Named a Most Anticipated Book by Time, BuzzFeed, Them, Literary Hub, Zibby's Mag, and more
"Lesbian Love Story boasts an inventive blend of genres. Amelia Possanza spins together memoir, archival nonfiction, and fictional passages with ease." —Laura Zornosa, Time
"Warmhearted and sexy." —Keziah Weir, Vanity Fair
“'Beautiful' feels like a cliche way to describe a book about love . . . but this one simply is." —The Skimm
"The historical gravitas weaved through the author’s personal reflections is balanced by beautiful prose. This is for fans of My Autobiography of Carson McCullers and for people who love damn good writing. The passion leaps off the page." —Adam Vitcavage, Debutiful
"Possanza puts together a history of lesbianism that’s filled with care, warmth, love, and community . . . Reading this book feels like having a passionate conversation with a good friend whose special interests perfectly align with yours. Lesbian Love Story is charming, heartfelt, and wonderfully gay." —McKayla Cole, Literary Hub
"Writing with empathy, wit, and imagination, Possanza constructs a personal, political, and romantic history of lesbian life and love." —The Millions, A Most Anticipated Read
"Possanza’s centuries-spanning document–which melds her own story with hidden, intimate histories of drag kings and olympians, artists and activists–is a manifesto of love: of erotic love and platonic love, of familial and communal love, and maybe most importantly, self-love." —Michelle Hart, An Electric Literature Most Anticipated Book of 2023
"Each chapter historicizes a lesbian love story, spanning from antiquity through the 1990s to offer a lively mix . . . Possanza digs into the details of their lives with passionate engagement, frequently turning the narrative from the archival subject back to herself and exploring personal topics . . . She imagines the scenes she longs to see, engaging with history not as a disembodied historian but as a young lesbian who wants answers, who wants to find her people." —Kelly Blewett, BookPage (starred review)
"In her impressive debut, Possanza stitches together personal memoir, painstaking research, and fictional imaginings with a fluid style and a sure hand . . . This is an outstanding work of literary scholarship that also delivers a vulnerable, intimate portrait of its author." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"An archive of queer love and community by a talented storyteller . . . Part personal memoir, part archival research, [Lesbian Love Story] expertly weaves together stories of lesbians across time with a historian’s precision and a novelist’s pacing. Bringing together seven epic love stories across eras, ranging from the classical Greek poet Sappho and her lover Anactoria to lesbian caretakers in the AIDS crisis extending beyond romantic boundaries, Possanza cultivates a worthy collection of lesbian love stories . . . Throughout, the prose is warm, personal, and accessible. Detailed and immensely readable, this is a generous history of lesbian love." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A creative, joyful approach to the queer past. Lesbian Love Story weaves together history, memoir, and theory in this refreshing work of historical imagination. A very smart love letter to lesbians across time." —Jen Manion, author of Female Husbands: A Trans History
"Amelia Possanza’s Lesbian Love Story is a tender and sensual swim through lesbian history—thoroughly researched and brought to dazzling life by Possanza’s imaginative prose." —Hugh Ryan, author of When Brooklyn Was Queer
"Lesbian Love Story cracks open a vault of queer lives that were so meaningful to dig into—sporty girls, masc forbears, illicit loves. These juicy stories are filled with pathos and inspiration, and Ameila Possanza's thrill at excavating them is personal, palpable and contagious." —Michelle Tea, author of Knocking Myself Up: A Memoir of My In/Fertility
"Intimate and sexy, voraciously researched and vibrantly imagined, Amelia Possanza has given us the romantic history all lesbians deserve." —Nina LaCour, author of Yerba Buena
"Lesbian Love Story has all the vivid detail of a great novel and all the intelligence of a great study. Amelia Possanza dives into archival records of many kinds to discover what lesbians have to teach us all about love. In doing so, she recounts the stories of seven remarkable women—athletes, performers, and poets among them—explores the complexity of record keeping, especially for the disenfranchised, and reveals her own loves and longings. I was continually fascinated, frequently moved, and completely in awe of Possanza's wit, intelligence, and empathy. I can't wait to reread this outstanding, unforgettable book." —Stephen McCauley, author of My Ex-Life
