The heroine of Sarah Waters's audacious first novel knows her destiny, and seems content with it. Her place is in her father's seaside restaurant, shucking shellfish and stirring soup, singing all the while. "Although I didn't believe the story told to me by Mother--that they had found me as a baby in an oyster-shell, and a greedy customer had almost eaten me for lunch--for 18 years I never doubted my own oysterish sympathies, never looked beyond my father's kitchen for occupation, or for love." At night Nancy Astley often ventures to the nearby music hall, not that she has illusions of being more than an audience member. But the moment she spies a new male impersonator--still something of a curiosity in England circa 1888--her years of innocence come to an end and a life of transformations begins.

Tipping the Velvet, all 472 pages of it, is as saucy, as tantalising, and as touching as the narrator's first encounter with the seductive but shame-ridden Miss Kitty Butler. And at first even Nancy's family is thrilled with her gender-bending pal, all but her sister, best friend, and bedmate, Alice, "her eyes shining cold and dull, with starlight and suspicion". Not to worry. Soon Nancy and Kitty are off to London, their relationship close though (alas for our heroine) sisterly. We know that bliss will come, and it does, in an exceptionally charged moment. A lesser author would have been content to stop her story there, but Waters has much more in mind for her buttonholing heroine, and for us. In brief, her Everywoman with a sexual difference goes from success onstage to heartbreak to a stint as a male prostitute (necessity truly is the mother of invention) to keeping house for a brother and sister in the Labour movement. And did I mention her long stint as a plaything in the pleasure palace of a rich Sapphist extraordinaire? Diana Lethaby is as cruel as she is carnal, and even the well- concealed Cavendish Ladies' Club isn't outré enough for her. Kitting Nancy out in full, elegant drag, she dares the front desk to turn them away. "We are here," she mocks, "for the sake of the irregular."

Only after some seven years of hard twists and sensual turns does Nancy conclude that a life of sensation is not enough. Still, Tipping the Velvet is so entertaining that readers will wish her sentimental--and hedonistic--education had taken twice as long. --Kerry Fried, Amazon.com

A revelation, 10 Nov 2008
To be honest, I was dreading reading this novel. I hated the television adaptation and the only reason I did read it is because a friend let me a pile of fiction, it was the last one and I didn't have anything else to read. However, from the moment I began reading I was extremely impressed by Water's confidence writing style and reliable historical research. She is one of the best historical fiction writers I have ever read and I can't rate her highly enough. I believe Sarah Waters deserves to be mainstream. Highly recommended.


Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

A revelation, 10 Nov 2008
To be honest, I was dreading reading this novel. I hated the television adaptation and the only reason I did read it is because a friend let me a pile of fiction, it was the last one and I didn't have anything else to read. However, from the moment I began reading I was extremely impressed by Water's confidence writing style and reliable historical research. She is one of the best historical fiction writers I have ever read and I can't rate her highly enough. I believe Sarah Waters deserves to be mainstream. Highly recommended.


Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

oh dear, what a dissapointment, 04 Feb 2007
i really cant say any more than that of mt title above, i was looking for some steamy hot women on women tales, and i really didn't get that. the book is a matter of taste, if you enjoy reading stories about butch daddy types, that wish above all else that they had a penis then go ahead and buy this. personally i love women who are women and that means i loathed this book. definitely did not stir any passions within me. but again it depends on your tastes

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

A revelation, 10 Nov 2008
To be honest, I was dreading reading this novel. I hated the television adaptation and the only reason I did read it is because a friend let me a pile of fiction, it was the last one and I didn't have anything else to read. However, from the moment I began reading I was extremely impressed by Water's confidence writing style and reliable historical research. She is one of the best historical fiction writers I have ever read and I can't rate her highly enough. I believe Sarah Waters deserves to be mainstream. Highly recommended.


Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

oh dear, what a dissapointment, 04 Feb 2007
i really cant say any more than that of mt title above, i was looking for some steamy hot women on women tales, and i really didn't get that. the book is a matter of taste, if you enjoy reading stories about butch daddy types, that wish above all else that they had a penis then go ahead and buy this. personally i love women who are women and that means i loathed this book. definitely did not stir any passions within me. but again it depends on your tastes

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

A real page turner, 02 Aug 2008
The story of Drew and Jay, drawn to each other at their first meeting but with Jay in a failing relationship, the book follows their relationship from its beginnings in freindly flirtation through to its climax on a luxury holiday where Jay and her partner and Drew and her date and all present. A real page turner where the sexual tension continues to build with each page Gerri Hill has done it again, a wonderful read.

A revelation, 10 Nov 2008
To be honest, I was dreading reading this novel. I hated the television adaptation and the only reason I did read it is because a friend let me a pile of fiction, it was the last one and I didn't have anything else to read. However, from the moment I began reading I was extremely impressed by Water's confidence writing style and reliable historical research. She is one of the best historical fiction writers I have ever read and I can't rate her highly enough. I believe Sarah Waters deserves to be mainstream. Highly recommended.


Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

oh dear, what a dissapointment, 04 Feb 2007
i really cant say any more than that of mt title above, i was looking for some steamy hot women on women tales, and i really didn't get that. the book is a matter of taste, if you enjoy reading stories about butch daddy types, that wish above all else that they had a penis then go ahead and buy this. personally i love women who are women and that means i loathed this book. definitely did not stir any passions within me. but again it depends on your tastes

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

A real page turner, 02 Aug 2008
The story of Drew and Jay, drawn to each other at their first meeting but with Jay in a failing relationship, the book follows their relationship from its beginnings in freindly flirtation through to its climax on a luxury holiday where Jay and her partner and Drew and her date and all present. A real page turner where the sexual tension continues to build with each page Gerri Hill has done it again, a wonderful read.

Aftershock , 07 Nov 2008
Once again KG MacGregor brings us the continuing story of Lily and Anna, the book take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with some surprises to say the least.

Sylvia Brownrigg's Pages for You is the story of a sentimental, sensual education, a love affair between a student and a teacher--all blushes, kisses, books and poetry. Flannery is just 17 and a first-year student at an American university; Anne, a lecturer, is 28: "wise, well-travelled, sophisticated". Flannery sees this red-haired, red-lipped goddess drinking coffee in a diner, wearing "pointed, pretty, argumentative boots", and is immediately smitten. Her dreams begin to taunt her with a "bawdy vividness", and much to her surprise the dreams become a reality, when Anne returns her affections. The story is beautifully paced, in small, concise chapters, each capturing a moment in an intense emotional experience. The prose is lyrical and a little gauche, mirroring Flannery's youth and her enthusiasm for literature--she is a poet in the making, and her heartfelt narration of her own story reflects that. If Desdemona loved Othello partly for his stories, than Flannery loves Anne partly for the content of her bookshelves. The novel is lush with sensation and impression; a recognition of the physical passion that the two women share:

If doubt had smouldered in Anne at first, the sex extinguished it ... Her questions were silenced by their pleasure calls, and the smoothness and the fluidity of their limbs together calmed her.

The novel is intimate and romantic, vivid as the "passionate hot fall of the autumn leaves with their brilliant reds, yellows and golds". --Eithne Farry

A revelation, 10 Nov 2008
To be honest, I was dreading reading this novel. I hated the television adaptation and the only reason I did read it is because a friend let me a pile of fiction, it was the last one and I didn't have anything else to read. However, from the moment I began reading I was extremely impressed by Water's confidence writing style and reliable historical research. She is one of the best historical fiction writers I have ever read and I can't rate her highly enough. I believe Sarah Waters deserves to be mainstream. Highly recommended.


Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

oh dear, what a dissapointment, 04 Feb 2007
i really cant say any more than that of mt title above, i was looking for some steamy hot women on women tales, and i really didn't get that. the book is a matter of taste, if you enjoy reading stories about butch daddy types, that wish above all else that they had a penis then go ahead and buy this. personally i love women who are women and that means i loathed this book. definitely did not stir any passions within me. but again it depends on your tastes

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

A real page turner, 02 Aug 2008
The story of Drew and Jay, drawn to each other at their first meeting but with Jay in a failing relationship, the book follows their relationship from its beginnings in freindly flirtation through to its climax on a luxury holiday where Jay and her partner and Drew and her date and all present. A real page turner where the sexual tension continues to build with each page Gerri Hill has done it again, a wonderful read.

Aftershock , 07 Nov 2008
Once again KG MacGregor brings us the continuing story of Lily and Anna, the book take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with some surprises to say the least.

Mesmerising and seductive, 30 Dec 2008
This book is sexy, vivid and a compulsive page-turner. I love the wry and witty way that Brownrigg describes Flannery's young enthusiasm and naivety. I like the fact that the story explores the chase, the catch, and then the realtionship as it develops. There is a brilliant poetry to the writing.

Stunningly beautiful tale of love and finding a path, 23 Nov 2008
"Pages for You" is exquisitely written, perfectly paced and stays in the memory long after the final page. The central love story is between two women and the book is notable for containing one of the most convincing and true-to-life lesbian love stories that I have read. There are so many substandard gay-themed books out there that acquire a cult following because readers (understandably) embrace novels that reflect even in a small way the truth of their own love lives, but "Pages for You" is quite simply sublime, and knocks the socks off so many other books with which it could be classed in the "lesbian fiction" or "lesbian romance fiction" genres.

The book follows Flannery, a college student who is just beginning to find her way in the world. Upon meeting her tutor, Anne, Flannery is immediately captivated by the older woman, and a romance unfolds. This basic story could be the plotline of a far shallower book, but what makes Sylvia Brownrigg's novel stands out is the quality of her writing and the maturity and subtlety with which she handles the characters' feelings. Other lesbian novels have the feeling of wanting to sell the lesbian love aspect at the expense of believable characters. In contrast, Flannery and Anne in "Pages for You" seem like real people, with thoughts and reactions that throughout the book, never fail to convince.

If you wish to read a lesbian-themed novel, or a lesbian-themed romance, please pick up "Pages for You" and enjoy one of the finest novels there is in each of these genres. If you are a reader who enjoys captivating prose, utterly convincing characters and the deft depiction of real feelings about love, life and the way we are, I would also recommend this book to you. Sylvia Brownrigg is exceptionally talented and "Pages for You" is a delight to read, a book of real quality and depth that leaves a lasting impression.

Every footprint of this book's journey is a joy to follow, 23 Nov 2007
I have had this book on my shelf for almost a year before I actually picked it up and started it. This book is something my collection doesn't necessarily point towards me liking in amongst the likes of Kerouac, Burroughs, Self and Woolf. However, Sylvia Brownigg's 'Pages for You' is something of a revelation, a joy. It is so deeply emotive to the extent I was trembling with rapturous joy and eschewing the pages over three wet days in coffee shops and in the evening literally waiting for my next half hour to devour its treasures.

As noted by other reviewers here, this book cannot be defined as a story of a lesbian love affair, or even a lesbian polemic--it's a love affair in all of its shining glory. I think I was touched particularly by this book as I had a similar enough experience myself and this was a coincidence (I did not buy the book because of that fact.) The description is rich and pristinely clear, the steamy images evoked of New York streets and the love affair, and New England falls are almost fantastical in their quality.

I do not wish to spoil this treasure for you, because this is one of the most heartfelt and sincere love stories of modern times.

Look beyond the cover, 31 Mar 2007
I didn't fancy the cover much, I read it in one afternoon, as the story, whilst not groundbreaking, is written well, with a sensual use of language to describe the experience of falling in love for the first time - from first sighting, first shag and the inevitable end.


Wow, 11 Jan 2007
I've just finished reading this and have decided to hunt out more of Ms Brownrigg's books. Her writing is so moving and vivid bringing every emotion and location to life. Even though one knows from the beginning that Anne and Flannery will not remain together the end still manages to be absolutely heartbreaking. While the process of their falling in love and coming together is nothing short of beautiful and sweet. I cannot praise Ms Brownrigg's ability to convey the characters emotions enough. There is just enough detail to get the full picture and empathise but not so much that it gets tedious and too detailed.

This is a wonderful book for any romantic who isn't afraid of a sad ending. I would also recommend it to people who just want a well written story in this day of 'anything goes' writing.

A revelation, 10 Nov 2008
To be honest, I was dreading reading this novel. I hated the television adaptation and the only reason I did read it is because a friend let me a pile of fiction, it was the last one and I didn't have anything else to read. However, from the moment I began reading I was extremely impressed by Water's confidence writing style and reliable historical research. She is one of the best historical fiction writers I have ever read and I can't rate her highly enough. I believe Sarah Waters deserves to be mainstream. Highly recommended.


Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

oh dear, what a dissapointment, 04 Feb 2007
i really cant say any more than that of mt title above, i was looking for some steamy hot women on women tales, and i really didn't get that. the book is a matter of taste, if you enjoy reading stories about butch daddy types, that wish above all else that they had a penis then go ahead and buy this. personally i love women who are women and that means i loathed this book. definitely did not stir any passions within me. but again it depends on your tastes

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

A real page turner, 02 Aug 2008
The story of Drew and Jay, drawn to each other at their first meeting but with Jay in a failing relationship, the book follows their relationship from its beginnings in freindly flirtation through to its climax on a luxury holiday where Jay and her partner and Drew and her date and all present. A real page turner where the sexual tension continues to build with each page Gerri Hill has done it again, a wonderful read.

Aftershock , 07 Nov 2008
Once again KG MacGregor brings us the continuing story of Lily and Anna, the book take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with some surprises to say the least.

Mesmerising and seductive, 30 Dec 2008
This book is sexy, vivid and a compulsive page-turner. I love the wry and witty way that Brownrigg describes Flannery's young enthusiasm and naivety. I like the fact that the story explores the chase, the catch, and then the realtionship as it develops. There is a brilliant poetry to the writing.

Stunningly beautiful tale of love and finding a path, 23 Nov 2008
"Pages for You" is exquisitely written, perfectly paced and stays in the memory long after the final page. The central love story is between two women and the book is notable for containing one of the most convincing and true-to-life lesbian love stories that I have read. There are so many substandard gay-themed books out there that acquire a cult following because readers (understandably) embrace novels that reflect even in a small way the truth of their own love lives, but "Pages for You" is quite simply sublime, and knocks the socks off so many other books with which it could be classed in the "lesbian fiction" or "lesbian romance fiction" genres.

The book follows Flannery, a college student who is just beginning to find her way in the world. Upon meeting her tutor, Anne, Flannery is immediately captivated by the older woman, and a romance unfolds. This basic story could be the plotline of a far shallower book, but what makes Sylvia Brownrigg's novel stands out is the quality of her writing and the maturity and subtlety with which she handles the characters' feelings. Other lesbian novels have the feeling of wanting to sell the lesbian love aspect at the expense of believable characters. In contrast, Flannery and Anne in "Pages for You" seem like real people, with thoughts and reactions that throughout the book, never fail to convince.

If you wish to read a lesbian-themed novel, or a lesbian-themed romance, please pick up "Pages for You" and enjoy one of the finest novels there is in each of these genres. If you are a reader who enjoys captivating prose, utterly convincing characters and the deft depiction of real feelings about love, life and the way we are, I would also recommend this book to you. Sylvia Brownrigg is exceptionally talented and "Pages for You" is a delight to read, a book of real quality and depth that leaves a lasting impression.

Every footprint of this book's journey is a joy to follow, 23 Nov 2007
I have had this book on my shelf for almost a year before I actually picked it up and started it. This book is something my collection doesn't necessarily point towards me liking in amongst the likes of Kerouac, Burroughs, Self and Woolf. However, Sylvia Brownigg's 'Pages for You' is something of a revelation, a joy. It is so deeply emotive to the extent I was trembling with rapturous joy and eschewing the pages over three wet days in coffee shops and in the evening literally waiting for my next half hour to devour its treasures.

As noted by other reviewers here, this book cannot be defined as a story of a lesbian love affair, or even a lesbian polemic--it's a love affair in all of its shining glory. I think I was touched particularly by this book as I had a similar enough experience myself and this was a coincidence (I did not buy the book because of that fact.) The description is rich and pristinely clear, the steamy images evoked of New York streets and the love affair, and New England falls are almost fantastical in their quality.

I do not wish to spoil this treasure for you, because this is one of the most heartfelt and sincere love stories of modern times.

Look beyond the cover, 31 Mar 2007
I didn't fancy the cover much, I read it in one afternoon, as the story, whilst not groundbreaking, is written well, with a sensual use of language to describe the experience of falling in love for the first time - from first sighting, first shag and the inevitable end.


Wow, 11 Jan 2007
I've just finished reading this and have decided to hunt out more of Ms Brownrigg's books. Her writing is so moving and vivid bringing every emotion and location to life. Even though one knows from the beginning that Anne and Flannery will not remain together the end still manages to be absolutely heartbreaking. While the process of their falling in love and coming together is nothing short of beautiful and sweet. I cannot praise Ms Brownrigg's ability to convey the characters emotions enough. There is just enough detail to get the full picture and empathise but not so much that it gets tedious and too detailed.

This is a wonderful book for any romantic who isn't afraid of a sad ending. I would also recommend it to people who just want a well written story in this day of 'anything goes' writing.

Starting to bore me now..., 06 Dec 2008
Rad used to be my fav author but recently she is getting boring. Repetitive and I found myself skipping pages to finish it. With so many new authors publishing great books are her days numbered?

A revelation, 10 Nov 2008
To be honest, I was dreading reading this novel. I hated the television adaptation and the only reason I did read it is because a friend let me a pile of fiction, it was the last one and I didn't have anything else to read. However, from the moment I began reading I was extremely impressed by Water's confidence writing style and reliable historical research. She is one of the best historical fiction writers I have ever read and I can't rate her highly enough. I believe Sarah Waters deserves to be mainstream. Highly recommended.


Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

oh dear, what a dissapointment, 04 Feb 2007
i really cant say any more than that of mt title above, i was looking for some steamy hot women on women tales, and i really didn't get that. the book is a matter of taste, if you enjoy reading stories about butch daddy types, that wish above all else that they had a penis then go ahead and buy this. personally i love women who are women and that means i loathed this book. definitely did not stir any passions within me. but again it depends on your tastes

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

A real page turner, 02 Aug 2008
The story of Drew and Jay, drawn to each other at their first meeting but with Jay in a failing relationship, the book follows their relationship from its beginnings in freindly flirtation through to its climax on a luxury holiday where Jay and her partner and Drew and her date and all present. A real page turner where the sexual tension continues to build with each page Gerri Hill has done it again, a wonderful read.

Aftershock , 07 Nov 2008
Once again KG MacGregor brings us the continuing story of Lily and Anna, the book take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with some surprises to say the least.

Mesmerising and seductive, 30 Dec 2008
This book is sexy, vivid and a compulsive page-turner. I love the wry and witty way that Brownrigg describes Flannery's young enthusiasm and naivety. I like the fact that the story explores the chase, the catch, and then the realtionship as it develops. There is a brilliant poetry to the writing.

Stunningly beautiful tale of love and finding a path, 23 Nov 2008
"Pages for You" is exquisitely written, perfectly paced and stays in the memory long after the final page. The central love story is between two women and the book is notable for containing one of the most convincing and true-to-life lesbian love stories that I have read. There are so many substandard gay-themed books out there that acquire a cult following because readers (understandably) embrace novels that reflect even in a small way the truth of their own love lives, but "Pages for You" is quite simply sublime, and knocks the socks off so many other books with which it could be classed in the "lesbian fiction" or "lesbian romance fiction" genres.

The book follows Flannery, a college student who is just beginning to find her way in the world. Upon meeting her tutor, Anne, Flannery is immediately captivated by the older woman, and a romance unfolds. This basic story could be the plotline of a far shallower book, but what makes Sylvia Brownrigg's novel stands out is the quality of her writing and the maturity and subtlety with which she handles the characters' feelings. Other lesbian novels have the feeling of wanting to sell the lesbian love aspect at the expense of believable characters. In contrast, Flannery and Anne in "Pages for You" seem like real people, with thoughts and reactions that throughout the book, never fail to convince.

If you wish to read a lesbian-themed novel, or a lesbian-themed romance, please pick up "Pages for You" and enjoy one of the finest novels there is in each of these genres. If you are a reader who enjoys captivating prose, utterly convincing characters and the deft depiction of real feelings about love, life and the way we are, I would also recommend this book to you. Sylvia Brownrigg is exceptionally talented and "Pages for You" is a delight to read, a book of real quality and depth that leaves a lasting impression.

Every footprint of this book's journey is a joy to follow, 23 Nov 2007
I have had this book on my shelf for almost a year before I actually picked it up and started it. This book is something my collection doesn't necessarily point towards me liking in amongst the likes of Kerouac, Burroughs, Self and Woolf. However, Sylvia Brownigg's 'Pages for You' is something of a revelation, a joy. It is so deeply emotive to the extent I was trembling with rapturous joy and eschewing the pages over three wet days in coffee shops and in the evening literally waiting for my next half hour to devour its treasures.

As noted by other reviewers here, this book cannot be defined as a story of a lesbian love affair, or even a lesbian polemic--it's a love affair in all of its shining glory. I think I was touched particularly by this book as I had a similar enough experience myself and this was a coincidence (I did not buy the book because of that fact.) The description is rich and pristinely clear, the steamy images evoked of New York streets and the love affair, and New England falls are almost fantastical in their quality.

I do not wish to spoil this treasure for you, because this is one of the most heartfelt and sincere love stories of modern times.

Look beyond the cover, 31 Mar 2007
I didn't fancy the cover much, I read it in one afternoon, as the story, whilst not groundbreaking, is written well, with a sensual use of language to describe the experience of falling in love for the first time - from first sighting, first shag and the inevitable end.


Wow, 11 Jan 2007
I've just finished reading this and have decided to hunt out more of Ms Brownrigg's books. Her writing is so moving and vivid bringing every emotion and location to life. Even though one knows from the beginning that Anne and Flannery will not remain together the end still manages to be absolutely heartbreaking. While the process of their falling in love and coming together is nothing short of beautiful and sweet. I cannot praise Ms Brownrigg's ability to convey the characters emotions enough. There is just enough detail to get the full picture and empathise but not so much that it gets tedious and too detailed.

This is a wonderful book for any romantic who isn't afraid of a sad ending. I would also recommend it to people who just want a well written story in this day of 'anything goes' writing.

Starting to bore me now..., 06 Dec 2008
Rad used to be my fav author but recently she is getting boring. Repetitive and I found myself skipping pages to finish it. With so many new authors publishing great books are her days numbered?

Genious, 12 Nov 2008
It is the definition of love. How amazing the word choice is each time they meet.

Too Close to Touch, 22 Oct 2007
Just fantastic!! It was the first book that ever got a tear from me...such a lovely love story and very well written!!

Simply excellent, 19 Dec 2006
This book is simply amazing. The tension created between the two characters was done very, very well, their rapour seemed fantastic and I felt along with them. The dialogue was written convincingly and some situations reminded me heavily of one's i have experienced myself. This book made me think about things in my life for a while afterwards when very few books have had this effect on me. I wanted to pick it up and read it again, almost straight after putting it down. It is very much, worth a read. I place this book in a much higher regard than the best selling lesbian novel - curious wine. A must buy.

500 stars!!, 15 Jul 2006
Life gets complicated when love turns out to be nothing like you expected - and the woman you want is too close to touch.

Gretchen Kaiser is a workaholic corporate honcho with issues - she's got daddy issues, she's got female-executive-in-a-man's-world issues, and she's got one night stand issues. What she doesn't have are love issues. She isn't looking for it, she doesn't feel she needs it, and she doesn't expect to find it...certainly not right under her nose. Kylie O'Brien is the kind of girl who believes in true love and is willing to wait until it shows up at her door. Her best friend Mick would sweep her off her feet given the chance, but Mick doesn't make Kylie feel the way true love should. And now Kylie has to worry about her new boss - Gretchen Kaiser's icy reserve makes life as her administrative assistant a challenge. It doesn't matter one damn bit that Gretchen is extremely attractive with a voice as rich and smooth as melted chocolate. It absolutely doesn't...

A revelation, 10 Nov 2008
To be honest, I was dreading reading this novel. I hated the television adaptation and the only reason I did read it is because a friend let me a pile of fiction, it was the last one and I didn't have anything else to read. However, from the moment I began reading I was extremely impressed by Water's confidence writing style and reliable historical research. She is one of the best historical fiction writers I have ever read and I can't rate her highly enough. I believe Sarah Waters deserves to be mainstream. Highly recommended.


Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

oh dear, what a dissapointment, 04 Feb 2007
i really cant say any more than that of mt title above, i was looking for some steamy hot women on women tales, and i really didn't get that. the book is a matter of taste, if you enjoy reading stories about butch daddy types, that wish above all else that they had a penis then go ahead and buy this. personally i love women who are women and that means i loathed this book. definitely did not stir any passions within me. but again it depends on your tastes

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

A real page turner, 02 Aug 2008
The story of Drew and Jay, drawn to each other at their first meeting but with Jay in a failing relationship, the book follows their relationship from its beginnings in freindly flirtation through to its climax on a luxury holiday where Jay and her partner and Drew and her date and all present. A real page turner where the sexual tension continues to build with each page Gerri Hill has done it again, a wonderful read.

Aftershock , 07 Nov 2008
Once again KG MacGregor brings us the continuing story of Lily and Anna, the book take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with some surprises to say the least.

Mesmerising and seductive, 30 Dec 2008
This book is sexy, vivid and a compulsive page-turner. I love the wry and witty way that Brownrigg describes Flannery's young enthusiasm and naivety. I like the fact that the story explores the chase, the catch, and then the realtionship as it develops. There is a brilliant poetry to the writing.

Stunningly beautiful tale of love and finding a path, 23 Nov 2008
"Pages for You" is exquisitely written, perfectly paced and stays in the memory long after the final page. The central love story is between two women and the book is notable for containing one of the most convincing and true-to-life lesbian love stories that I have read. There are so many substandard gay-themed books out there that acquire a cult following because readers (understandably) embrace novels that reflect even in a small way the truth of their own love lives, but "Pages for You" is quite simply sublime, and knocks the socks off so many other books with which it could be classed in the "lesbian fiction" or "lesbian romance fiction" genres.

The book follows Flannery, a college student who is just beginning to find her way in the world. Upon meeting her tutor, Anne, Flannery is immediately captivated by the older woman, and a romance unfolds. This basic story could be the plotline of a far shallower book, but what makes Sylvia Brownrigg's novel stands out is the quality of her writing and the maturity and subtlety with which she handles the characters' feelings. Other lesbian novels have the feeling of wanting to sell the lesbian love aspect at the expense of believable characters. In contrast, Flannery and Anne in "Pages for You" seem like real people, with thoughts and reactions that throughout the book, never fail to convince.

If you wish to read a lesbian-themed novel, or a lesbian-themed romance, please pick up "Pages for You" and enjoy one of the finest novels there is in each of these genres. If you are a reader who enjoys captivating prose, utterly convincing characters and the deft depiction of real feelings about love, life and the way we are, I would also recommend this book to you. Sylvia Brownrigg is exceptionally talented and "Pages for You" is a delight to read, a book of real quality and depth that leaves a lasting impression.

Every footprint of this book's journey is a joy to follow, 23 Nov 2007
I have had this book on my shelf for almost a year before I actually picked it up and started it. This book is something my collection doesn't necessarily point towards me liking in amongst the likes of Kerouac, Burroughs, Self and Woolf. However, Sylvia Brownigg's 'Pages for You' is something of a revelation, a joy. It is so deeply emotive to the extent I was trembling with rapturous joy and eschewing the pages over three wet days in coffee shops and in the evening literally waiting for my next half hour to devour its treasures.

As noted by other reviewers here, this book cannot be defined as a story of a lesbian love affair, or even a lesbian polemic--it's a love affair in all of its shining glory. I think I was touched particularly by this book as I had a similar enough experience myself and this was a coincidence (I did not buy the book because of that fact.) The description is rich and pristinely clear, the steamy images evoked of New York streets and the love affair, and New England falls are almost fantastical in their quality.

I do not wish to spoil this treasure for you, because this is one of the most heartfelt and sincere love stories of modern times.

Look beyond the cover, 31 Mar 2007
I didn't fancy the cover much, I read it in one afternoon, as the story, whilst not groundbreaking, is written well, with a sensual use of language to describe the experience of falling in love for the first time - from first sighting, first shag and the inevitable end.


Wow, 11 Jan 2007
I've just finished reading this and have decided to hunt out more of Ms Brownrigg's books. Her writing is so moving and vivid bringing every emotion and location to life. Even though one knows from the beginning that Anne and Flannery will not remain together the end still manages to be absolutely heartbreaking. While the process of their falling in love and coming together is nothing short of beautiful and sweet. I cannot praise Ms Brownrigg's ability to convey the characters emotions enough. There is just enough detail to get the full picture and empathise but not so much that it gets tedious and too detailed.

This is a wonderful book for any romantic who isn't afraid of a sad ending. I would also recommend it to people who just want a well written story in this day of 'anything goes' writing.

Starting to bore me now..., 06 Dec 2008
Rad used to be my fav author but recently she is getting boring. Repetitive and I found myself skipping pages to finish it. With so many new authors publishing great books are her days numbered?

Genious, 12 Nov 2008
It is the definition of love. How amazing the word choice is each time they meet.

Too Close to Touch, 22 Oct 2007
Just fantastic!! It was the first book that ever got a tear from me...such a lovely love story and very well written!!

Simply excellent, 19 Dec 2006
This book is simply amazing. The tension created between the two characters was done very, very well, their rapour seemed fantastic and I felt along with them. The dialogue was written convincingly and some situations reminded me heavily of one's i have experienced myself. This book made me think about things in my life for a while afterwards when very few books have had this effect on me. I wanted to pick it up and read it again, almost straight after putting it down. It is very much, worth a read. I place this book in a much higher regard than the best selling lesbian novel - curious wine. A must buy.

500 stars!!, 15 Jul 2006
Life gets complicated when love turns out to be nothing like you expected - and the woman you want is too close to touch.

Gretchen Kaiser is a workaholic corporate honcho with issues - she's got daddy issues, she's got female-executive-in-a-man's-world issues, and she's got one night stand issues. What she doesn't have are love issues. She isn't looking for it, she doesn't feel she needs it, and she doesn't expect to find it...certainly not right under her nose. Kylie O'Brien is the kind of girl who bel