Anna Dorn’s heroine, Astrid Dahl (no relation to Roald), spends a good deal of Perfume and Pain’s first chapters tucked away in a bungalow in the hills of L.A. brooding, trying to quell her beer, Adderall, and woman addictions with a large dose of “getting healthy.” Prioritizing health, however, is not something that benefits Astrid, the book’s narrative propellers, or the reader’s hunger. A true rollercoaster of indulgences, Perfume and Pain baits Astrid into many benders, beach makeouts, unplanned house parties, and plagiarism scandals, speed-racing herself through life amidst a haze of perfume spritzes. Astrid is all id, but she has to get healthy, and it hurts to watch her outgrow all of her sins.
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