Brittany Newell’s sophomore novel “Soft Core” is a kaleidoscopic journey through the neon-lit streets of San Francisco, where reality and fantasy intermingle like fog rolling over the city’s famous hills. Following her debut novel “Oola,” Newell returns with a more mature, nuanced exploration of identity, desire, and the complex web of relationships that define our modern existence.
The Narrative Landscape
“Soft Core” by Brittany Newell follows Ruth, a disillusioned graduate student turned stripper, as she navigates the labyrinthine world of San Francisco’s sexual underground. When her ex-boyfriend Dino—a ketamine dealer with a penchant for lingerie—mysteriously disappears, Ruth’s already precarious grip on reality begins to unravel. Taking on the persona of Baby Blue at Paradise Lost strip club, she embarks on a nocturnal odyssey through the city’s hidden corners, encountering a cast of characters as colorful as they are damaged.
Literary Merit and Style
Newell’s prose is intoxicating—a perfect blend of razor-sharp wit and dreamy lyricism that mirrors the protagonist’s increasingly unstable state of mind. The author demonstrates remarkable control over her narrative voice, seamlessly transitioning between Ruth’s various personas: the lost academic, the seductive Baby Blue, and the lovesick ex-girlfriend.
What sets “Soft Core” by Brittany Newell apart is its unflinching examination of power dynamics and identity in the digital age. Newell writes about sex work with neither judgment nor glorification, instead presenting it as another facet of contemporary existence where authenticity and performance become increasingly indistinguishable.
Strengths:
Masterful atmospheric writing that brings San Francisco’s underground scene to vivid life
Complex, morally ambiguous characters that defy easy categorization
Innovative structure that mirrors the protagonist’s fractured psyche
Sharp social commentary on capitalism, desire, and identity
Areas for Improvement:
Some plot threads feel unresolved or too loosely connected
The surreal elements occasionally overshadow character development
Secondary characters could benefit from deeper exploration
Pacing issues in the middle section
Thematic Depth
The novel explores several interconnected themes:
Identity and Performance
Ruth’s transformation into Baby Blue raises questions about authenticity in an increasingly performative world. Is she more “real” as Ruth or Baby Blue? The novel suggests that perhaps these distinctions are artificial.
Love and Obsession
The line between romantic love and obsession becomes increasingly blurred as Ruth pursues Dino through the city’s underground. Her relationship with the mysterious Simon and the anonymous Nobody further complicates these boundaries.
Power and Vulnerability
Through Ruth’s work at both the strip club and the BDSM dungeon, Newell examines how power dynamics shift and reverse in unexpected ways, challenging traditional narratives about exploitation and agency.
Character Development
Ruth/Baby Blue is a compelling protagonist whose descent into obsession feels both inevitable and shocking. Her voice is distinct and memorable, though her reliability as a narrator becomes increasingly questionable. The supporting cast is equally intriguing, particularly:
Dino, whose absence paradoxically makes him the novel’s most powerful presence
Emeline, the mysterious new dancer whose arrival catalyzes much of the plot
Simon and Nobody, who represent different facets of desire and despair
Ophelia, whose complex friendship with Ruth provides some of the novel’s most touching moments
Comparative Context
Fans of Melissa Febos’s “Whip Smart” and Stephanie Danler’s “Sweetbitter” will find familiar themes in “Soft Core,” though Britanny Newell’s approach is distinctly her own. The novel also shares DNA with the works of Ottessa Moshfegh and Alexandra Kleeman in its unflinching examination of female desire and alienation.
Technical Achievement
Newell’s greatest technical achievement is her ability to maintain narrative coherence while depicting increasingly fractured states of consciousness. The novel’s structure – with its shifting timelines and unreliable narration – mirrors Ruth’s psychological state without becoming impenetrable.
Cultural Relevance
“Soft Core” by Brittany Newell feels particularly timely in its examination of:
The gig economy and precarious employment
Digital identity and authenticity
Sexual politics in the post-#MeToo era
Mental health and isolation in urban environments
Critical Assessment
While the novel occasionally struggles with pacing and some plot threads feel underdeveloped, these minor flaws are outweighed by Newell’s ambitious vision and technical execution. The author’s keen eye for detail and gift for lyrical prose elevate what could have been a standard noir narrative into something more profound and unsettling.
Final Verdict
“Soft Core” is a bold, challenging work that confirms Britanny Newell as a significant voice in contemporary fiction. While not perfect, its ambition and execution make it a compelling read for anyone interested in contemporary literary fiction that pushes boundaries while remaining accessible.
The novel succeeds most brilliantly in its depiction of San Francisco as both setting and metaphor – a city of fog and hidden corners where identity is as fluid as the tides. Newell has crafted a work that will linger in readers’ minds long after they’ve turned the final page.
Recommended for:
Readers who enjoy literary fiction with noir elements
Fans of experimental narrative structures
Those interested in contemporary explorations of sexuality and power
Anyone who appreciates richly detailed urban settings
May not appeal to:
Readers who prefer straightforward narratives
Those uncomfortable with explicit content
Readers seeking traditional resolution or closure
“Soft Core” is a remarkable achievement that announces Brittany Newell as a writer to watch, even as it challenges readers’ expectations of what contemporary literary fiction can accomplish.