Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth

A Queer Gothic Horror Comedy Like No Other

Emily M. Danforth’s Plain Bad Heroines is a dazzling, genre-blending novel that intertwines horror, historical fiction, queer romance, and satire. Set partly in a cursed girls’ school in 1902 Rhode Island and partly in modern-day Hollywood, the story follows three young women involved in a film adaptation of a mysterious memoir, uncovering the tragic, eerie, and romantic legacies of those who came before them.

Complete with footnotes, illustrations, and darkly witty prose, this book is a literary labyrinth filled with deadly wasps, forbidden love, and feminist ghosts.

Why Plain Bad Heroines is a Must-Read:

• Dual Timelines: Weaves 1902 New England tragedy with a modern movie-set mystery.
• Dark Academia Aesthetic: Features boarding schools, cursed books, and secret societies.
• LGBTQ+ Representation: Sapphic love stories are at the heart of both plots.
• Wickedly Clever: Witty footnotes and meta-narrative style enrich the experience.

“Danforth’s voice, which can be cutting, arch, and sorrowful, makes every moment a pleasure.” — New York Times Book Review

Danforth’s writing has been praised for its unique blend of dread, humor, and intellectual curiosity. Her background in young adult literature, particularly with her critically acclaimed debut The Miseducation of Cameron Post, lends a nuanced understanding of coming-of-age themes and identity to her work, amplified here for an adult audience.

A used copy of this enchanting and unusual novel is available on Bookshop Near Me.