Upright Women Wanted

By: Sarah Gailey

Narrated by: Romy Nordlinger

Length: 3 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

In Upright Women Wanted, award-winning author Sarah Gailey reinvents the pulp Western with an explicitly antifascist, near-future story of queer identity.

"That girl's got more wrong notions than a barn owl's got mean looks."

Esther is a stowaway. She's hidden herself away in the Librarian's book wagon in an attempt to escape the marriage her father has arranged for her - a marriage to the man who was previously engaged to her best friend. Her best friend who she was in love with. Her best friend who was just executed for possession of resistance propaganda.

The future American Southwest is full of bandits, fascists, and queer librarian spies on horseback trying to do the right thing.

©2020 Sarah Gailey (P)2020 Tantor

Mildly entertaining

If you can tolerate an excessively perky narrator who puts emphasis on the wrong words.

Too short

I like the combination of genres here (fantasy + western). Actually it's my first western I enjoyed reading. It was good, but the story developed too fast in a kinda unnatural manner. Looked like the author was in a rush to finish the story. I wish it was longer and a bit slower.

Good but unsatisfying

I really wanted to like this book. REALLY WANTED TO. The premise was fascinating, the writing good, the characters and the plot, well, they left you hanging. A LOT. This really felt like the first part of a much longer book that was hastily wrapped up with a concluding chapter to get it off someone's desk. If it had been billed as a novella, I might have made more allowances, but other than a tiny bit of character backstory we get dragged out of the main character in one big sobbing lump, it felt like we were supposed to already know these people and this world before we got here.

The author has promise, and the premise and writing are really well done and worth more time. I just wish I hadn't felt like I got the first part of the book and the last, with the story pulled out of the middle.

Queer rebellion meets wild west 🤠🏳️‍🌈

I don’t read a lot, but this book kept me engaged and entertained! An easy quick listen ☺️

definitely felt seen as someone who was closeted in a conservative community and the magic that comes from finding your people. Highly recommend

Seriously?!

I will never trust a recommendation from TikTok again. Right when this book seemed to be beginning to have an actual storyline it was over abruptly. The characters are interesting but the world are not really formed. I had trouble figuring out where I was most of the time. It’s short. Is this even considered a novel? I’m so disappointed.

Awesome book

I loved the story. Creative and engaging. The falling action and ending felt a little rushed but I still recommend it.

Worth the credit!

I wouldn’t usually spend a credit on a short story but this one sounded so good and it was! I devoured this story whole.

Utterly distraught that it's over

Absolutely incredible from start to finish. Action, adventure, and compelling characters in a queer, woman centric western.

The only audiobook I’ve ever considered starting all over again!

Brilliantly pacy, queer, rousing and charming. Genuine queer characters in a fight not unusual for survival but to thrive, celebrate and challenge. Marvellous!