The Girls

This little reissue, originally published in 1986, lured me in with its gorgeous Edward Gorey cover art, and then I couldn't help but stick around. Set in the mid-1970s in the Midlands, it begins with the cozy domestic life of "the girls" Jan and Sue, well-known in the village for their elderflower wine and artisanal cheeses. The two run a quaint shoppe and travel to craft fairs to sell their wares. It's all very cottagecore and relationship goals until Sue grows restless and books herself an extended trip to "find herself" and, meanwhile, Jan finds comfort in the company of a fellow craft fair vendor. However, once Sue is back, the couple find themselves as happy as ever—and expecting a child! I'll admit, at this point, I hesitated to go on, knowing that something must go terribly wrong. After all, the blurb on the back cover boasts murder! Why, I wondered, can't we just have nice things? With trepidation, I continued reading as cozy turned to dark and clever, reminiscent of my favorite Shirley Jackson novel, We Have Always Lived in the Castle. What a gem!

TLDR: Cottagecore. Lesbians. Murder.