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jovtom's review
4.0
Very eye-opening and insightful. We get a glimpse into the worlds of three different women in different environments with different but also similar issues. It invites you into the inner world of these women so that you can see their thoughts and feelings which lead to certain decisions, behaviors and toxic relationships. The topics are very heavy and sensitive, potentially even triggering. It's heartbreaking in the sense that it portrays three (real) women with a great deal of hardships. It depicts their world views, views on relationships, love, sex and, most importantly, themselves, and the events that shaped those views. They are misunderstood, they are cast aside, they are almost invisibile, and they think they deserve it.
It is not even close to being a light, easy, feel-good read. It is gripping, it is easy to follow, but the subjects are pretty dark. It makes you realize just how bad some women have it, you get to see completely different perspectives than your own (hopefully) and you realize how impactful these awful situations can be for one's psyche. I enjoyed it, I loved it, I cried with it and I think it's absolutely a valuable read.
The structure of the book wasn't my favorite, specifically in the first half. Each chapter is dedicated to one of these three women: Maggie, Sloan and Lina. But Sloan's story is so neglected in the first half that I actually forgot a lot of details from her plot because she just didn't get much "air-time". Overall, it's written in a very simple, to-the-point, direct way without beating around the bush so it's able to tackle these situations and social issues in a very straightforward way.
It is not even close to being a light, easy, feel-good read. It is gripping, it is easy to follow, but the subjects are pretty dark. It makes you realize just how bad some women have it, you get to see completely different perspectives than your own (hopefully) and you realize how impactful these awful situations can be for one's psyche. I enjoyed it, I loved it, I cried with it and I think it's absolutely a valuable read.
The structure of the book wasn't my favorite, specifically in the first half. Each chapter is dedicated to one of these three women: Maggie, Sloan and Lina. But Sloan's story is so neglected in the first half that I actually forgot a lot of details from her plot because she just didn't get much "air-time". Overall, it's written in a very simple, to-the-point, direct way without beating around the bush so it's able to tackle these situations and social issues in a very straightforward way.
mirabookz's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Beautifully written. The lives of these three women are raw and substantial. I got the sensation of confiding in your best friend your deepest truths, fears, and desires, longing for release. Crying together on the couch, laughing together, testing the waters more and more as each detail spills out between you. The empathy as a woman with my own wants and hurts is a powerful force.
csgiansante's review
3.0
This was well written, but the vibes were off and I didn't find any enjoyment in reading it.
mrs_bonaventure's review against another edition
5.0
This was gripping. I heard about it on the Cup of Jo blog, read the first few pages in my local bookshop and was hooked.
It’s about three (completely separate) women’s sex lives, but that’s a clinical reduction - it’s actually about their whole lives, their growing up, aspirations, wants and ways of being, what drives them in life and what shatters them.
The author describes it as a book about desire and it is certainly that - but I think it is also a book about power. About who can have what and why, about the choices women are allowed to make in their communities, about what lives they are eventually allowed to live. Time after time it was obvious where the patriarchy limits free will and choice, and their sex lives were in a way a microcosm of where they self-actualised as people, often the most accessible or only way they could in fact express their whole personality and being. There is a lot of explicit sex but crucially it’s written very much from the woman’s point of view and I believe in a way most women would strongly identify with, because it includes all the emotions, wishes, memories and fears that go with and are triggered by the physical acts.
I felt there was a bit missing at the end. Perhaps the author feels it’s powerful enough to stand alone and certainly when you step back and get perspective again, it’s damning. I would have welcomed a longer Afterword though, to draw some more conclusions.
It’s about three (completely separate) women’s sex lives, but that’s a clinical reduction - it’s actually about their whole lives, their growing up, aspirations, wants and ways of being, what drives them in life and what shatters them.
The author describes it as a book about desire and it is certainly that - but I think it is also a book about power. About who can have what and why, about the choices women are allowed to make in their communities, about what lives they are eventually allowed to live. Time after time it was obvious where the patriarchy limits free will and choice, and their sex lives were in a way a microcosm of where they self-actualised as people, often the most accessible or only way they could in fact express their whole personality and being. There is a lot of explicit sex but crucially it’s written very much from the woman’s point of view and I believe in a way most women would strongly identify with, because it includes all the emotions, wishes, memories and fears that go with and are triggered by the physical acts.
I felt there was a bit missing at the end. Perhaps the author feels it’s powerful enough to stand alone and certainly when you step back and get perspective again, it’s damning. I would have welcomed a longer Afterword though, to draw some more conclusions.
slicciardi's review
3.0
This was fine. I was most interested in Maggie's story and was pretty much reading to get to her parts.