Pearly Gates

By: Bonnie Solomon

Narrated by: Bonnie Solomon

A dead drag queen. A cozy café. A shady deal—and an unexpected family.

Deceased drag queen Pearly Gates has the worst job in the afterlife: cosmic sanitation worker. When her soulmate leaves her, claiming she’s incapable of growth, Pearly hatches a plan to win him back. By striking an illicit deal to take over the caseload of a burnt-out spirit guide, she’ll prove she’s worthy of love—and redemption.

Her mission takes her to Thunderbolt Books & Coffee, a small-town Midwestern bookshop café haunted by a 1920s burlesque dancer. Tasked with guiding a grieving young widow, a terminally ill college graduate, and a trans woman searching for purpose, Pearly works her magic (and charm) to help them heal and connect. Then she discovers the café’s owner is her soulmate reincarnated.

As one of Pearly’s charges falls for the café owner, she faces a dilemma: be the good guide she promised to become or sabotage the relationship. Between saving the café, dodging afterlife detectives, and surviving a lip-sync battle with her own body double, Pearly must decide what matters most. At risk—her job, her soulmate, even her own soul.

Pearly Gates is an uplifting LGBTQ+ fantasy celebrating found family, self-discovery, and second chances—even after life’s final curtain call.

©2025 Bonnie Solomon (P)2025 Bonnie Solomon

Must Read for Everyone!

“Even the longest journey starts with a single step… or in this case, a strut in red stilettos”. Chapter 28
“It’ll be more secure than a pair of boobs in an iron corset” Pearly 29
“Pearly Gates does NOT get stage freight… then again, she’s never performed with her ass… check that… her soul, on the line.” -Chapter 40

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started Pearly Gates, but I’m so glad I stuck with it — I ended up loving it. It’s heartwarming, beautifully written, and I’ll definitely be reading it again. I’d place it alongside For Whom the Belle Tolls and The Library of the Unwritten on my bookshelf. I caught myself smiling more than once while reading. It’s a moving story about a soul, community, growth, and love. Highly recommend.
Update: I just finished re-reading this in prep of reading the second one and it is still amazing. Even though I’ve read this book before, it felt like exactly what I needed.