Mutual Interest

Set in post-Gilded Age New York, Mutual Interest follows Vivian Lesperance, a sharp-witted aspiring writer determined to escape her stifling hometown. She forms an unlikely alliance with Oscar Schmidt, a queer soap company manager, and Squire Clancey, a reclusive heir to a candle-making fortune. Together, they build Clancey & Schmidt, a booming personal care empire, while navigating tangled relationships and societal expectations. Vivian orchestrates their public image, shielding her own romances with women, while Oscar and Squire’s bond deepens into love.

Wolfgang-Smith weaves a lush, witty narrative that explores ambition, secrecy, and the cost of living authentically in a restrictive era. The trio’s partnership—both professional and personal—thrives until threats of exposure loom, testing their loyalty and ingenuity. The novel’s omniscient narrator adds sly humor and sharp social commentary, balancing opulent period details with intimate emotional stakes.

Critics praise the book as a “queer Trust ” and a “dishy, sly-eyed tale” perfect for fans of The Gilded Age and Succession . With its blend of historical intrigue and queer joy, Mutual Interest reimagines capitalist ambition through a lens of love and resilience. The story’s climax underscores the fragility of power and the enduring strength of chosen family.