The Companion by E.E. Ottoman is a queer historical romance featuring a trio of trans characters. Madeline is invited to stay with Victor as his companion. The city and the literary scene of 1949 haven’t been kind to a woman like her. Victor comes off as intense, writing the day away in his secluded room. He is sometimes short but always adamant about welcoming her in his unique way. His home is big enough for them to write in separate corners without disturbing each other. He encourages Madeline to explore her creativity and her carnal urges. He offers sex without any expectations as part of the companion arrangement. But things get complicated when Madeline wanders into the woods and meets the mysterious neighbor Audrey. She has long red hair and a mesmerizing physicality that Madeline is drawn to. Audrey and Victor are old friends who squabble and used to date at a time. Madeline finds herself in the middle wanting them both. The novel follows their cozy and steamy encounters as they figure out their dynamic.
This is a delightful queer poly romance. The vibes were excellent as was this gorgeous illustrated art cover. The narrative meandered somewhat too much for me. I kept asking questions that were never answered about how Victor and Audrey were. In the end, it didn’t matter but I would have liked a teensy bit more plot. We know how Madeline ended up in the country, but it was far more vague for the other characters. I was somewhat confused in some sex scenes about who was who, but the gist was there. Read this if you’re looking for a queer romance to give you a warm hug with an inviting historical setting.
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