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ashleighyoung's review
4.0
8/10 - this book is v polarizing on book tok but tbh i liked it, (1) it was very women empowering & fuck the men, which always scores higher points in my book, & (2) i liked all of the “happy endings” and the taking the higher road in the book, like most of the negative reviews were that the book was boring but idk it was just an interesting spin on how to make it work
thepagelady's review
3.0
Book Review…The Lifestyle by Taylor Hahn
Georgina Wagman has it all a great marriage, a great job at a prestigious law firm, and great friends. She’s living the life she always wanted, and everything is perfect. Until, that is, she walks in on her husband Nathan in a compromising position with a junior associate. Georgina has a moment of crisis. But divorce is not a part of the five-year plan, so she comes up with an idea to save her marriage and recapture the spark. She and Nathan are going to become swingers. Her plan is foolproof, until she runs into a college ex at the first party. When they reconnect, Georgina will find herself torn between her head and her heart, with her very happiness hanging in the balance.
This was a good read! The characters are good; they are each trying to solve their own issues. Georgina is messy and has her flaws but she's really just trying to find herself and find happiness on her own terms. The pace was steady and the writing was great. But I did have problems staying with it so it took me a little longer to finish than it normally does. I don't really know why because I can't think of anything I didn't like other than I do wish there was more romance. But other than that it's entertaining and a fun read!
Thank you Book Sparks for sharing this book with me!
Georgina Wagman has it all a great marriage, a great job at a prestigious law firm, and great friends. She’s living the life she always wanted, and everything is perfect. Until, that is, she walks in on her husband Nathan in a compromising position with a junior associate. Georgina has a moment of crisis. But divorce is not a part of the five-year plan, so she comes up with an idea to save her marriage and recapture the spark. She and Nathan are going to become swingers. Her plan is foolproof, until she runs into a college ex at the first party. When they reconnect, Georgina will find herself torn between her head and her heart, with her very happiness hanging in the balance.
This was a good read! The characters are good; they are each trying to solve their own issues. Georgina is messy and has her flaws but she's really just trying to find herself and find happiness on her own terms. The pace was steady and the writing was great. But I did have problems staying with it so it took me a little longer to finish than it normally does. I don't really know why because I can't think of anything I didn't like other than I do wish there was more romance. But other than that it's entertaining and a fun read!
Thank you Book Sparks for sharing this book with me!
megn317's review
3.0
Definitely out of my comfort zone and not normally what I would have picked….but it was a quick read and I liked how it ended.
marinaemoore's review
3.0
Terrifying cover aside, this was a really pleasant read. Although much more contemporary fiction than romance, this book had great character development and was well-written.
bargainsleuth's review
3.0
I try to be open-minded about many things, including how others live their lives. However, I must have forgotten the synopsis of the book when I finally got down to reading The Lifestyle by Taylor Hahn, I was a little shocked to read it was about swingers (that is what they used to be called. Now, apparently, it’s called “the lifestyle.”) I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of the book from NetGalley and Anchor Books in exchange for an honest review.
The Lifestyle is being pushed as a beach or summer read. Well, for one thing, if I were browsing books in the store, I’d pass over the crude cartoonish cover. I certainly hope that the book gets a new cover sooner than later because it offers no appeal whatsoever. What a fail in the marketing department. The book is also being sold as a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma. Apparently, that’s because there’s some attempted matchmaking.
Georgiana is a career-driven woman who is married to Nathan, who also has similar ambitions, or so she thinks. That is, until Georgiana walks in on Nathan and a junior associate at the law firm they all work at. Instead of leaving her husband, suggesting therapy, or something you know, more sane, she decides to suggest they try the lifestyle as a way to bring them closer. She heard from a client what a life-changing experience it was so Georgiana thinks it will work with her and Nathan.
She also thinks that it’s time to get her two college buddies back together, despite the fact that one is married with three kids and the other is in a committed relationship. Quite frankly, there’s nothing charming about Georgina’s meddling with her friends’ relationships the way Austen’s Emma was. She should have spent more time focusing on her own relationship with her husband.
The swinging part of the book wasn’t as salacious as it seems from the outset. There are a couple of sex scenes, much like many other summer beach reads, but nothing really wild. While “the lifestyle” is not for everyone, it’s explored in a way to shed a light on some of the myths and mysteries of swinging.
I got fed up with Georgina’s matchmaking early on and never really warmed to her as a character. The reader does see growth in her character arc, but I found the other characters more interesting than her.
The Lifestyle is being pushed as a beach or summer read. Well, for one thing, if I were browsing books in the store, I’d pass over the crude cartoonish cover. I certainly hope that the book gets a new cover sooner than later because it offers no appeal whatsoever. What a fail in the marketing department. The book is also being sold as a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma. Apparently, that’s because there’s some attempted matchmaking.
Georgiana is a career-driven woman who is married to Nathan, who also has similar ambitions, or so she thinks. That is, until Georgiana walks in on Nathan and a junior associate at the law firm they all work at. Instead of leaving her husband, suggesting therapy, or something you know, more sane, she decides to suggest they try the lifestyle as a way to bring them closer. She heard from a client what a life-changing experience it was so Georgiana thinks it will work with her and Nathan.
She also thinks that it’s time to get her two college buddies back together, despite the fact that one is married with three kids and the other is in a committed relationship. Quite frankly, there’s nothing charming about Georgina’s meddling with her friends’ relationships the way Austen’s Emma was. She should have spent more time focusing on her own relationship with her husband.
The swinging part of the book wasn’t as salacious as it seems from the outset. There are a couple of sex scenes, much like many other summer beach reads, but nothing really wild. While “the lifestyle” is not for everyone, it’s explored in a way to shed a light on some of the myths and mysteries of swinging.
I got fed up with Georgina’s matchmaking early on and never really warmed to her as a character. The reader does see growth in her character arc, but I found the other characters more interesting than her.
casuallyreadingx's review
3.0
3.5⭐️
This is something I usually don’t read but I was very intrigued by a book written about “the lifestyle”. A story surrounding couples, mainly Georgina, who get into the world of swinging with lots of drama, feelings, and questions. I thought it was entertaining, fun, and made you question/think about friendships/relationships/inner confidence. The main downside for me was that it was a slowwwwww read. Yet, I still wanted to know what was going to happen to the MC and every other couple around. The ending was not my favorite. It felt reallyyyy rushed and I was a bit disappointed. If you’re looking for steam: this is not it! But other than that, I think this was such an interesting topic and the writing was great!
Read this if you like:
-books that make you LOL
-strong woman MC
-1 POV
This is something I usually don’t read but I was very intrigued by a book written about “the lifestyle”. A story surrounding couples, mainly Georgina, who get into the world of swinging with lots of drama, feelings, and questions. I thought it was entertaining, fun, and made you question/think about friendships/relationships/inner confidence. The main downside for me was that it was a slowwwwww read. Yet, I still wanted to know what was going to happen to the MC and every other couple around. The ending was not my favorite. It felt reallyyyy rushed and I was a bit disappointed. If you’re looking for steam: this is not it! But other than that, I think this was such an interesting topic and the writing was great!
Read this if you like:
-books that make you LOL
-strong woman MC
-1 POV
vik_readsalot's review
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
kcacchioli's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kpittman's review
4.0
This is a very well written novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and it had minimal spice. It gave moments of feminism and empowerment. I wish it would have been in first person so that we could have more insight to Georgina’s thoughts and feelings. The book truly showed that we are all just humans trying to figure out life in a way that makes us feel like we are living.