Red

by Jo Brodie

What would happen if someone fell in love with a person they had always bitterly hated? Our old friend Tina Burns is now 19 and a promising Law student at Saltbury University. She longs for the day when she can work with her father in his legal practice. But this usually happy and increasingly beautiful young redhead has become a virtual recluse after being jilted by the girl she had thought was the love of her life. Eventually she starts to rebuild, and plucks up the courage to go dancing at a once cherished haunt, the 'Gemini Club'. But here she sees a face she had hoped never to encounter again. Both old enemies feel the same draw and as her cheerfully hedonistic drama student friend, Katie, puts it: they start to live the story of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing'. But if Tina is playing Beatrice, who could be her Benedick? or, as Tina is gay, her other Beatrice?

ebook

Published August 28, 2019

About the author

Whilst still missing darkest Wiltshire, Jo Brodie is now an accidental Mancunian, having never quite got round to leaving the city after studying at Manchester University. They write widely under various pen names, on topics that range from Roman and Victorian history to Rock music, and Jo has recently become a regular writer for feminist music Web site ‘Hera Says‘. Jo’s lesbian novels and shorter stories, which are collectively entitled ‘The Saltbury Chronicles’, centre on a diverse cast of characters from the mythical Wiltshire market town of Saltbury. They are love stories, but they are more than just escapism, often exploring serious LGBTQ, gender and other issues along the way. In private life, Jo is happily married with two cats. They play bass and guitar (very badly) and yearn to learn drums, if only the neighbours would understand!

The Saltbury books contain a character called Debbie Stewart, a true Rock guitar heroine. Debbie is not based on any particular real life guitarist. In fact Jo’s actual guitar heroine is a very different figure: Marissa Paternoster of the ‘Screaming Females’. Debbie, though, is who Jo wishes they could be – if only – and you can tell a lot about someone from who they would like to be.

Reviews

[Christine E Carcary · Rating 5 out of 5]

So enjoyable

Although this us the 5th book in the series, I will say I have loved all of them so far. I m not surecwhat age group these are aimed at YA irrigation but they can be enjoyed by any. There is no age that you can't relate to the joys and horrors of High school and college and they are described so well in these tales. I have laughed and sobbed at times reading them, especially No.4. Reading this one was very satisfying as you meet these characters in previous books and it's great to have them fleshed out here.
There are so many beautiful people throughout that you really want to know them yourself. I m so happy that there are lots more for me to enjoy.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

After 3 days sobbing up like a heartbroken teenager after finishing the 4th book, I finally had the guts to continue reading of the series, even if not related to the POV of the first 4 books.

And thank goodness I did. Reading on Tina's POV was a breath of fresh air the helped me digest better previous events and even gave me quite some laughs. I just love how things were built and seeing a side of Queen Bitch that I new was there but wouldn't imagine I'd be given the pleasure to know.

It's a very interesting relationship and I'm already obsessing over the 6th book and praying to the new and old gods that the 7th won't take longer to be available because, although I'm still deeply mourning about previous events, I'm still hopeful that you, Jo Brodie, isn't a total sadist LMAO.

[Bigbear Woolliscroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book. the main character is Tina Burns. which is one of the minor characters in Haze, but four years later and very much more mature, which means that you don't have to read Haze to enjoy this book.
Tina at 20 is a lovely character. Funny, feisty and competent. Gordon Baxter as long-suffering father and coach is only too real and Carol....will come as a surprise.
I can't wait to find out, what comes next.....