Publisher's Weekly Review
Gervais debuts with the charming account of a recent high school graduate who dreams of breaking the gender barrier for tattoo artists on 1985 Long Island. In need of a job, Gina Mulley convinces her older brother, Dominic, to give her an apprenticeship at his tattoo parlor. Dom has just sold 20% of the fledgling business to investor Jeri Harrison, who plans to tap into an upscale market, but the plans are compromised by a vindictive chamber of commerce president, Dom's lack of faith in Gina, and a romantic relationship between Dom and Jeri. Then Gina meets a young woman named Anna, who visits the shop with her employer, a traveling psychic. Gina and Anna become pen pals and eventually strike up a romantic relationship, and Gina must decide between proving herself in Dom's shop or following Anna on the road. At times the story feels aimless, but Gervais gets a decent amount of mileage out of body art metaphors, such as her description of a tattoo as "something invisible made visible. A truth you'd kept to yourself that you were finally willing to have in the open, to be seen." The complex characters in this otherwise patchy bildungsroman will keep readers turning the pages. Agent: Chad Luibl, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (June)
Kirkus Review
An enterprising 18-year-old oddball seeks to break into the 1980s tattoo scene. After graduating from high school, Gina Mulley can easily identify the jobs she doesn't want: bartender; typist; any position that removes her from Blue Claw, the Long Island town where she grew up. She's reluctant to part from her older brother, Dominic; amid a childhood punctuated by her mother's breakdowns and her own inability to connect with peers, he's the only source of stability she's ever known. Gina spends her time at Dominic's tattoo shop doing odd jobs, doodling strange, alien fish, and avoiding job applications--till she realizes a tattooist's career perfectly suits what Dominic dubs her innate "artistic flair." After much persuasion, Gina convinces her brother to take her on as an apprentice, with the knowledge that making it as a tattooist in an almost exclusively male-dominated industry will be nearly impossible. As Gina tattoos sackfuls of oranges and sketches bizarre tattoo "flash"--crosses made of vegetables; hybrid animals--she meets the enigmatic and spellbinding Anna, the apparent protégé of a local clairvoyant; the two develop a long-distance correspondence that eventually becomes a close-knit friendship, and perhaps something more. As Gina fights tooth and nail to be taken seriously as an artist, she must navigate an increasingly fraught relationship with her brother, who resists seeing her as an independent adult--all while helping the struggling tattoo shop survive. From the start, the novel is immersive and wholly alive. Gervais painstakingly renders the fine-grained particularities of the 1980s body-art scene and locates its deeper emotional core: Tattoos are not just ink, but "something invisible made visible. A truth [that] you were finally willing to have out in the open, to be seen." Gina is a touchingly complex, flawed character; her journey from childhood misfit to adult is gratifying to behold. Though some of the narrative threads feel underbaked--Gina's relationship to her mother isn't believably resolved; Dominic's relationship struggles lie somewhat apart from the story's center--Gervais' characters are original and a pleasure to read; their narrative energy will easily carry readers through to the final page. An enjoyable romp brought to life by its lovable, off-kilter protagonist. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
It's 1985, and Gina Mulley has graduated from high school with the dream of becoming a tattoo artist. She's worked in her brother Dominic's tattoo parlor for the past three years, but her work has been limited to menial tasks. Reluctantly, Dominic agrees to host Gina as an apprentice in his shop, but his new investor (and girlfriend) has a different vision for the place Gina has so loved over the years. Blue Claw, on Long Island, is a gritty yet homey town, not an upscale vacation destination. As Gina fights to learn her trade, she meets a beautiful girl named Anna, who assists a local fortune teller. She swiftly falls in love, but the relationship may not survive this challenging summer. Gervais' debut is a thoughtful and tender coming-of-age story. While Gina faces a great deal of trauma, including rape--she's exploited in more ways than one--she has a tenacious drive and hope for future healing. Gervais' gorgeously detailed illustrations are interlaced with the text, showing off Gina's intricate designs and talent.
Library Journal Review
Gervais's debut novel wrestles with questions of coming-of-age in the 1980s, feminism, and living authentically when it seems that everyone is against you. Gina is introverted, but she's set on becoming a tattoo artist. Her brother, Dominic, who runs a tattoo parlor in their Long Island town, tries to protect her from the tumultuous, gritty, and male-dominated world of tattoo artists in 1985. Her art doesn't fit mainstream tattoo aesthetics, but that could be her ticket to success. Given one year to prove herself, Gina works hard. One day a psychic and his assistant, Anna, show up. Gina instantly falls for Anna. When the shop enters uncertain times Gina must navigate her career, new love, and family problems. Gina handles what life throws at her with grit, grace, and hope. Gervais throws in cultural references from the 1980s that will make readers smile who grew up then. Narrator Jesse Vilinsky brings the young Gina to life, embodying her optimism, anxiety, and growth with heart. VERDICT Those looking for an uplifting listen with a bit of romance will enjoy Gervais's novel.--Elyssa Everling
