Christopher Tradowsky’s “Midnight at the Cinema Palace” is a deeply immersive journey, but whether it’s a “box office smash” or a “sleeper” will depend on how much of yourself you’re willing to invest in its story. At its core, it’s a tale of Walter, a somewhat solitary figure finding his way in San Francisco, a city of reinvention and refuge amidst the AIDS crisis. The city itself becomes more than a backdrop—it takes on the role of a character, shaping Walter’s journey in profound ways. His discovery of a captivating stranger during a routine lunch sets off a quest that propels us through the vibrant streets of this storied city.

For me, Walter’s experience of finding himself in a city that both challenges and welcomes him resonated deeply. It reminded me of my own experience of moving to San Francisco in 2016—two decades later, yet with the same yearning for connection in a sprawling, sometimes impersonal metropolis. Like Walter, I stumbled through attempts to find community and, eventually, discovered my people. Tradowsky’s writing makes this San Francisco feel vivid, almost like an old friend, and it’s a testament to his dedication and affection for the city that it never feels anything less than authentic.

The book’s structure, however, evolves as Walter does, shifting from a rich, historical narrative into something more introspective and literary. In the first third, I was completely hooked by the vivid portrayal of 90s San Francisco—the late nights, the raw beauty of the city in flux. But as the narrative pivots toward a focus on Walter’s evolving friendships with Cary and Sasha, the pacing starts to slow. The story becomes more episodic, with moments of brilliance occasionally interrupted by stretches of monotony. As the trio of queer characters tries to navigate their complex relationships, the book loses some of the spark it initially had, sometimes morphing into a collection of vignettes rather than a cohesive story. While these vignettes can be poignant and tender, they sometimes lack the momentum and emotional clarity that gripped me early on.

One of the book's strengths, though, is its ability to breathe life into Walter and his friends. Tradowsky excels at crafting characters who feel fully realized—complex, flawed, and achingly human. That said, some of the supporting characters fade in and out of the narrative without much resolution, which left me longing for more closure, though that may very well be an intentional reflection of life’s fleeting connections.

Ultimately, “Midnight at the Cinema Palace” is a love letter to San Francisco, film, and chosen family. How much you connect with these themes will likely determine how deeply you engage with the book. For readers who value richly drawn settings and character-driven stories, there’s much to appreciate. While it’s not without its pacing issues, Tradowsky’s affection for his characters and the city is undeniable—and that is what will stick with me long after the final page. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I tried actually about three different times to really get into this book upon receiving the ARC and couldn't seem to get things rolling. Maybe it is a timing thing, as the book isn't inherently bad in any way. It was simply a bit too boring for me right now. Unfortunately, I had to DNF, but will most likely pick it back up when the time comes because the writing was done well and I did somewhat like the characters, as well as the concept of it. I noticed this book isn't the first that this has happened with, in an effort to become the next Great American Novel it seemed to put the voice and character--things we find so important in books--to the wayside in order to focus on the story it is looking to tell.

Super affecting tale of the aids crisis and it devasting legacy. This was not an easy read, but a truly relevant tale of humanity's failings and its inherent beauty. Thoroughly enjoyed the emotional storm this story invoked.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Okay, so there is absolutely nothing wrong with this book. It just was not for me at all. There is not really anything happening. The description of the book sounds way more interesting than what takes place - there are no 'adventures' across the city and the film project was not hilarious at all. I did enjoy that this was set in SF and the mention of lots of Bay Area locations (Livermore mention!!). Also, it's supposed to be 1993, but the entire book gave 50s vibes, which threw me off when email and VHS were mentioned. The writing style was good, the characters were well rounded, it just truly did not interest me at all.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was really intrigued by the cover and was really interested in reading this book. I'm glad I was able to get an arc through Netgalley. Thank you so much.

I struggled with this book. I have to say the best part was the first paragraph. The rest was not my cup of tea. It wasn’t very interesting to be honest. I tried and got through most of it but it wasn’t very exciting.

So touching and filled with such depth, Midnight at the Cinema Palace had me hooked. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

Truly a timely story plumbing the depths of the aids crisis and how we connect as humans over tragedy. This was an exceptional novel full of emotion and depth, I could definitely see this being a hit with bookclubs this summer. If there is anything that the AIDS crisis and books exploring that topic prove, it is that we are at our best when we stick to a community that uplifts each other and looks after each other.

Well done!

Thank you to the author, Simon and Schuster, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my review.

this was such a great book! I really liked the themes that this book covered, and it was a really good book. It was emotional, and full of touching and emotional scenes. I think this book would be great for a book club!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

what a timely and reflective story this was about the AIDS crisis. it just shows how far we have come and how much work we still have to do.