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emmareids's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
esaunders98's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting read, but think it would've worked better as an essay or a short story.
As an exploration of sex, intimacy, marriage, and the way these things exist in 2023 it does a good job. There are no grand revelations or deeply thought-provoking moments but it's at least an opportunity to think about these things. However, as a novel, it falls short. The characters are one-dimensional, I don't think I got to know a single person in this book, not really even our protagonist. The book lacks a narrative (aside from the upcoming exhibition) but even this ends on a moot point and doesn't satisfy. There are no lessons learnt, things realised and changed, or people moved or compelled to any kind of action.
There are sections I found interesting in the moment but they didn't leave me with much to dwell on. I do think the author is a very intelligent woman with a lot to say about the intersection between womanhood, sex and technology, but I don't think they're thoughts best expressed as a novel.
As an exploration of sex, intimacy, marriage, and the way these things exist in 2023 it does a good job. There are no grand revelations or deeply thought-provoking moments but it's at least an opportunity to think about these things. However, as a novel, it falls short. The characters are one-dimensional, I don't think I got to know a single person in this book, not really even our protagonist. The book lacks a narrative (aside from the upcoming exhibition) but even this ends on a moot point and doesn't satisfy. There are no lessons learnt, things realised and changed, or people moved or compelled to any kind of action.
There are sections I found interesting in the moment but they didn't leave me with much to dwell on. I do think the author is a very intelligent woman with a lot to say about the intersection between womanhood, sex and technology, but I don't think they're thoughts best expressed as a novel.
janaaier's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this a lot more than I initially expected I would! I've read a few books this year that explore the emotional life of a woman exploring sexual pleasure and the possibilities of sex outside of conventional expectations. This one, follows the experiences of a married woman, in an open marriage, as she navigates online dating. I think the reason I enjoyed [b:The Sharing Economy|62059034|The Sharing Economy|Sophie Berrebi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1668012242l/62059034._SY75_.jpg|96610907] is because it deals with sex, ennui, and other social realities of the digital age without a fixation on sexual violence.
Many books concerned with casual dating and online dating take on sexual violence and the power dynamics of physical and emotional safety as the main themes but this book allows the lead to have a range of (non-violent) experiences while still having a supportive, committed romantic partnership. Some readers may interpret the lack of violence as a lack of central conflict. I think the book could hold a lot of interest for people curious about online dating, open relationships, sexual desire, and romance. It is not filled with a lot of melodrama or devastating consequences visited upon the protagonist for wanting and enjoying sex with other people. The sex scenes are descriptive and fascinating because they do not present an overly lewd picture; they have novelty and visceral lyrical beauty but are not exploitative.
Many books concerned with casual dating and online dating take on sexual violence and the power dynamics of physical and emotional safety as the main themes but this book allows the lead to have a range of (non-violent) experiences while still having a supportive, committed romantic partnership. Some readers may interpret the lack of violence as a lack of central conflict. I think the book could hold a lot of interest for people curious about online dating, open relationships, sexual desire, and romance. It is not filled with a lot of melodrama or devastating consequences visited upon the protagonist for wanting and enjoying sex with other people. The sex scenes are descriptive and fascinating because they do not present an overly lewd picture; they have novelty and visceral lyrical beauty but are not exploitative.
bobthebookerer's review against another edition
4.0
In this book, we follow our main protagonist, whose initial ventures into more casual sex quickly becomes a deeper meditation on intimacy and desire, and I appreciated how this book avoided basic and tired tropes about things like open relationships and polyamory, positioning the reader's perspective and gaze as something more even-handed- not blindly accepting or critical of anything.
She floats through life, occasionally making decisions guided by love and lust, and occasionally in a more clear-headed way, but the book itself also doesn't treat these moments of lucidity as these 'lightbulb' breakthroughts per se- instead, we are invited to sit in the discomfort of uncertainty, which I think is this book's real strength.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
She floats through life, occasionally making decisions guided by love and lust, and occasionally in a more clear-headed way, but the book itself also doesn't treat these moments of lucidity as these 'lightbulb' breakthroughts per se- instead, we are invited to sit in the discomfort of uncertainty, which I think is this book's real strength.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
hellobilzyb's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
This book had sooooo much potential, I’m so frustrated with how it was written and the overall storyline. There was so many other ways this book could have gone and the topic be explored. The writer is clearly an academic and I feel though she tried, her fiction writing is very poor.
missmelia's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
gabie_east's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
thatgirlkev's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ellyj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0