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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I thought this book had real 5-star potential after the first chapters. It was funny, the dialog sounded real, the similes were great, and the main character’s excitement towards her newfound lesbianism was promising. Before reading, I only knew the book was funny, “a mix between Bridget Jones and Fleabag”, and that the MC got involved in BDSM at some point. But aside from the things I enjoyed about the writing (see list above) which continued during the book, the story went absolutely downhill - and far more alike the most tragic bits in Fleabag than anything else. It really gave me a new meaning to the whole “can’t look away from a train wreck” thing. Except near the end, I did want to look away because it got really depressing and annoying.
I certainly wouldn’t recommend this as a beach read. In the end, I’d really give this 2,5 stars at most, only because of the general tone and the story before Sam comes in the picture.
Here come spoilers:
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I understand the importance of depicting abusive relationships, and I am (unfortunately) familiar enough with them to know that the book captures one very well. And eventually we do see Julia get back on her feet and find the strength to walk away from it all, which was pleasing. But the story’s realism only made it very repetitive. At one point, I knew a couple of things would happen in each chapter: 1. Sam would do something awful, and 2. They would have lots of great sex. There was way too much fisting, too. Perhaps if only Sam enjoyed it I’d have found it more believable.
Anyway, it really took a dark turn, so it was harder to find the few supposedly funny parts funny (I imagine that was the point, since there’s nothing funny about an abusive relationship).
Honestly, I was expecting Julia to embark on other, healthier and funnier sexual adventures with other people, instead of immediately getting stuck with a psycho on her first lesbian relationship. I could see Sam being a first, short stint among many failures, to help Julia see that dating women wasn’t necessarily much different from dating men, until she fell for one for real (for some reason I kept wishing that was Smitri’s point in the story all along). This really isn’t that different from other depictions of abusive relationships, AND to make it worse, it puts poly people in a terrible light. I know terrible poly people exist, but they’re definitely not all into sex parties and SM as this book makes it seem. And of course, it’s been pointed out in other comments that the main couple’s only SM experience was definitely not how a person with so much SM experience like Sam would behave, without consent and all. Even 50 shades taught us that much.
I didn’t enjoy the ending, or feel anything towards Carys. It felt rushed after the author invested so much time drawing out the abusive, very boring relationships.
As for the other characters: I liked Julia’s parents a lot, but Cat and Alice and Owen and everyone else felt like they were really just there so Julia had dialog with someone besides Sam. And don’t get me started on Sam’s friends and lovers. They really were bad caricatures.
Finally, one thing I couldn’t get past - Julia is called pedantic and says she feels she needs to know grammar to do her job right, but then (on multiple occasions) she fails to use pronouns correctly, using “me” instead of “I” and that sort of thing. Oh well, all very disappointing in the end.
I certainly wouldn’t recommend this as a beach read. In the end, I’d really give this 2,5 stars at most, only because of the general tone and the story before Sam comes in the picture.
Here come spoilers:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I understand the importance of depicting abusive relationships, and I am (unfortunately) familiar enough with them to know that the book captures one very well. And eventually we do see Julia get back on her feet and find the strength to walk away from it all, which was pleasing. But the story’s realism only made it very repetitive. At one point, I knew a couple of things would happen in each chapter: 1. Sam would do something awful, and 2. They would have lots of great sex. There was way too much fisting, too. Perhaps if only Sam enjoyed it I’d have found it more believable.
Anyway, it really took a dark turn, so it was harder to find the few supposedly funny parts funny (I imagine that was the point, since there’s nothing funny about an abusive relationship).
Honestly, I was expecting Julia to embark on other, healthier and funnier sexual adventures with other people, instead of immediately getting stuck with a psycho on her first lesbian relationship. I could see Sam being a first, short stint among many failures, to help Julia see that dating women wasn’t necessarily much different from dating men, until she fell for one for real (for some reason I kept wishing that was Smitri’s point in the story all along). This really isn’t that different from other depictions of abusive relationships, AND to make it worse, it puts poly people in a terrible light. I know terrible poly people exist, but they’re definitely not all into sex parties and SM as this book makes it seem. And of course, it’s been pointed out in other comments that the main couple’s only SM experience was definitely not how a person with so much SM experience like Sam would behave, without consent and all. Even 50 shades taught us that much.
I didn’t enjoy the ending, or feel anything towards Carys. It felt rushed after the author invested so much time drawing out the abusive, very boring relationships.
As for the other characters: I liked Julia’s parents a lot, but Cat and Alice and Owen and everyone else felt like they were really just there so Julia had dialog with someone besides Sam. And don’t get me started on Sam’s friends and lovers. They really were bad caricatures.
Finally, one thing I couldn’t get past - Julia is called pedantic and says she feels she needs to know grammar to do her job right, but then (on multiple occasions) she fails to use pronouns correctly, using “me” instead of “I” and that sort of thing. Oh well, all very disappointing in the end.
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was looking for a light read full of hot sex.
This is a book about domestic abuse. It isn't light at all, although it is full of sex.
Mostly I was upset for the main character and wanted her to leave the walking red flag of a girlfriend.
This is a book about domestic abuse. It isn't light at all, although it is full of sex.
Mostly I was upset for the main character and wanted her to leave the walking red flag of a girlfriend.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I read this back in 2021 & it’s definitely a book thats stuck in my mind so I thought it was time for a reread/re-listen. I loved it just as much the second time round! Lucy Briggs-Owen narrates the story so perfectly & really brings relatable, loveable Julia’s character to life.
Hilarious, frank, raunchy & full of very descriptive s*x (you’ve been warned!) this book is a rollercoaster of emotions—— I felt so much happiness for Julia’s journey of self discovery & I snort laughed SO many times but also felt so much anger at the treatment Julia ended up receiving from Sam.
Although the leading topic of s*x does bring a lot of humour at the start of the book, it’s also what heads Julia & Sam’s relationship on a downward slope towards abusive. Please be aware that due to this, this is an emotional & at times difficult read 🖤
I LOVE this book for many reasons but I do feel that the abuse/gaslighting & the way poly relationships were used as abuse, doesn’t give great representation of the LGBTQ community & the many diversities of queer relationships. It was sad that this was Julia’s introduction to the queer community but I do think the story covers some important topics. It sure does live up to its title: Julia really is thrown in at the deep end!
If you’re looking for an eye opening, funny & blunt sapphic novel focused around a sexual awakening that is both challenging yet incredibly readable, this is the book for you!
When I realized I had just read the last page I said out loud, "Thank God!"
I read this for my book club, and early on was put off by the use of the "f" word. As I read further I cringed whenever it was used again and again. It felt like in order to "ram" home her point, Kate Davies wanted to normalize the word for lesbian sex. But the character that Julia, the main character, hooks up with (loves), is into kinky sex.
So not only was I to read about lesbians falling in love, but take a leap right into reading about SM (Sade-masochism), sex clubs & parties, and non-monogamy. If Davies wanted the general public to "understand" and sympathize with LGBTQ choices, her brash entry was off-putting to me, to say the least.
Her writing was ok, but tedious. The book could have stopped after a turning point in Julia's life, but no, there had to be another chapter devoted to running back to a fizzled relationship.
Give me a good book by Virginia Woolf or Ursula Le Guinn any day instead of this awful book.
I read this for my book club, and early on was put off by the use of the "f" word. As I read further I cringed whenever it was used again and again. It felt like in order to "ram" home her point, Kate Davies wanted to normalize the word for lesbian sex. But the character that Julia, the main character, hooks up with (loves), is into kinky sex.
So not only was I to read about lesbians falling in love, but take a leap right into reading about SM (Sade-masochism), sex clubs & parties, and non-monogamy. If Davies wanted the general public to "understand" and sympathize with LGBTQ choices, her brash entry was off-putting to me, to say the least.
Her writing was ok, but tedious. The book could have stopped after a turning point in Julia's life, but no, there had to be another chapter devoted to running back to a fizzled relationship.
Give me a good book by Virginia Woolf or Ursula Le Guinn any day instead of this awful book.
Julia was infuriating and depressing. She was such a snob about the artist character and it's hypocritical. Julia as a character was so annoying that if I didn't have to read the book I would have dropped it after reading the first page.
I think the portrayal of an abusive relationship between Her and Sam was interesting and the representation is good. I appreciated the author writing Julia's coming out as a positive experience and had her excited about it. I'd probably have been happier for the main character if it wasn't Julia.
Idk it probably would have been an okay book (like 2-3 stars) if the main character wasn't the absolute worst.
I think the portrayal of an abusive relationship between Her and Sam was interesting and the representation is good. I appreciated the author writing Julia's coming out as a positive experience and had her excited about it. I'd probably have been happier for the main character if it wasn't Julia.
Idk it probably would have been an okay book (like 2-3 stars) if the main character wasn't the absolute worst.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I mean this so sincerely when i say this book angered me so much i have no clue how to rate it. As a form of art, i applaud its ability to make me feel something. However, the psychological ware fare and depth of the descriptions of abuse definitely made me uncomfortable… i both applaud the author and hope she gets her mental health checked up lmao <3 i genuinely do not know how to rate this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Moderate: Self harm
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes