the issues faced.
Thank you.
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC of this story on Netgalley...
Let me tell you I CRIED!
This is so cozy, reaching and speaking on different challenges that some people in their lives go through, it was approached and spoken about in this book so gracefully and sensitivily without losing the raw emotion that comes with the issues faced.
Thank you.
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC of this story on Netgalley...
March 11, 2025
I got lucky! Being an early reader of a new book or a new author - or both, as in this case - is always a thrill, but getting to be among the first to discover an excellent new voice offering a new character and a whole new fictional world to explore... that's a rare joy. Bonnie Solomon's "Pearly Gates" is just such an unexpected bit of fortune.
"Pearly Gates" is not only a fabulous name for a heavenly drag queen, but the perfect title for a book that is, in its big and beautiful heart, about being accepted in and embraced by a loving universe. The characters that populate Pearly's world - both here on Earth and in the afterlife - are recognizable, easy to empathize with, and all facing problems with which any reader can relate: loss of love, loss of identity, even the impending loss of one's own life. Pearly herself is a heroine possessed of all-too-human flaws that she must overcome. The drama throughout is well-rendered and deeply touching, yet Solomon relates these stories with a brisk sense of pacing and even bursts of laugh-out-loud comedy that kept me turning pages with as many happy smiles as wistful tears.
I have only recently discovered the subgenre of "Cozy Fantasy" and it seems to me that "Pearly Gates" exhibits the best traits to be found in books of that category, like "Legends & Lattes": warm settings you'll long to visit, empathetic characters you'll be happy to befriend, a gentle sense of humor that will keep you smiling, and stakes that are low on the "save the world" scale, but sky-high in the characters' hearts. I look forward to more from Pearly and her earthly author, Bonnie Solomon.
"Pearly Gates" is not only a fabulous name for a heavenly drag queen, but the perfect title for a book that is, in its big and beautiful heart, about being accepted in and embraced by a loving universe. The characters that populate Pearly's world - both here on Earth and in the afterlife - are recognizable, easy to empathize with, and all facing problems with which any reader can relate: loss of love, loss of identity, even the impending loss of one's own life. Pearly herself is a heroine possessed of all-too-human flaws that she must overcome. The drama throughout is well-rendered and deeply touching, yet Solomon relates these stories with a brisk sense of pacing and even bursts of laugh-out-loud comedy that kept me turning pages with as many happy smiles as wistful tears.
I have only recently discovered the subgenre of "Cozy Fantasy" and it seems to me that "Pearly Gates" exhibits the best traits to be found in books of that category, like "Legends & Lattes": warm settings you'll long to visit, empathetic characters you'll be happy to befriend, a gentle sense of humor that will keep you smiling, and stakes that are low on the "save the world" scale, but sky-high in the characters' hearts. I look forward to more from Pearly and her earthly author, Bonnie Solomon.
May 21, 2025
I had the privilege of reading this early thanks to NetGalley and I’m so grateful I got to experience this story. From the first few pages it felt heartwarming and even relatable, despite the book’s magical and other worldly aspects. This was such a unique story to explain the topic of reincarnation, past lives, and soul searching with a modern twist.
Everything from the setting, to the characters, I was able to picture so vividly in my head. My main take away from this story was its message when it comes to soul searching. I think Pearly Gates does an exceptional job at depicting these fantastical and whimsical aspects of world building while still being relatable. Relatable in a sense that we all reflect on our own lives, our own accomplishments, wants, what-ifs, and maybe even regrets. We’re all put on a level playing field when we’re challenged with our own mortality and the subsequent thoughts that come afterwards.
There were some moments where I thought the story dragged just a smidge, but not anything that would deter me from rereading or recommending this book to others. If anything, I want more Pearly!! I would love to read more of Pearly’s experiences and escapades with other souls as a spirit guide, or even her own experiences of past lives and her own reincarnation. This book is for those who love a cozy fantasy and a found family trope!
With its use of whimsical prose and humor, Pearly Gates examines characters from different walks of life and tells the story of their time with a spirit guide (who happens to be a fabulous drag queen with an over the top personality and also feels like she’s at a standstill). It lets us know that really none of us have our lives together, even intergalactic celestial beings, and that’s perfectly okay.
Everything from the setting, to the characters, I was able to picture so vividly in my head. My main take away from this story was its message when it comes to soul searching. I think Pearly Gates does an exceptional job at depicting these fantastical and whimsical aspects of world building while still being relatable. Relatable in a sense that we all reflect on our own lives, our own accomplishments, wants, what-ifs, and maybe even regrets. We’re all put on a level playing field when we’re challenged with our own mortality and the subsequent thoughts that come afterwards.
There were some moments where I thought the story dragged just a smidge, but not anything that would deter me from rereading or recommending this book to others. If anything, I want more Pearly!! I would love to read more of Pearly’s experiences and escapades with other souls as a spirit guide, or even her own experiences of past lives and her own reincarnation. This book is for those who love a cozy fantasy and a found family trope!
With its use of whimsical prose and humor, Pearly Gates examines characters from different walks of life and tells the story of their time with a spirit guide (who happens to be a fabulous drag queen with an over the top personality and also feels like she’s at a standstill). It lets us know that really none of us have our lives together, even intergalactic celestial beings, and that’s perfectly okay.
June 2, 2025
⭐️6♾️ I’m hoping that ending means a possible sequel 👀 I’ll scream. For this to be Bonnie’s debut novel WOW. This book truly stuck a cord for me. Our story starts out with a heavenly drag queen named pearly who ends up losing their soulmate. After that They decide that they need to live life and learn to love themselves/find themselves navigating life without their partner. They end up in a position where they guide souls a true spirit guide and she’s in charge of three particular souls. A widow, a terminally ill college graduate , and a trans woman searching for purpose. During pearly’s mission it brings us to thunderbolt books & coffee the cutest Midwestern bookstore that’s haunted by a 1920 burlesque dancer. The catch is while guiding these three spirits, one of them end up falling for the owner of the bookstore who just so happens to be pearly’s ex reincarnated. She’s now tasked with choosing her own happiness over her duty as a spirit guide. This story had so many positive moments that had me crying and some laugh out loud things during this book so I was back-and-forth. It’s a beautiful story of empathy, love passed in present, queer identity, the messy trials of self discovery/ loving ourselves and found family. This is a beautiful book one of my favorites of this year.This needs to be on your TBR especially for pride month. I can’t recommend this enough. It changed me.
April 26, 2025
I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of Pearly Gates. The creativity is off the charts in this book!!! I have never read anything like it - in a good way. The imagery was beautiful and the characters that Bonnie Solomon created are relatable, genuine, and people/spirits I want to know! I tend to enjoy books that have nuggets of wisdom that I can connect to, and this one did. I plan to go back to my highlights later.
Pearly’s journey to find/prove herself after the loss of love was captivating to read. Throughout the novel, it was wonderful as the reader to see how Pearly was guiding herself in addition to her charges. Change and the realities of life are difficult, and this book provided me with an escape into characters I could connect to and learn from.
Kudos to Bonnie Solomon on her first (hopefully not last) novel!
Pearly’s journey to find/prove herself after the loss of love was captivating to read. Throughout the novel, it was wonderful as the reader to see how Pearly was guiding herself in addition to her charges. Change and the realities of life are difficult, and this book provided me with an escape into characters I could connect to and learn from.
Kudos to Bonnie Solomon on her first (hopefully not last) novel!
March 19, 2025
I requested this book without really reading the blurb. I saw a cool cover, a drag queen, and that it was listed as an LGBTQIA+ book—those three things alone were enough to sell me. I admit, I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into. Imagine my surprise when the story immediately threw me into a wildly entertaining afterlife scene!
At first, I found the beginning to be a little cheesy (but hey, I love cheese, so I was happy to stick with it). Surprisingly, everything that initially struck me as over-the-top quickly became what I loved most about the book. Another unexpected but welcome surprise? Pearly Gates is a cozy fantasy, something I hadn’t realized going in but ended up really enjoying.
I had just finished another novel about soulmates finding each other across timelines, so I was particularly invested in that aspect of the story and had feelings about how it played out here. But what really won me over was the quirky, chaotic afterlife and its delightfully eccentric characters. I also loved the earthbound cast and watching their transformations unfold as they spent time with Pearly.
Honestly, I thought I might tire of the constant drag queen one-liners, but instead, it felt like being curled up in bed rewatching Drag Race—pure comfort. And by far, my favorite character was Dumb Pearly. Her storyline might have been small, but her zingers? Iconic. Slay, DP!
If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy with a queer cast, found family, non-linear timelines, interdimensional antics, and one (and a half) outrageous drag queens, Pearly Gates is the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonsol Press for the free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This was such a fun read!
At first, I found the beginning to be a little cheesy (but hey, I love cheese, so I was happy to stick with it). Surprisingly, everything that initially struck me as over-the-top quickly became what I loved most about the book. Another unexpected but welcome surprise? Pearly Gates is a cozy fantasy, something I hadn’t realized going in but ended up really enjoying.
I had just finished another novel about soulmates finding each other across timelines, so I was particularly invested in that aspect of the story and had feelings about how it played out here. But what really won me over was the quirky, chaotic afterlife and its delightfully eccentric characters. I also loved the earthbound cast and watching their transformations unfold as they spent time with Pearly.
Honestly, I thought I might tire of the constant drag queen one-liners, but instead, it felt like being curled up in bed rewatching Drag Race—pure comfort. And by far, my favorite character was Dumb Pearly. Her storyline might have been small, but her zingers? Iconic. Slay, DP!
If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy with a queer cast, found family, non-linear timelines, interdimensional antics, and one (and a half) outrageous drag queens, Pearly Gates is the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonsol Press for the free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This was such a fun read!
August 21, 2025
Lawd, I thought the ebook made me cry. I flat out SOBBED for the last hour of this audiobook.
I had to dry out before I could write this review. Bonnie, what a debut! First of all, yes capital B in Black woman! Love that for us. Pearly Gates is goofy, silly, sincere, irreverent, and just all around fun! I wish I hadn’t put this book off as long as I did, but I know I’ll reread it.
I took away so many quotes from it and I’m even examining my own life with a completely different lens. The concept of past lives has always fascinated me, but this book took it to an entirely new level.
You ever read a book and wish you could experience again for the first time? That’s Pearly Gates for me. I wanted to laugh and commiserate and bawl the way I did for two days, all over again. Turns out, the audiobook was the exact way to achieve this! My nose is still running and my heart is so full. Incredible narration performed by the author no less! Yet again, thank you NetGalley.
“Fear may take the lead but love wins the race.”
I had to dry out before I could write this review. Bonnie, what a debut! First of all, yes capital B in Black woman! Love that for us. Pearly Gates is goofy, silly, sincere, irreverent, and just all around fun! I wish I hadn’t put this book off as long as I did, but I know I’ll reread it.
I took away so many quotes from it and I’m even examining my own life with a completely different lens. The concept of past lives has always fascinated me, but this book took it to an entirely new level.
You ever read a book and wish you could experience again for the first time? That’s Pearly Gates for me. I wanted to laugh and commiserate and bawl the way I did for two days, all over again. Turns out, the audiobook was the exact way to achieve this! My nose is still running and my heart is so full. Incredible narration performed by the author no less! Yet again, thank you NetGalley.
“Fear may take the lead but love wins the race.”
March 14, 2025
What a delight to read this book! I stepped out of my normal comfort zone genre when I read Pearly Gates and now I'm hooked on cozy fantasy. Bonnie Solomon creates a wonderful, colorful, glittery afterlife filled with crazy characters. Pearly is seriously imperfect, makes questionable decisions, and reminds us to always sparkle.
I can't wait to read this book with my book club and to highly recommend Pearly Gates for anyone wanting to see the beauty in our world and the afterlife.
I can't wait to read this book with my book club and to highly recommend Pearly Gates for anyone wanting to see the beauty in our world and the afterlife.
June 8, 2025
I got the chance to read Pearly Gates through an ARC provided by NetGalley. It is available now, go buy it!!!!
This book was beautiful and emotional and hilarious and devastating. I'm not sure I have any tears left in my body.
The book's titular character, Pearly Gates, is a soul in crisis, after her soulmate of forever (probably quite literally) severs their chord because he felt she was stagnant in her soul's evolution. Ever the impulsive one, Pearly comes up with a hairbrained plan to prove her ex, and everyone who's ever doubted her, wrong. She somehow talks her way into being a temporary soul guide for three people in Eenob, IL, each with their own challenges to overcome. Sam, a terminally ill young man faced with the fear of leaving no trace of himself after he is gone. Hannah, a grieving widow struggling to move forward after 3 years. And Danielle, a trans woman who is trying to find herself after finally finding the courage to come out. And, by coincidence, the barista of fun new coffee shop that just opened in town just so happens to be Pealy's reincarnated ex-soulmate.
Watching Pearly bend or, more often than not, break every rule in the soul guide book to help these people find the purpose they were looking for was such a great journey. And while Pearly set out to just help these three heal, she healed herself along the way. There is no trope that tugs on my heartstrings more than found family and Pearly Gates does it so beautifully. It wasn't all sunshine and roses, like all families there was conflict and hurt feelings. But there was discussion and growth too.
The worlds that were built in the story were fun and familiar. I know that coffee shop, I know that job that's hard to go to. The writing was so silly at all the right times but would still draw you into these moments so full of love and emotion. What a strong novel to have as a debut!
I'm thrilled to know that a sequel is already in the works, I definitely need more Pearly Gates in my life. I'll be sure to stock up on tissues before I read the next one, though.
Thank you, again, to NetGalley and thank you to Bonsol Press for the chance to read this wonderful book!
This book was beautiful and emotional and hilarious and devastating. I'm not sure I have any tears left in my body.
The book's titular character, Pearly Gates, is a soul in crisis, after her soulmate of forever (probably quite literally) severs their chord because he felt she was stagnant in her soul's evolution. Ever the impulsive one, Pearly comes up with a hairbrained plan to prove her ex, and everyone who's ever doubted her, wrong. She somehow talks her way into being a temporary soul guide for three people in Eenob, IL, each with their own challenges to overcome. Sam, a terminally ill young man faced with the fear of leaving no trace of himself after he is gone. Hannah, a grieving widow struggling to move forward after 3 years. And Danielle, a trans woman who is trying to find herself after finally finding the courage to come out. And, by coincidence, the barista of fun new coffee shop that just opened in town just so happens to be Pealy's reincarnated ex-soulmate.
Watching Pearly bend or, more often than not, break every rule in the soul guide book to help these people find the purpose they were looking for was such a great journey. And while Pearly set out to just help these three heal, she healed herself along the way. There is no trope that tugs on my heartstrings more than found family and Pearly Gates does it so beautifully. It wasn't all sunshine and roses, like all families there was conflict and hurt feelings. But there was discussion and growth too.
The worlds that were built in the story were fun and familiar. I know that coffee shop, I know that job that's hard to go to. The writing was so silly at all the right times but would still draw you into these moments so full of love and emotion. What a strong novel to have as a debut!
I'm thrilled to know that a sequel is already in the works, I definitely need more Pearly Gates in my life. I'll be sure to stock up on tissues before I read the next one, though.
Thank you, again, to NetGalley and thank you to Bonsol Press for the chance to read this wonderful book!
May 31, 2025
This was funny, mortifying (the 2nd hand embarrassment gets me every time), and wonderfully tender. The author did an amazing job narrating their own book here.
Pearly Gates is an iconic character. Conning (kind of) her way into being a temporary spirit guide, she's kind of in over her head, but with sarcasm sharp enough to give you stitches, and enough confidence to know she's absolutely fabulous, she figures she can wing it. Mostly.
The cast of characters was wonderful, with their varying challenges, they each have something to teach Pearly and each other about growth, acceptance, and love.
I expected this to be cozy and funny, I did not expect to nearly be in tears at the end. It was truly a wonderful read.
HIGHLY recommended.
Pearly Gates is an iconic character. Conning (kind of) her way into being a temporary spirit guide, she's kind of in over her head, but with sarcasm sharp enough to give you stitches, and enough confidence to know she's absolutely fabulous, she figures she can wing it. Mostly.
The cast of characters was wonderful, with their varying challenges, they each have something to teach Pearly and each other about growth, acceptance, and love.
I expected this to be cozy and funny, I did not expect to nearly be in tears at the end. It was truly a wonderful read.
HIGHLY recommended.
May 21, 2025
Pearly. evoles
OMG. This book is even better than I thought it would be and I wish that I had an extra star to give it. I decided to read it because I love stories that have drag queens in them, but this book is so much more than that. Pearly is a fascinating character set in a world and an afterlife that are all delightfully imagined and there are also some terrific secondary characters. In fact I can’t think of any character that I didn’t fall in love with.
Bonnie Solomon throws us into Pearly’s life and whams us with emotions right from the start and then she proceeds to keep us going up and down throughout this book. The plot is lots of fun and totally relatable while still being a story about an otherworldly being manipulating people’s lives. I’m sure everyone will find something in this book that will resonate with them and their experiences. Honestly I could keep gushing for many pages, but I don’t like long reviews so I will just say that as long as you are open to queer characters and you have a heart then I recommend you read this book. It’s lovely.
OMG. This book is even better than I thought it would be and I wish that I had an extra star to give it. I decided to read it because I love stories that have drag queens in them, but this book is so much more than that. Pearly is a fascinating character set in a world and an afterlife that are all delightfully imagined and there are also some terrific secondary characters. In fact I can’t think of any character that I didn’t fall in love with.
Bonnie Solomon throws us into Pearly’s life and whams us with emotions right from the start and then she proceeds to keep us going up and down throughout this book. The plot is lots of fun and totally relatable while still being a story about an otherworldly being manipulating people’s lives. I’m sure everyone will find something in this book that will resonate with them and their experiences. Honestly I could keep gushing for many pages, but I don’t like long reviews so I will just say that as long as you are open to queer characters and you have a heart then I recommend you read this book. It’s lovely.
May 17, 2025
I read an advance copy of this book--AND I loved it!
I had been in a real reading slump and this book got me out of it. Thank you, Pearly!!
You can read this book on many levels.
It's funny. There is a lightness about it. Pearly is a charmingly flawed protagonist. She made me laugh and the book is just a joy to read.
But you can dive deeper too. It's also a sweetly guided journey through the big questions in life. Why am I here? What do I want? How do I want to spend my life? What are my obligations to others?
In these times, I loved witnessing the characters co-create a community where they could be seen and valued. It gave me a sense of safe haven and hope. It's what I want for our world--and I was grateful for it in this book.
I had been in a real reading slump and this book got me out of it. Thank you, Pearly!!
You can read this book on many levels.
It's funny. There is a lightness about it. Pearly is a charmingly flawed protagonist. She made me laugh and the book is just a joy to read.
But you can dive deeper too. It's also a sweetly guided journey through the big questions in life. Why am I here? What do I want? How do I want to spend my life? What are my obligations to others?
In these times, I loved witnessing the characters co-create a community where they could be seen and valued. It gave me a sense of safe haven and hope. It's what I want for our world--and I was grateful for it in this book.
June 14, 2025
I absolutely loved this book!! This was such a beautiful, funny, and emotional read. It was very different from anything else that I've read before and I wasn't mad at it at all. The world building was great, and I was able to imagine it so clearly in my head.
Pearly’s character is unforgettable, and her character development was awesome. I really loved the dynamic between her and Sam, and even her sentient car, Seraphina, was very likable.
I laughed, I cried, and my heart felt so full by the end. It's a perfect read for Pride Month and a great pick for readers looking for a heartfelt queer story with depth and humor.
Pearly’s character is unforgettable, and her character development was awesome. I really loved the dynamic between her and Sam, and even her sentient car, Seraphina, was very likable.
I laughed, I cried, and my heart felt so full by the end. It's a perfect read for Pride Month and a great pick for readers looking for a heartfelt queer story with depth and humor.
May 21, 2025
This may be a debut novel, but you can tell that the author is not new to writing professionally. What a fun, emotional, and unique experience. The blurb hooked me immediately - a deceased drag queen has the worst job in the afterlife: a cosmic sanitation worker. And then her soulmate leaves her! I had to know what happened next. Loved the found family aspect; and I definitely cried.
Thank you to Bonsol Press for this ARC.
Thank you to Bonsol Press for this ARC.
July 15, 2025
I got the audiobook for review on Netgally.
I was instantly excited to listen to the book by the cover and the blurb. It was a cosy read but very emotional yet funny read at times. I fell in love with following Pearly Gates with her navigate the new turn of her after life. The audiobook book was great and really enjoyed listening to it.
I was instantly excited to listen to the book by the cover and the blurb. It was a cosy read but very emotional yet funny read at times. I fell in love with following Pearly Gates with her navigate the new turn of her after life. The audiobook book was great and really enjoyed listening to it.
May 5, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this early.
So this was a ton of fun! Drag queens, soulmates, sentient cars, laughter and a few tears. This had a bit of everything! Pearly Gates is like Soul (2020) starring Trixie Matel. A soul in the afterlife, Pearly finds herself at rock bottom and attempts to prove herself by trying her hand as a spirit guide for three people in need.
Pearly was a really fun character, while still being grounded and relatable. We follow her journey in helping others reach their full potential, but her own character growth was very much earned and really well done. Her charges, Sam, Hannah, and Danielle were also very relatable and their growth wonderful to see.
This is very much a COZY fantasy, one where the reader is honestly rooting for everyone to succeed (except Mr. Mustard). Usually I have a hard time with cozy books - sometimes authors take cozy to mean uneventful in plot and/or emotional stakes. But Pearly Gates keeps the reader engaged from the first page and never lets up. The “cozy” comes from the warm and empathetic tone of the book. It’s also really fun and vibrant. There is a very cartoon vibe going on - but in a good way. It just reads as a colorful world.
So, yeah, I’d recommend this one!
So this was a ton of fun! Drag queens, soulmates, sentient cars, laughter and a few tears. This had a bit of everything! Pearly Gates is like Soul (2020) starring Trixie Matel. A soul in the afterlife, Pearly finds herself at rock bottom and attempts to prove herself by trying her hand as a spirit guide for three people in need.
Pearly was a really fun character, while still being grounded and relatable. We follow her journey in helping others reach their full potential, but her own character growth was very much earned and really well done. Her charges, Sam, Hannah, and Danielle were also very relatable and their growth wonderful to see.
This is very much a COZY fantasy, one where the reader is honestly rooting for everyone to succeed (except Mr. Mustard). Usually I have a hard time with cozy books - sometimes authors take cozy to mean uneventful in plot and/or emotional stakes. But Pearly Gates keeps the reader engaged from the first page and never lets up. The “cozy” comes from the warm and empathetic tone of the book. It’s also really fun and vibrant. There is a very cartoon vibe going on - but in a good way. It just reads as a colorful world.
So, yeah, I’d recommend this one!
dnf
June 4, 2025dnf @ page 155
why was there a harry potter reference like pls can we stop😭
it’s so unecessary because why did Voldemort have to be mentioned in a dream ….
why was there a harry potter reference like pls can we stop😭
it’s so unecessary because why did Voldemort have to be mentioned in a dream ….
May 6, 2025
[This book was provided for free via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed below are my own and do not contain spoilers.]
Pearly Gates is an absolute delight of a book. I was lucky to get it as an ARC, and I think it’s going to become one of my go-to comfort books. The setting is about as cozy as you can get (a bookstore/cafe in Chicago in autumn? yes please!) and I fell head over heels for all of the characters.
Pearly is a wonderful main character—she’s absolutely not perfect, and she isn’t supposed to be. She’s realistically flawed and so easy to relate to; I found myself rooting for her and wanting things to turn out well for her and her charges/friends, even if she could be a little frustrating at times. The supporting characters are all fantastic; they’re distinctive and have realistic lives and motivations, and I was caring about them and their well-being alongside Pearly. I teared up at the end (no spoilers for why, but if you read it you’ll know the part) and came out of it feeling so satisfied with the story. If you enjoy queer fiction and are looking for a sweet, heartfelt novel about flawed-but-lovable characters, you should absolutely give Pearly Gates a try.
Pearly Gates is an absolute delight of a book. I was lucky to get it as an ARC, and I think it’s going to become one of my go-to comfort books. The setting is about as cozy as you can get (a bookstore/cafe in Chicago in autumn? yes please!) and I fell head over heels for all of the characters.
Pearly is a wonderful main character—she’s absolutely not perfect, and she isn’t supposed to be. She’s realistically flawed and so easy to relate to; I found myself rooting for her and wanting things to turn out well for her and her charges/friends, even if she could be a little frustrating at times. The supporting characters are all fantastic; they’re distinctive and have realistic lives and motivations, and I was caring about them and their well-being alongside Pearly. I teared up at the end (no spoilers for why, but if you read it you’ll know the part) and came out of it feeling so satisfied with the story. If you enjoy queer fiction and are looking for a sweet, heartfelt novel about flawed-but-lovable characters, you should absolutely give Pearly Gates a try.
March 28, 2025
I received an advance copy of the book.
This book belongs in the universe, and I really enjoyed the experience of it.
Pearly is a unique character that has an amusing mixture of wisdom and weakness. She is bigger than life and I was very curious about her struggles. The other main characters were lovable as well, you just want to give them hugs. And even the “bad guys” are intriguing.
The book has lots of yummy descriptions of food and warm moments. The author takes a classic book & coffee shop and makes it new and compelling.
I feel like this quote encapsulates this book.
“And with that, Pearly Gates sashays out, leaving behind a trail of glitter that will take the staff all damn day to clean up.”
If you like lots of references and details that make you feel like this spirit world is real than this is the book for you.
My oldest is a huge reader and non-binary so I am looking forward to sharing this book with them and hearing their thoughts about it too.
This book belongs in the universe, and I really enjoyed the experience of it.
Pearly is a unique character that has an amusing mixture of wisdom and weakness. She is bigger than life and I was very curious about her struggles. The other main characters were lovable as well, you just want to give them hugs. And even the “bad guys” are intriguing.
The book has lots of yummy descriptions of food and warm moments. The author takes a classic book & coffee shop and makes it new and compelling.
I feel like this quote encapsulates this book.
“And with that, Pearly Gates sashays out, leaving behind a trail of glitter that will take the staff all damn day to clean up.”
If you like lots of references and details that make you feel like this spirit world is real than this is the book for you.
My oldest is a huge reader and non-binary so I am looking forward to sharing this book with them and hearing their thoughts about it too.
May 28, 2025
A deceased drag queen working a deadbeat job in the afterlife, living on Lightbody Lane, and soul searching to prove that’s she’s worthy of the love she yearns. How can you top that? Her name is Pearlie Gates! How adorable and original! The number of times I laughed out loud while reading this cozy fantasy is innumerable. It kept me giggling!
The movie that played in my mind as I read this book was energizing and colorful with lots glitter and funny characters at every turn. All the characters were relatable and I could not get enough of them. They were so fun! Bonnie Solomon did a FABULOUS job writing this tale. The descriptions she penned made me feel like I was thoroughly entrenched in their world and I enjoyed every second! The storyline and theme were both so original. I didn’t quite know what to think when I started but it didn’t take me long to be hooked and invested.
I would recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a cozy read with all the feels. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you Bonnie Solomon and NetGalley for the e-ARC. This was a great read!
The movie that played in my mind as I read this book was energizing and colorful with lots glitter and funny characters at every turn. All the characters were relatable and I could not get enough of them. They were so fun! Bonnie Solomon did a FABULOUS job writing this tale. The descriptions she penned made me feel like I was thoroughly entrenched in their world and I enjoyed every second! The storyline and theme were both so original. I didn’t quite know what to think when I started but it didn’t take me long to be hooked and invested.
I would recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a cozy read with all the feels. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you Bonnie Solomon and NetGalley for the e-ARC. This was a great read!
May 24, 2025
I laughed and cried so much while reading this. This story is so heart-felt and beautiful and deep while also being very funny.
Pearly Gates is a soul who isn't content with her position in heaven. When her Soulmate Thunder breaks up with her and severs their soul connection, Pearly feels like she needs to do something to prove to herself and everyone that she's suited for soul guide work. She meets Malcom in a bar in purgatory and convinces him to take a vacation and let her take over his job in the mean time. She becomes the charge for Hannah, a woman who has been mourning her husband for years and can't seem to move on, Danielle, who struggles with gender dysphoria and finding a way to be herself in the world, and Sam who is dying and rather spend his last days at home alone playing MarioKart. But Pearly realizes the person making a connection with one of her charges is her former soulmate reincarnated and she struggles with the choices she has to make for herself and her charges.
I loved reading this book, it was so beautifully written and vivid. I would highly recommend this book to nearly everyone I know. It's fantastic.
(I received this book as a arc)
Pearly Gates is a soul who isn't content with her position in heaven. When her Soulmate Thunder breaks up with her and severs their soul connection, Pearly feels like she needs to do something to prove to herself and everyone that she's suited for soul guide work. She meets Malcom in a bar in purgatory and convinces him to take a vacation and let her take over his job in the mean time. She becomes the charge for Hannah, a woman who has been mourning her husband for years and can't seem to move on, Danielle, who struggles with gender dysphoria and finding a way to be herself in the world, and Sam who is dying and rather spend his last days at home alone playing MarioKart. But Pearly realizes the person making a connection with one of her charges is her former soulmate reincarnated and she struggles with the choices she has to make for herself and her charges.
I loved reading this book, it was so beautifully written and vivid. I would highly recommend this book to nearly everyone I know. It's fantastic.
(I received this book as a arc)
March 28, 2025
Pearly Gates is a quirky, lighthearted, and ultimately joyful celebration of LGBTQ+ identities, relationships, and found family. When drag star and immature spirit Pearly Gates loses her soulmate, she crafts a plan to become a spirit guide to wayward souls on Earth. However, given her long history of selfishness and avoiding responsibility, her applications to become a guide have been rejected time and time again. Pearly’s plan? Made a deal with an actual spirit guide to take over his cases while he goes on vacation and make such a difference in a short period of time that her soulmate and the higher-ups will have no choice but to notice. Thus, Pearly becomes a supernatural guide for three people in Midwestern town: a young man hiding away in the wake of a terminal diagnosis; a widow who is struggling to move on after her husband’s death, and a young transgender woman struggling to come out of the closet. What follows is a story full of wisdom, love, and found family, and even the occasional ghost as Pearly figures out if she can help these three souls—and, maybe help herself in the process.
This book is just a warm hug in book form. Pearly is a deeply flawed character in a lot of ways: avoidant, selfish, attention-seeking. Her growth and journey throughout the book are deeply heartwarming as she, like the souls she guides, must learn and grow and better herself with the challenges life throws at her. Seeing her mess up and still be worthy of love and redemption is such an important story to tell, especially through a LGBTQ+ lens. Plus, seeing each of the characters confront their own challenges and find friendship in each other was really enjoyable to read. The book does just enough worldbuilding to tell the story it wants to and reach a fun level of quirkiness in a way I thought was very well handled.
One thing to note is that this is just a really weird book. The voice of the book is just quirky—a bit immature at time, packed full of silly lines, drag references, and irreverent (if slightly awkward) moments. It worked well for the story and the character of Pearly, though I will admit that it’s not really my favorite writing style. There were a few times when it pulled me out of the reading experience, particularly early in the book. It was worth it to push through, though I expect that the writing style won’t work for every reader.
This is a 4.5 star read for me, rounded up to a 5. It’s awkward writing style is more than made up for by an uplifting story and compelling character arcs.
Thank you to Bonsol Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is just a warm hug in book form. Pearly is a deeply flawed character in a lot of ways: avoidant, selfish, attention-seeking. Her growth and journey throughout the book are deeply heartwarming as she, like the souls she guides, must learn and grow and better herself with the challenges life throws at her. Seeing her mess up and still be worthy of love and redemption is such an important story to tell, especially through a LGBTQ+ lens. Plus, seeing each of the characters confront their own challenges and find friendship in each other was really enjoyable to read. The book does just enough worldbuilding to tell the story it wants to and reach a fun level of quirkiness in a way I thought was very well handled.
One thing to note is that this is just a really weird book. The voice of the book is just quirky—a bit immature at time, packed full of silly lines, drag references, and irreverent (if slightly awkward) moments. It worked well for the story and the character of Pearly, though I will admit that it’s not really my favorite writing style. There were a few times when it pulled me out of the reading experience, particularly early in the book. It was worth it to push through, though I expect that the writing style won’t work for every reader.
This is a 4.5 star read for me, rounded up to a 5. It’s awkward writing style is more than made up for by an uplifting story and compelling character arcs.
Thank you to Bonsol Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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