Midnight at the Cinema Palace

by Christopher Tradowsky

This tender, exuberant novel about a young man navigating coming of age in ’90s San Francisco is for readers of Garth Greenwell and André Aciman.

Walter Simmering is searching for love and purpose in a city he doesn’t realize is fading away—San Francisco in 1993, at the height of the AIDS epidemic and the dawn of the tech revolution. Out of college, out of the closet, and transplanted from the Midwest, Walter is irresistibly drawn from his shell when he meets Cary Menuhin and Sasha Stravinsky, a dynamic couple who live blithely beyond the boundaries of gender and sexuality. Witty and ultra-stylish, Cary and Sasha seem to have stepped straight out of a sultry film noir, captivating Walter through a shared obsession with cinema and Hollywood’s golden age.

As the three embark on adventures across the city, filled with joie de vivre, their lively friendship evolves in unexpected ways. When Walter befriends Lawrence, a filmmaker and former child actor living with HIV, they pursue a film project of their own, with hilarious and tragic results.

Midnight at the Cinema Palace is a vibrant and nostalgic exploration of young souls discovering themselves amidst the backdrop of a disappearing city. Christopher Tradowsky’s astonishing debut captures the essence of ’90s queer culture and the complex lives of friends seeking an aesthetically beautiful and fulfilling way of life.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Queer, LGBT, Historical, Literary Fiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published June 10, 2025

Reviews

[Vito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christopher Tradowsky’s “Midnight at the Cinema Palace” is a deeply immersive journey, but whether it’s a “box office smash” or a “sleeper” will depend on how much of yourself you’re willing to invest in its story. At its core, it’s a tale of Walter, a somewhat solitary figure finding his way in San Francisco, a city of reinvention and refuge amidst the AIDS crisis. The city itself becomes more than a backdrop—it takes on the role of a character, shaping Walter’s journey in profound ways. His discovery of a captivating stranger during a routine lunch sets off a quest that propels us through the vibrant streets of this storied city.

For me, Walter’s experience of finding himself in a city that both challenges and welcomes him resonated deeply. It reminded me of my own experience of moving to San Francisco in 2016—two decades later, yet with the same yearning for connection in a sprawling, sometimes impersonal metropolis. Like Walter, I stumbled through attempts to find community and, eventually, discovered my people. Tradowsky’s writing makes this San Francisco feel vivid, almost like an old friend, and it’s a testament to his dedication and affection for the city that it never feels anything less than authentic.

The book’s structure, however, evolves as Walter does, shifting from a rich, historical narrative into something more introspective and literary. In the first third, I was completely hooked by the vivid portrayal of 90s San Francisco—the late nights, the raw beauty of the city in flux. But as the narrative pivots toward a focus on Walter’s evolving friendships with Cary and Sasha, the pacing starts to slow. The story becomes more episodic, with moments of brilliance occasionally interrupted by stretches of monotony. As the trio of queer characters tries to navigate their complex relationships, the book loses some of the spark it initially had, sometimes morphing into a collection of vignettes rather than a cohesive story. While these vignettes can be poignant and tender, they sometimes lack the momentum and emotional clarity that gripped me early on.

One of the book's strengths, though, is its ability to breathe life into Walter and his friends. Tradowsky excels at crafting characters who feel fully realized—complex, flawed, and achingly human. That said, some of the supporting characters fade in and out of the narrative without much resolution, which left me longing for more closure, though that may very well be an intentional reflection of life’s fleeting connections.

Ultimately, “Midnight at the Cinema Palace” is a love letter to San Francisco, film, and chosen family. How much you connect with these themes will likely determine how deeply you engage with the book. For readers who value richly drawn settings and character-driven stories, there’s much to appreciate. While it’s not without its pacing issues, Tradowsky’s affection for his characters and the city is undeniable—and that is what will stick with me long after the final page. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

[Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐
I mean, it's alright...

"Midnight at the Cinema Palace" centers on the experiences of Walter - a recent transplant to San Francisco from the Midwest - as he navigates a new and burgeoning queer world, meeting a cast of colorful characters who are all trying to do their best.

Reading this novel, I felt a sincere resonance of Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City" mixed with a little bit of Beat Generation ideology. While that makes for an interesting combination, I don't know if it was executed in the best way. I'm not the biggest fan of Beat Generation/counterculture writing, so this book felt more like aimless wandering and experiences with very little forward-propelled plot. I don't think there needs to be action or extreme mobility, but understanding what Walter's motivations are, his dreams, would have made him so much more interesting. And where "Tales" has a cast of unique characters that interact and engage with a protagonist, Mary Ann Singleton is a far deeper character with drive and determination that makes her relatable; Walter, I fear, lacks that depth or pathos.

On another tangent, it's clear this author loves San Francisco and especially the noir of what the city represents. However, as a Bay Area local, I can't help but roll my eyes a bit at the landmarks and tourism of the whole story. Yes, there are some iconic and important landmarks that are definitely worth visiting, just don't act like a travel ad.

This book does carry with it some interesting points, particularly in the realm of gender and sexuality, but the method in which they are addressed is rather clunky or difficult to digest. For example, when Walter meets with Jeff, a "computer nerd" who is engaging with the early phases of the internet, Jeff makes the bold statement of saying how the internet will change the queer landscape (in regards to cruising/hook up culture) forever, much to Walter's disbelief. Jeff's phrasing seems almost clairvoyant within the context of the novel, yet I felt like conversations like this that ham-handedly serve up thinking points take the whole story down to a trite experience. What I'm trying to say is, rather than positing these ideas and comparisons so forcefully in a conversation, perhaps just let the characters engage in an everyday conversation, allowing the reader to ponder how this experience differs from their own in the contemporary.

Overall, I think there is a lot of promise with this author, and the idea for the novel was there. Sadly, the execution was not to my taste. I do hope to be able to see the trajectory of this author in his future works.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC!

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this. I really enjoyed how Tradowsky explored gender and sexuality here as well as non-monogamy

My biggest complaint was how overwritten it was. To the point it became distracting and at times irritating. This also could have been 100 pages less and I think I would have adored it.

My Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

[Kaleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up this book because it was queer and had a throughline of French New Wave films (and the description pitching to fans of my GOATs Garth Greenwell and André Aciman)—literally a book with my name all over it. I love the concept but I think in practice it didn't work for me. I appreciated the reliance on films but somehow there was just so much describing scenes and discussions of actors and movies but none of it seemed directly relevant to the story. Somehow!! It was all kind of verbose and longwinded and I wish it had been cuter as in more clever and unserious or had like taken a more critical/analytical lens to the films featured. But that's just my preference obviously!! There was a small section near the beginning where the book compares twinkish men to gamine women which I thought was perceptive and I'm still thinking about it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

[ari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, so there is absolutely nothing wrong with this book. It just was not for me at all. There is not really anything happening. The description of the book sounds way more interesting than what takes place - there are no 'adventures' across the city and the film project was not hilarious at all. I did enjoy that this was set in SF and the mention of lots of Bay Area locations (Livermore mention!!). Also, it's supposed to be 1993, but the entire book gave 50s vibes, which threw me off when email and VHS were mentioned. The writing style was good, the characters were well rounded, it just truly did not interest me at all.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Daniel Archer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Maupin’s Tales of the City in its portrayal of queer community/chosen family and of Copeland’s Generation X in its sense of cultural drift/search for identity, Midnight at the Cinema Palace evokes the texture of 1990s San Francisco through its cinemas, bars, restaurants, neighborhoods, and 20-somethings who lived there at that time. A really interesting chapter of San Francisco history, the early-mid 90s transition from analog certainty to digital uncertainty and all of the massive changes the Dot Com boom would bring to the City.

I appreciate this novel perhaps most because I’m from San Francisco and remember all the tiny details the author manages to capture. The personal nostalgia is strong with this one. It’s quite breezy and enjoyable, holding a mirror up to a time and place that is very special to me. I’m glad someone was able to capture the essence of the City in those years.

[Larry Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of the judges for the 2023 Lambda Literary J. Michael Samuel Prize which Christopher Tradowsky won for his novel in progress, “Midnight at the Cinema Palace,” so I was beyond excited when his publicist offered to send me a copy of the now-completed book. I was anxious to see whether the novel lived up to its early promise.

Cinema is one of those books—all too rare in my humble opinion—in which the journey—not the destination—is the point. Within its pages, there is no mystery to solve, no star-crossed lovers to root for, no battles to be won or lost. Instead, reading this novel is like taking a meandering train trip across a landscape that is at once known and unknown but undeniably beautiful, in one of those plush 1930s private coaches pulled by a stately gleaming steam engine: you feel relaxed, slightly outside of time.

This novel is many things: a love letter to San Francisco and old movies, particularly film noir, and the magnificent palaces they were once shown in; a questioning of the familiar. It asks its readers to decide what a life well-lived looks like; encourages the questioning of gender and gender roles and finally takes a wrecking ball to the idea that attraction, orientation, is as fixed as a constellation, all while seeming to dare us to disagree. This is most clearly illustrated through the novel’s central triad—Sasha, Cary and Walter. At some point they attend a costume party where it is virtually impossible to tell who is male and who is female, who is straight, lesbian or gay. Later, when Carey mistakes a duck for a goose, she responds: “Goose or duck, gander or drake or hen or whatever, it still doesn’t give a damn about the essence of woman.” Why then should we, she seems to be asking.

Into this novel of questioning and casual absurdity, Tradowsky drops the occasional searing truth bomb that leaves the reader feeling like Nagasaki the morning after. As is the case when in the midst of a dinner party taking place in a Macy’s Christmas window display of all places, at a table lavishly set and covered by a spectacular tablecloth Sasha has worked on for months leading up to the holiday in a basement workroom like the miller’s daughter nightly spinning straw into gold, when Sasha’s boss—a demanding misery who makes Rumpelstiltskin seem charming—blurts, "My whole life, I've just loved beautiful things. Beauty is the only thing I've ever cared about. I'm like Tosca: Visse d'arte, I've lived for art! But beauty doesn't save a single life, does it? Beauty never saved one goddamned life."

There is further unexpected truth when a secondary character’s death is tacked onto the story of his life like a footnote to a larger, more important story, or rather its inevitable ending, as all stories of a life must reasonably end in a death: “Walter was crying, a little, thinking once more how insane it was that someone could exist one day and not the next. It seemed impossible, a mistake. A bug in the creator’s coding, an obvious flaw in the design.”

Death also acts as a locus point, finally locating the novel in time—1996—as in this passage sure to resonate with gay men of a certain age: “The fantasy ended, like all such fantasies about the golden age of disco and bathhouses, with him wondering if he’d be dead now, too, like Roland and Lawrence, or dying like so many others.”

The triad—the three protagonists—are simultaneously fearless, glamourous (the clothes, the hair), adventurous (their shared lives are like an endless tea-dance with bottomless mimosas and never-ending cups of coffee); desperate (what are they looking for?); and, pointless, pockmarked by the dead end retail jobs they work and the production of a line of greeting cards that is both ill-conceived and senseless, and the writing of a doomed screenplay, from which the novel borrows its title. Thus, at times Cinema feels nostalgic—like remembering watching our friends in our reckless, directional twenties careening carelessly down crooked tracks, often coming off those tracks altogether while all we could do was watch and listen.

At the novel’s end, at the triad’s denouement, this passage haunts: "It seemed that something he had always imagined was inert was in fact explosive, realizing too late—by placing it too close to the gas range—that what he'd thought was gunpowder tea was, in fact, gunpowder."

And back to the question I opened the review with: Did this novel deliver on its early promise? Yes, yes, it did. In spades.

[Bin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ Gay man joins T4T relationship…and apparently so does the reader

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad I read it, but it didn't need to be 383 pages, because at times it is unbearably overwritten and pretentious.

Which, then again, is exactly what queer, artsy 24 year olds are like, so it tracks. But still, as a reader, it was a lot, especially since most of the overwriting doesn't really lead anywhere.

It's a love letter to early 90's San Francisco, to queer culture in a specific time and place. It's an examination of the effects of the AIDS crisis. It's 3 idiots trying to have a throuple, though that doesn't happen until much later in the book.

It's incredibly twee at points. Like manic pixie levels of twee, like "having a full-on dinner party with roasted quail and champagne in the fine china section of Macy's doesn't get you immediately fired because your friend is just so charismatic and wins over the grouchy manager" levels of twee.

The subplot with Leonard, the gay filmmaker dying of AIDS, is probably both the funniest and the best parts of the book. Yes, funny. There's mischief in there. Not even the AIDS crisis made everyone dour at all times.

HOWEVER, I picked this up because it promised a queer throuple. And sure, it happens, but it's mostly about them drinking and partying a lot, which yes, is very 24 years old of them, but I guess I was hoping for more. It's a coming of age story, so it ends the way you expect it would.

Cary, the female MC of the throuple (though not the POV character) is unbearably, obnoxiously exhausting. I've known people like that in real life, and while they're fun in very small doses, they're mostly fucking exhausting to deal with.

It's worth a read, but it's nothing like what any of the book jacket descriptions promise.

[Raney Simmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

To view on Rainy Day's Books, Video Games and Other Writings: https://rainyday.blog/2025/06/27/book...

Rating: 3 stars

I received a digital copy of this book through the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review.

Midnight at the Cinema Palace was an interesting read, particularly in its exploration of the characters’ relationships and the discussions that involved sexuality. I particularly enjoyed seeing Walter’s relationships with Cary and Sasha, as well as his friendships with Jeff, Fiona, Kelly, and Lawrence. I feel that all these characters made this book interesting for me to read, as they each brought Walter out of his introverted shell and made him see the world he lived in from a different perspective. As I had never read a story that deeply explored the relationship between a throuple, I was fascinated to see how Walter, Cary, and Sasha interacted with each other and how their sexuality influenced their interactions. With regards to Walter’s friendships, it was interesting to see how he interacted with all of his friends in comparison to how he acted when he was with Cary and Sasha.

What I also enjoyed about this book is how descriptive Christopher Tradowsky’s writing is when it comes to describing San Francisco and the life Walter lives. While at times the story felt too descriptive, so that I felt overwhelmed in trying to imagine this city, I also felt like this book was a love letter to San Francisco and to those who live there. It was also interesting to read about this time to me, as 1993 is the year I was born. So it was interesting to read about this time from the perspective of an adult living through this time since I didn’t personally get to experience what Walter and this cast of characters were going through.

I also enjoyed Midnight at the Cinema Palace as there were segments of the screenplay Walter and Cary were working on together included in some of the chapters. I found it interesting to be given the screenplay they were working on together, as I was reading about their relationship, as I was able to see how they worked together creatively.

If there’s anything with this book, I didn’t particularly enjoy it was the plot. Or lack thereof, because I was expecting it to be a little different from what it was. In the synopsis of the book, the AIDS epidemic was mentioned, but as a reader, the AIDS epidemic isn’t a huge part of the plot in the story. The main story here is with regard to Walter’s relationship with Cary and Sasha. Which I didn’t necessarily mind as I like them as characters and was interested to see how things would transpire with them. My problem with this being the plot is that I didn’t truly feel like the story went anywhere here until Walter met them. So the beginning of the book was very slow-moving to me until they came into the picture.

But even once they all meet, I still feel like the plot wasn’t all that much either. Mostly because a majority of their interactions with each other involved going out partying together, and Walter getting drunk. Which, to me, felt like a filler in the story, as I feel like most of those times out together didn’t need to be written about. I feel like the book didn’t pick up plot-wise until halfway through, which isn’t good because people are more likely to have already decided if they’ll continue reading the book by that point.

As a whole, though, what made Midnight at the Cinema Palace a good read for me was the characters and seeing the world of San Francisco they live in. Just be prepared to be disappointed if you’re looking to read a book with a fast-moving plot, as this book doesn’t have one, even though it was still enjoyable to read. For those interested in reading Midnight at the Cinema Palace, it was published on June 10, 2025, so it is now available for you to read.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in San Francisco in the mid 1990's, the novel's theme is nostalgia--for a time before cellphones, for being 22 in a city where one can be anything--gay, lesbian, bi or "ambivalent." Where one is happy sharing tiny apartments and lives for the constant party in the streets and clubs of a city ravaged by the AIDS virus but still dancing. A time of life when everything seems possible--writing a successful screenplay about an era one only knows from movies, forming a throuple with one's two best friends, and allowing one's imagination to be consumed by the noir films of the early 50s. This bildungsroman has at its center the young and innocent refugee from Ohio, Walter Simmering (apt choice of last name). Walter works in various temporary and lowly-paid jobs but lives for his friends and the nightlife of the Castro. In addition to his partners, Cary and Sasha, Walter befriends Lawrence, an older man living with AIDS, who was an experimental filmmaker with ties to the Hollywood of the 50's.

As in most books of this type, the young man ends up sadder but wiser as a result of his adventures and finds his direction in life which necessitates his leaving San Francisco and his life there. Even though the novel is not written as a flashback, it has that feel.

First off, the writing is excellent. The author captures the hedonism of many twenty-somethings. He includes atmospheric descriptions of San Francisco in the 1990s--both the cityscape and the insides of its bars and restaurants. I did tire of the constant partying and the characters facing yet another hangover. Also he overdoes the some of the detail (San Simeon and the Madonna Hotel). It would help a reader to be familiar with San Francisco in the 90s and with film noir. The details too often slow the narrative pace to a crawl and the story lacks momentum. The characters of Cary and Sasha never really develop and the inevitable ending drags on. I think that the book could have been more effective if it had been about 25% shorter. I had trouble feeling empathy for any of the characters other than Lawrence.

That said--some of the best writing since Michael Cunningham and Alan Hollinghurst. This book will appeal to fans of those authors.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Nick Artrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I requested and received an eARC of Midnight at the Cinema Palace by Christopher Tradowsky via NetGalley. In 1993, at the height of the AIDS epidemic and the dawn of the tech revolution, Walter Simmering moves from the Midwest to chase his dream of a new life in San Francisco. Shy and somewhat sheltered, Walter is drawn from his shell when he meets Cary Menuhin and Sasha Stravinsky, an irresistible couple living beyond gender and sexual binaries, who he shares a passion for cinema with. As the three grow closer, Walter’s world begins to take a different shape.

Walter is an amiable little fellow and I quite enjoyed spending time with him, particularly in the beginning of the novel when he truly felt like a fish out of water. And Cary and Sasha? They seemed so fucking cool. The descriptions and the characterization really sold the pair for me and I absolutely felt the appeal. I had certain ideas about this novel might be when I started reading it, but it seemed to prove me wrong at every turn. I think that’s what held my interest the most, the fact that I really had no idea what might be coming next.

Tradowsky is terribly gifted at creating these beautiful illusions and then shattering them. A lot of this novel felt rather anecdotal, I wasn’t quite what it was building toward, but by the end everything had sort of come together to create this lovely and quietly moving story. Midnight at the Cinema Palace is a love letter to San Francisco, an ode to classic film noir, and an absolute treasure trove of lust and laughter. Walter, Cary, and Sasha will certainly occupy a corner of my mind for some time to come.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC via NetGalley.

If you know your queer history, this book is both familiar and new. As the epidemic of HIV/AIDS begins to decline in the mid-90s, the ravages still echo across San Francisco, even though it's also a haven for outsiders and those wanting to live as they are. This is the world film buff and mopey introvert Walter comes into, out and trying to find his life's purpose.

Two important things happen which change his direction forever: Walter meets Cary and Sasha - a queer couple with an open and interesting life that teach him everything about love, people who share his feelings for art, and Cary specifically a love of noir and older films, and pushes him in the direction of creation. Second, he delivers meals to Lawrence, and older man with HIV who lost his beloved partner, who was a filmmaker and has experiences and enthusiasm to share.

Walter is a great lens through which to view this story because at some point we've all been Walter - sad and lost, impacted by people in ways we cannot articulate, and entirely unable to make sense of love.

Cary was a bit frustrating of a character, but that's clearly intentional. One of those people who is magnetic but potentially toxic, and their energy and demands would drive someone like me absolutely crazy - but they are the kick in the pants that Walter needs.

Melancholic, meditative, frenetic, and bittersweet.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Midnight at the Cinema palace follows Walter Simmering and his friends, Cary and Sasha, as Walter sets out to create a film in early '90s San Francisco.

Midnight at the Cinema Palace's greatest strength is its characters, a vibrant crew of young people discovering themselves in a new city amidst the changing social climate of the era. Walter and his friends are remarkably well-realized, complicated and lovable and undeniably real. Though tertiary characters don't receive the same treatment, the core group around Walter is so realistic I'd swear I really know them.

With such a character-driven story, the pacing of Midnight leaves much to be desired. Though I wouldn't expect a particularly quick pace, there's a slowing in the later part of the narrative that comes just shy of making the book feel like a slog. While it wasn't a detriment for me -- by that point I was enthralled enough with the characters that I wasn't going to stop reading until I hit the end -- I do think the slowed pace, and in some ways muddled story development, past the halfway point in the book could feel a bit insurmountable to a less determined reader.

Ultimately, Midnight at the Cinema Palace lived up to my expectations and, while it could certainly be tightened up, will be one of those books I think about for a long while after finishing.

[Lorena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1990s, this novel follows Walter, a young gay man adrift after he moved to San Francisco where an ex lover now lives. Isolated and searching for connection, he becomes captivated by a mysterious and striking figure he dubs “the gamine.” His quiet obsession leads him to an unexpected encounter with Carey, a charismatic stranger who takes him in one chaotic Halloween night. There, Walter finally meets Sasha—his elusive “gamine”—who, as it turns out, is Carey’s lover. What follows is a whirlwind friendship and romance among the three.

San Francisco itself feels like a fourth character with its rich descriptions of nightlife in the Castro. The author draws heavily on film noir themes, which may go over the heads of readers less familiar with the genre, but his lyrical prose and sharp emotional insight make up for the slower, sometimes overextended sections

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for early ebook access.

[viktor · Rating 3 out of 5]

don't let the three-star rating fool you, i did genuinely enjoy reading this book. a lot of the prose was delightful, the characters were exceedingly charming, and the lush, page-long descriptions of fine clothing was exactly what i needed. there was a little too much film talk for my tastes, but at least i got a little window into the minds and souls of that genre of gay people who are obsessed with old hollywood.
still, i felt like it sort of lacked heart, and the parts that were emotionally affecting (namely, the storyline about the older film veteran with aids) felt... not unique. (of course a noble, dying old queen is going to pull at your heartstrings! too easy!) nevertheless there was a certain bittersweet ephemeral quality to reading descriptions of a beautiful san fransisco, a city which sucks now that all the gays got tech jobs.

[Liz Jimenez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This book was good and interesting. It tells the story of Walter, a gay man in his 20s and his journey to moving to San Francisco and exploring his sexuality. I think it’s important to explore gay culture and especially from the 90s, when a lot of us were a lot younger and maybe ignorant to some issues. I love the exploration of fluidity with gender roles and sexuality. I also enjoyed the inclusion of the script that was being written by two of the main characters.

Where this book missed the mark for me is that it was just too overwritten and too long. There were just certain time frames that went into too much detail and were dragged out. Also, I struggled to feel any empathy for the female main character.

[Alvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun! Having spent my youth in alterna-queer San Francisco during the early 1990s, I found Tradowsky's spot-on and meticulous description of that era almost miraculous. He must have been taking notes! It's not just that he name checks so many clubs, restaurants, and people, but he imbues his characters with the sensibility that made the era so iconic (at least to those of us who lived through it): Gender anarchy, militant whimsy, acute retro-nostalgia, and a devil-may-care defiance of conventional morality. And yet, the novel has much to recommend it for those not looking to time-travel. He describes both coming-of-age adventures and unconventional romantic relationships with a rare perspicacity and sympathy.

[Kamren Neddermeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: 3.5

Christopher Tradowsky brings to life a world chock full of gorgeous prose, loveable oddballs, and nostalgia in Midnight at the Cinema Palace. This novel is simply a delight to read. It's the kind of story you want to savor, to cut up into little morsels and taste one at a time over several weeks. A love letter to queer culture, the strangeness of love, to cinema, and San Francisco- I dare you to read this and try not to fall in love with Walter and his friends. Perfect for fans of Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life, but it won't make you cry (at lease, not as much?)

I want to thank Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Caleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a timely story plumbing the depths of the aids crisis and how we connect as humans over tragedy. This was an exceptional novel full of emotion and depth, I could definitely see this being a hit with bookclubs this summer. If there is anything that the AIDS crisis and books exploring that topic prove, it is that we are at our best when we stick to a community that uplifts each other and looks after each other.

Well done!

Thank you to the author, Simon and Schuster, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my review.

[Sydney Apel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing an ARC of this in exchange for a review! This was not on my radar at all, but I'm a sucker for books about the city I call home and I'm so glad I took a chance on it. The pace is slower than I'm used to, but the writing and characters so beautifully captures San Francisco before the tech companies came defined the city I know today. It's full of queer creative oddities that are part of why I love living here, and it was so cool to see all that through Walter's eyes.

[Jenx Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in 1990s Sam Francisco, the book follows Walter Simmering through a journey exploring self-discovery, love, queer joy and also queer tragedy during the AIDS epidemic and the 90s tech boom. Cary, Sasha, and Lawrence are also such wonderful characters too.

Christopher told me in the interview that he puts bits of himself into each of his characters; he also mixes the traits and stories of loved ones to flesh out said characters. You can definitely feel the love put into the characters, it's easy to love them.

[mh · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5. Liked the writing, liked the dynamics between the three main characters. The setting also felt like a character. I didn't really feel like it was the 90s though. This story could have happened today with a couple of adjustments. It was also a little long, with scenes dragging out sometimes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.

[Sarah Milos · Rating 2 out of 5]

A boring, ambling tale of a bunch of people navigating (sometimes literally!) life in San Francisco in the 90s. So much potential, too many pages that didn't explore the depth and motivation of the characters that could give this story momentum and a point of view. That said, I'll still keep an eye out for this author, hopeful his next tale has more focus.

[Jennifer]

Unfortunately this book did not interest me and was not able to finish it. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC.

[mariposa · Rating 3 out of 5]

film major core

[Kristin]

DNF… It’s rare that I don’t see a book through but 150 pages in I gave up. Too much useless detail. Couldn’t get a feel for what it was supposed to be about. Wasn’t enjoying the book at all.

[Jan Fransen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different kind of coming of age, centering on figuring out how to be an adult in one's early 20s.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this title. I liked so much about this book, but I found it difficult to get through. I wanted to know what would happen to the protagonists, but it felt a bit slow at times. I also appreciate the attempt at weaving a story within a story, but I don't think it added much to the plot overall.