{"product_id":"the-maidenheads","title":"The Maidenheads","description":"\n\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eNamed Most Anticipated by Goodreads, LGBTQ Reads, Autostraddle, Debutiful, Electric Lit, and SheReads\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"A love letter to D.C.'s streets and quirks, written by someone who like their main character, has lived, loved and learned within its borders.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eWashington Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"There's no real substitute for living through the indie-grunge scene of the early 2000s, but reading Benny Peterson's beautifully illustrated and delightfully queer new novel, \n\u003ci\u003eThe Maidenheads\u003c\/i\u003e, is perhaps as close as you can get to actually running wild and free through the very specific world of D.C. punk.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--Vogue\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"With supple writing, Peterson precisely nails how it feels to find first love, and first heartache.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eDebutiful \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"This novel is a love letter to the music scene of the early 2000s that fans of grunge, indie rock, and pop punk will undoubtedly love. It's also a deeply moving and undeniably sexy take on self-discovery and reinvention, hammering home the idea that it's never too late to start over and that coming-of-age has no age limit. A delightful, messy, heartfelt, and punk rock queer love story.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--Kirkus\u003c\/i\u003e (starred)\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Ensue romantic chaos draped in bold vocals and angsty melodies. \n\u003ci\u003eThe Maidenheads\u003c\/i\u003e is a balm for anyone who yearns for the recklessness of the teenage years without the soul-wrecking consequences of adulthood.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--Electric Lit\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"[A] big-hearted debut . . . The sheer joy of making music comes through on every page, as does Jamie's determination to be herself. Indie music fans should snatch this up.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"A standout debut with an impeccable voice. This is a memorable story about music, love, and self-discovery. I was hooked from page one.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Emily Austin, author of \u003ci\u003eEveryone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"If Kate Bush and Björk had a baby, it would be \n\u003ci\u003eThe Maidenheads\u003c\/i\u003e, the debut book from Benny B. Peterson. This novel is a queercore punk symphony of the human heart and limbs.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eDebutiful\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"A paean to the early 2000s, the D.C. indie music scene, and the pulsing ache of unresolved love.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Goodreads \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Peterson is a Maryland native, and it shows: The first chapter of \n\u003ci\u003eMaidenheads\u003c\/i\u003e alone includes references to Baltimore's Charles Village, Johns Hopkins, Howard County, Silver Spring and D.C.'s 9:30 Club. In this ode to the DMV indie music scene, the novel follows newly single Jamie, who unexpectedly joins her old ex-girlfriend's successful new band and navigates both her return to performing and the return of complicated feelings toward her ex.\" \n\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e--The Banner\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Through a stunningly rendered portrait of D.C.'s punk music scene, Benny takes readers on a true emotional rollercoaster that is as painful as it is beautiful. You might cringe. You will definitely cry. And when all is said and done, you'll be glad you got on the ride.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Rachel A.G. Gilman, Now What Newsletter \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"An ode to journalism, music, and queer love.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--\u003ci\u003eWashington City Paper\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Like a perfect bubble bath on a cold rainy night, \n\u003ci\u003eThe Maidenheads\u003c\/i\u003e is a novel you'll sink into and won't want to leave. It starts out in a melancholy minor key, but the writing glows with warmth and hope - and a molten core of eroticism. The characters are marvelously messy, and you'll fall in love with them for it. Before you know it, you're tearing through the pages, desperate to find out what Jamie does next and whether she ends up with Mari (and whether she should). \n\u003ci\u003eThe Maidenheads \u003c\/i\u003eis a slice of life that reminds you how big life is, and how full of beautiful possibilities.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--James Frankie Thomas, author of \u003ci\u003eIdlewild \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Benny B. Peterson's \n\u003ci\u003eThe Maidenheads\u003c\/i\u003e is so much more than a music novel. This is an audacious and tender debut about the many long arcs that make up a life: the arc of self-discovery, of love, of art-making, of losing and forgiving your friends. Is it ever possible, Peterson asks, to recapture a life you abandoned? And why does nostalgia always turn into a trap? \n\u003ci\u003eThe Maidenheads\u003c\/i\u003e is a smart, intoxicating bop of a novel.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Isle McElroy, author of \u003ci\u003ePeople Collide\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Reading Benny Peterson's glorious debut \n\u003ci\u003eThe Maidenheads\u003c\/i\u003e feels like being at an intimate small venue concert at two am with a friend you secretly yearn for but know it's a bad idea, but you're going to drink too much and make out anyway. It feels like hearing your favorite teenage angst playlist, and now you're an adult but the songs still get you. This is a perfect novel of messy queers, complicated all-the-feelings friendships, and growing up that never really ends. I loved it.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"I never wanted to stop reading this thrilling, lively, and moving book! Jamie and Mari felt so real that I expect their story to go on, expect to see them at a show, or walking down the street, holding hands, eating gummy bears, or fighting. A book about finding out who you are in art, gender and sexuality, family and love, and in every way that matters. This novel is as scrappy and full of heart as the Maidenhead's music, and I flew through it with joy and plenty of tears.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Lydi Conklin, author of \u003ci\u003eSongs of No Provenance \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"This Bildungsroman captures the quivering intensity of first love and heartbreak in the most visceral way. How does one be a person in the world? And make art? And live in one's truth? I was so moved and I couldn't put it down.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Katya Apekina, author of \u003ci\u003eMother Doll\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBenny B. Peterson\u003c\/b\u003e (they\/them) is a writer and editor based near Washington, DC. A contributing editor at \n\u003ci\u003eWashingtonian\u003c\/i\u003e magazine, they have also worked at \n\u003ci\u003eForeign Policy\u003c\/i\u003e, the \n\u003ci\u003eNew Republic\u003c\/i\u003e, and \n\u003ci\u003eStreet Sense\u003c\/i\u003e, DC's street newspaper. They have written about culture, politics, gender, and LGBTQ+ issues for \n\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eWashington Post\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eElle\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eSlate\u003c\/i\u003e, and \n\u003ci\u003eThe Atlantic\u003c\/i\u003e, among other places, and received an MFA in fiction from Bennington.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/span\u003e 03\/16\/2026 (EAN 9798217047147, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 05\/01\/2026 (EAN 9798217047147, Hardcover) - *Starred Review\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n","brand":"Dutton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51496016904470,"sku":"9798217047147","price":34.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9798217047147.jpg?v=1783050680","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/the-maidenheads","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}