Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl

Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl is set in 1993 and follows Paul, a 23-year-old shapeshifter who can transform his physical form and gender at will. The story takes place across multiple American cities during the height of 90s queer culture, capturing the music, fashion, and social dynamics of the era. Paul navigates relationships, identity, and desire while moving through various scenes and communities, from punk clubs to lesbian festivals. His gift for transformation allows him to experience life and sexuality from multiple perspectives, though he never fully settles on a fixed identity or form. The novel draws deeply from 90s counterculture, featuring references to zines, riot grrrl music, ACT UP activism, and underground LGBTQ spaces. Lawlor incorporates experimental elements like footnotes and embedded fables, creating a nontraditional narrative structure. Through its exploration of fluidity and transformation, the novel challenges fixed notions of gender and identity while examining themes of belonging, authenticity, and the nature of desire. The story operates both as a vivid period piece and as a meditation on the limitations of binary categories.

Readers describe the book as a sexually explicit, gender-fluid road trip through 1990s queer subcultures. Many note its experimental style and references to music, fashion, and activism of the era. Readers appreciated: - The authentic portrayal of 90s queer scenes and communities - The exploration of gender fluidity through magical realism - Sharp, witty dialogue and cultural references - Complex handling of desire and relationships Common criticisms: - Plot meanders without clear direction - Too much focus on sex scenes - Cultural references can be dense/confusing for some readers - Character development feels limited Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (7,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (300+ ratings) "Like a queer On The Road but with shapeshifting," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. Another noted: "The endless club scenes and hookups got repetitive." The book received particular praise from LGBTQ+ readers who recognized their experiences in the narrative, while some general readers found it harder to connect with.

Nevada by Imogen Binnie A transgender punk protagonist navigates identity and relationships across a cross-country journey that captures similar themes of gender exploration and 90s counterculture.

Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg This groundbreaking novel traces a character's journey through gender identity in working-class America, sharing Paul's exploration of transformation and belonging across queer communities.

Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg The story weaves together historical fiction and gender transformation through an academic's discovery of a manuscript about a transgender thief in 18th-century London.

Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian) by Hazel Jane Plante Set in a similar era to Paul, this novel chronicles a trans woman's creation of an encyclopedia to memorialize her dead friend, incorporating pop culture references and experimental structure.

The Collection: Short Fiction from the Transgender Vanguard edited by Tom Léger and Riley MacLeod This anthology presents diverse stories of gender transformation and identity that mirror Paul's experiences through multiple perspectives and narrative approaches.

🌈 The novel began as Lawlor's MFA thesis at Temple University and took 15 years to complete before its publication in 2017. 📚 The book's title references Virginia Woolf's "Orlando," another groundbreaking novel about gender transformation and identity. 🎵 The story features numerous references to 1990s riot grrrl music and zine culture, reflecting the author's involvement in these underground movements. ✨ Lawlor, who uses they/them pronouns, teaches at Mount Holyoke College and has been recognized with a Whiting Award for emerging writers. 🏳️‍⚧️ The novel's portrayal of gender fluidity predated much of contemporary mainstream discussion about non-binary and genderqueer identities, making it a pioneering work in trans literature.