A Place of Our Own

* LONGLISTED FOR THE POLARI FIRST BOOK PRIZE 2025 *

Lesbians are a people without a home. Perhaps that''s why the ones we make for ourselves are so important.

A highly readable cultural history of queer women''s lives in the second half of the twentieth century, told through six iconic spaces

''An inspiring celebration of lesbian camaraderie, activism and fun'' SARAH WATERS

''A cracking read, and a reminder of what shaped where we are now'' VAL MCDERMID

''Riveting; indispensable; and suffused with a humane warmth'' ALISON BECHDEL

''A must-have for any queer bookshelf'' TEGAN QUIN

For as long as queer women have existed, they''ve created gathering grounds where they can be themselves. From the intimate darkness of the lesbian bar to the sweaty camaraderie of the softball field, these spaces aren''t a luxury - they''re a necessity for queer women defining their identities.

Blending memoir, archival research and interviews, journalist June Thomas invites readers into six iconic lesbian spaces over the course of the last sixty years, including the rural commune, the sex toy boutique, the holiday destination and the feminist bookstore. She also illuminates what is gained and lost in the shift from the exclusive, tight-knit women''s spaces of the ''70s toward today''s more inclusive yet more diffuse LGBTQ+ communities.

''Thomas''s ability to resurrect the past is a testament to her meticulous research. But it''s her voice - charming, irreverent, tender - that makes the journey through lesbian history so worthwhile'' NEW YORK TIMES

''Pulses with delicious dykes and the spaces we have made for ourselves over the years. I welcome this story'' STELLA DUFFY

''A wonderfully rangy, conversational, and thoughtful exploration of lesbian geographies'' DANIEL LAVERY

''Immensely readable . . . A celebration of what was - and can be - built, with all the hurdles and ecstasies'' ROSIE GARLAND