Car Pool

by Karin Kallmaker

Ninety minutes, twice a day. Five days a week. And they hate each other.

Car pool heaven turns into car pool hell when Anthea Rossignole realizes her lover is having an affair with the other woman sharing their daily commute. Anthea’s corporate career as a cost analyst is the only thing keeping her together. Now she’s looking for someone to share the long drive in the Bay Area’s notorious traffic.

Shay Sumoto desperately needs a car pool. Though wildly overqualified, the environmental biologist takes a job testing well samples to keep body and soul together. The debt from her father’s terminal illness and the loss of their company have left her with no money and no sense of humor.

When Shay and Anthea begin carpooling together, their instant antipathy gets even worse. But when Shay uncovers alarming test results in her work–information that could cost both of them their jobs–Anthea is the only person she trusts for advice.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Lesbian Romance, LGBT, Lesbian Fiction, Fiction, Queer

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Karin Kallmaker has been exclusively devoted to lesbian fiction since the publication of her first novel in 1989. As an author published by the storied Naiad Press, she worked with Barbara Grier and Donna McBride, and has been fortunate to be mentored by a number of editors, including Katherine V. Forrest.

In addition to multiple Lambda Literary Awards, she has been featured as a Stonewall Library and Archives Distinguished Author. Other accolades include the Ann Bannon Popular Choice and other awards for her writing, as well as the selection as a Trailblazer by the Golden Crown Literary Society. She is best known for novels such as Painted Moon, Simply the Best, Touchwood, The Kiss that Counted and Captain of Industry.

The California native is the mother of two and lives with her wife in the Bay Area. You can catch her blogs at Romance and Chocolate: https://kallmaker.com/blog/. Find her on social media by searching for "Kallmaker" - there's only one.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read... Nothing to bowl me over though

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yep, finished in a day.

Lovely read, even if I realised after a couple of chapters that I had read this book before (probably about 10 years ago!).

A nice plot, good writing, some pretty hot scenes and a satisfying conclusion.

[Dide · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read at the end of the day. I certainly wasn't enamored at the beginning despite the often dished out humour but as I got more acquainted with the characters and the relationship I got to appreciate the story for its worth.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when it first came out and loved it then. I enjoyed revisiting the story of Shay and Anthea, but it didn't bowl me over like the first time. I imagine that is because I've read a lot of lesfic romance since then, and I'm a tad pickier with my 5 stars. At any rate, it's a very nice and easy read, and it's interesting to revisit the classics under the light of the new millennium. I have huge respect for this writer, and would recommend this work, and others from her to younger readers, for a look see into where we come from.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ This was a short audiobook. I liked the unique storyline and both MCs. Since this was written 1993, it’s almost historical fiction. 😆 There was a lot of homophobic and prejudicial language. I’m glad as a culture that overall we’ve grown as better people and have become more open minded.

[Alena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Update reread 2022: this totally holds up. I mean, the technology talk is incredibly dated (and very fun to read), and the general culture/politics references reflect its time, but that doesn’t take anything away from reading and enjoying it now.

I was a bit worried that rereading old favorites that I hadn’t read in many years might spoil the positive memories, but no.

[RamenGrrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'm a sucker for a good romance novel. read this years ago when it was important for me to find something that spoke to who i was, or at least thought i was supposed to be. just what i needed then, though i expect i wouldn't feel the same, reading it now.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

30 years later and Karin Kallmaker's novels still stand up as timely, relatable, and downright enjoyable and it takes me by surprise every time for some reason. The detailed descriptions of 90s computer technology and the science behind water testing is a bit much, but the characters are so endearing and I just really enjoyed the ride.

[Jenna Freedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Ocean Capewell for sending me this 1990s lesbian delight, which I will, in turn, pass onto Kelly Wooten. Not only is Car Pool a Naiad Press published lesbian romance, it's corporate espionage against a Bay Area energy evil corp. Written in the 1990s, the book may proffer some biphobic and other attitudes that are now seen as problematic, so prepare yourself. The white protagonist's love interest is Japanese-American, and there is also a Black character. I was glad to see Kallmaker addressing race--and class--issues. The white protag is wealthy, and no one else in the book is. She starts off with concerns about her own place in office hierarchy, and by the end is no longer focused on herself. Read it for titillating sex scenes and environmental justice...or for an incomparable comparison of breasts to "baby tushy pizza dough."

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A “gay nineties” lesbian workplace romance with a side of eco-thriller. Need I say more?

[Cindy Stein · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Anthea's girlfriend cheats on her with the third woman in their carpool, she kicks her gf out of her house and searches for a new co-worker with whom to carpool. Shay has just started at the oil refinery where the two work. She is in debt for her father's medical and funeral bills and is working two jobs. At first, it's a case of two women who couldn't be more different. Shay is out. She's Japanese and grew up without a lot of money. Anthea is very closeted, very femme, and has a beautiful house and a lot of money. But in time, there's more of a connection and an attraction.

This is early Kallmaker. The book was published in 1993 and takes place during that time period. There's a lot of now obsolete tech references, no cell phones or internet. But also, there's references around skin color (comparing it to food colors) that Kallmaker and many other authors wouldn't make now.

I can't ding the book for these historical problems, but what was frustrating were two other things: 1) very specific, detailed references to San Francisco and the East Bay streets and areas that you'd only understand if you lived there; and 2) lots of scientific details about Shay's work that were hard to understand.

I read this book because Bella put it on KU and I was curious about it. But suffice it to say, that this author's more recent books are so much better.

[Amari Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was incredibly hard to get through. I will begin with the fact that the premise was odd to start. A carpooling love story? Anyway it was actually decent maybe the first quarter of the book. I think it was about halfway through that all the weird race comments began? It just got worse and worse too. I think this is what happens when a writer tries to be inclusive without proper research or having sensitivity readers. It was just extremely cringey with Shay's character background being utilized to express prejudices Anthea didn't understand. I wanted to DNF but I prevailed.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know, I know, don't read romance novels for the plot, but still. Executive femme meets geologist lady while commuting together as car pool, and eventually fall in love. The love scenes are sizzling, chemistry is decent, it's just that the plot of their employer being corporate assholes who endanger the environment seemed so obviously slapped on. Also, why do all the lesbians in romance novels have hot male gay friends?

Anyhow, not the best, not the worst wlw romance I have read.

[Bea Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

When two strangers are put into a car pool together, their lives are forever changed. Sweet women finding love, being vulnerable and standing up for what's right. The drama centers around a potential environmental crisis at the refinery they work at and little around the difference in financial means they have but otherwise a charming sapphic romance.

[Mazdyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful read! I couldn't recommend this book more! I absolutely adored the two main characters as well as their romance and the plot at large. I loved how the characters grew over the course of the book as well. I enjoyed the humor that was sprinkled throughout the book as well. Definitely makes me want to check out more of Kallmaker's work!

[Lisa Bryers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is truly a product of its time, and I could never really get into it and enjoy it. The author does not understand the concept of “show not tell,” and the plot was extremely hastily construed on all fronts. But it was still interesting to read sapphic fiction that’s so much older than most things I read.

[CK529 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Older book recently narrated. Romance with a side story, which I like. I enjoyed the setting in the 90s and the environmental issues were interesting, and unfortunately, still all too relevant. Also, I had a little laugh at the narrator not knowing how to pronounce bands from the 80s and 90s. Sigh. I guess it was a long time ago. lol.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story, if occasionally cheesy. I loved the fact it took place in the Bay Area, with lots of local details, with everything from the Berkeley Public Library and 1991 fire in the hills to the daily traffic on the bridge and unaffordable rent in the peninsula.

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short novel, quite basic

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in May, reviewed here: https://hollograms.blogspot.com/2020/...

[Greta Cross · Rating 1 out of 5]

The best part about this book is the list of over 100 other lesbian fiction novels in the back.

[SUTTON (Kade) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi!

I feel it was a 4.4. I can’t go to a 5 and round up. I want to. I miss the Karin of Simply The Best. It just didn’t get there.

By no means does that mean skip it though. It was pleasant and slow burn and you will probably enjoy it more than I did.

[Kayla Brahm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this novel by Kallmaker. The way the 2 MC's gradually grow together seemed natural which many books lack. Also, the could both be so stubborn which was quite endearing. I was honestly sad once I finished this story and wish there were more from this couple.

[Amounah Works · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a very satisfying blast from the past. I was newly out and a finishing teen in the early 90s. The setting and tone reminded me of our Reproductive rights, AIDS activism, and LGBTQ rights work. This was so well-written. Thanks, Karin Kallmaker. You didn't shut away from all the sh*t of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia of the time. And it's a classic because we are still dealing with incarnations of the same grossness.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, not as good as most Kallmaker books, but it has tender sweet moments in the mix.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice love story. I liked how the relationship between the characters evolved through the story, kept me going through the night.

[Mads Mikkelsen's Mom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not amazing and not terrible.

[Hannah S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it once before, but could only remember little bits of it, and if was great to read it again