Mutual Interest

by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith

Overview

An enthralling, dishy novel about ambition, sexuality, and the rise of a capitalist empire in post-Gilded Age New York.

“Hernan Diaz's Trust but make it gay? Narrated in the sly-eyed style of Plain Bad Heroines? I am absolutely buying what this book is selling, an epic and intimate tale of three secretly queer aspiring business titans who band together-and in the case of two of them, marry-to build an empire.” -Electric Literature, Most Anticipated Queer Books for Spring 2025

At the turn of the 20th century, Vivian Lesperance is determined to flee her hometown of Utica, New York, and live a life worthy of the society pages she writes for. When she meets Oscar Schmidt, a queer middle manager at a soap company, Vivian finds a partner she can guide to build the life she wants—not least because Oscar will leave Vivian to tend to her own romances with women.

But Vivian's plans require capital, so they approach Oscar's old-money rival, Squire Clancey. Together they found Clancey & Schmidt, a preeminent manufacturer of soap, perfume, and candles. When Oscar and Squire fall in love, the trio form a new kind of partnership.

Vivian reaches the pinnacle of her power building Clancey & Schmidt into an empire of personal care products while operating behind the image of both men. But exposure threatens, and all three partners are made aware of how much they have to lose.

For people who loved The Gilded Age and fans of Succession “who wished the show was both kinder and gayer” (Jessie Wright, Copper Dog Books), Mutual Interest is a brilliant, beguiling story of desire and power.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781639733323
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	02/04/2025
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.50(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Olivia Wolfgang-Smith is the author of Glassworks, which was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. She is a 2024 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow in Fiction from The New York Foundation for the Arts and lives in Brooklyn with her partner.

Editorial Reviews

“Witty . . . a great deal of fun.” —New York Times Book Review

“A queer take on the classic Gilded Age historical novel.” —Town & Country, "The 36 Must Read Books of Winter 2025"

“You'll soon fall in love with the cast of odd and honest souls. We never expected to be so captivated by the ins and outs of the early 20th-century soap market, but we were hanging on every word.” —Oprah Daily

“Sharp and lively . . . Mutual Interest is a clever and powerful evocation of the consequences of hidden lives and suppressive social norms.” —The Washington Post

“For those (like me) eagerly awaiting The Gilded Age Season 3 . . . Mutual Interest follows a lavender marriage that blossoms into a business partnership, charting the ascent of a wellness brand as thoughtfully as it renders the love stories (both platonic and romantic) that shape its history.” —Bustle, "The Most Anticipated Books Hitting Shelves This Winter"

“Hernan Diaz's Trust but make it gay? Narrated in the sly-eyed style of Plain Bad Heroines? I am absolutely buying what this book is selling, an epic and intimate tale of three secretly queer aspiring business titans who band together-and in the case of two of them, marry-to build an empire.” —Electric Lit, Most Anticipated Queer Books For Spring 2025

“[Wolfgang-Smith] excels at balancing mirth and menace . . . Her writing sparkles with the glitter and edge of Art Deco beveled mirrors.” —Washington Independent Review of Books

“Wolfgang-Smith is nothing short of virtuosic in her wry and witty world-building . . . This is a novel of families won and lost, love, envy, and betrayal told in a remarkably fresh and entertaining way, with immersive period detail and compelling emotional stakes. Mutual Interest is essential reading.” —Shelf Awareness

“Wolfgang-Smith's remarkable skill with story and language brings readers into queer life in the early days of the twentieth century.” —Booklist

“A high-drama romp through wealthy New York society in the early decades of the 1900s. With witty asides and tongue-in-cheek philosophical rambles, larger-than-life characters and vivid, melodramatic scenes, it reads a bit like a dishy soap opera.” —BookPage

“A delightful Gilded Age historical fiction romp about marriage ambition and building a life outside of traditional expectations.” —Paste Magazine

“Wolfgang-Smith explores tensions in the private lives of three queer misfits turned business titans in her stunning latest . . . Wolfgang-Smith's sharp, sardonic narration brilliantly brings to life both the Gilded Age and her unforgettable protagonists. It's a virtuosic performance.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Wolfgang-Smith approaches historical fiction as a costume ball, affecting a fizzy, omniscient narration: At the book's most fun, it's Edith Wharton or Henry James, with more camp and a winking tone . . . All's queer in love and industry: a memorable tale uniquely told.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This queer love story set in post–Gilded Age New York, from the author of Glassworks, explores sex, power, and capitalism through the lives of three queer misfits.” —The Millions

“Puts a queer spin on empire and capital in a complex tale of three individuals with overlapping needs.” —The Mary Sue

“Scintillating . . . The enticing prose is enhanced by its polished historical setting. Moving from the late 1890s into the early twentieth century, the omniscient narration details opulent parties, clandestine gay clubs, soap factories, and chaotic silent film sets . . . Explores turn-of-the-century alliances, ambitions, and the complications of concealing one's queerness within a narrow social code.” —Foreword Reviews

“An epic tale of sapphic romance and financial scheming set in Gilded Age New York.” —San Francisco Bay Times

“Place[s] fascinating . . . inspiring, queer stories into the conventional Gilded Age narratives of wealth and power . . . Mutual Interest brilliantly explores the freedom that wealth affords its queer characters-and the limitations that even wealth can't overcome.” —Bookreporter

“Olivia Wolfgang-Smith writes with gusto, confidence and humor, and it's a magical combination. Vivian Lesperance is a delightful, brilliant woman vying to enter a society that has no room for her, and I rooted for Vivian every step of the way. But it's the love story that beats at the heart of this novel that won me completely: Squire and Oscar forever and ever.” —Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of HELLO BEAUTIFUL and DEAR EDWARD

“A glittering portrait of post-Gilded Age New York, Mutual Interest is also a timeless queer love story and a meditation on power, capitalism, and the flow of history. Wolfgang-Smith's writing is as wise as it is witty; this novel is a revelation and a joy.” —Anna North, New York Times Bestselling author of Outlawed

“Wonderful . . . I can't stop reading.” —Anna Quindlen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ONE TRUE THING and AFTER ANNIE

“A sumptuous delight . . . as witty as it is deadly serious, as joyous as it is razor-sharp. I loved every single brilliant page.” —Clare Beams, author of THE GARDEN

“The alluring world of Mutual Interest is populated by a remarkable, defiant cast of characters . . . Olivia Wolfgang-Smith has created something towering, labyrinthine, and utterly captivating.” —Temim Fruchter, author of CITY OF LAUGHTER

“Enchanting . . . Richly details the fashions, milieu and class structures, immersively and tenderly breathes life into the complicated realities of queer life in the period.” —Zoomer

From the Publisher