‘Instant Love’ by Jami Attenberg

And she was funny and beautiful and she liked the same books, the same music, and she wanted everything I did, was in the exact same place I was in life, and just like that, add water and mix, instant love.

‘Instant Love’ by Jami Attenberg follows the lives, loves, and heartbreaks of various interconnected characters.

Holly, Maggie, and Sarah Lee are at the center of the story, but the novel also introduces a diverse cast whose lives intertwine in surprising ways. Each character wrestles with loneliness and longing, navigating the complexities of relationships and self-discovery. Some of these relationships explore queer love and the challenges that come with it.

While this wasn’t my favorite Jami Attenberg novel, it remains a compelling and insightful exploration of human connection and the search for belonging.

CW: emotional distress, substance use, relationship conflict