alukewarmcoffee 's review for:

Shmutz by Felicia Berliner

4.0

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I went into this book not truly knowing what to expect in terms of how explicit the book would be. Please take this as a warning that if you are uncomfortable reading *detailed* descriptions about different sex acts, this is probably not a book for you. It happens so frequently throughout this book that I think you’d be skipping nearly half the book to avoid it. If reading about very conservative religious culture makes you uncomfortable, this is not a book you for you. 

Raizl, an 18 year old Hasidic Jewish woman, has developed an online porn addiction after receiving a laptop as part of her scholarship to study accounting at college. In an extremely conservative religious household and culture, this secret addiction takes over Raizl’s life— a flame she can’t stop fueling. As her mother desperately tries to get Raizl married, Raizl’s life becomes more and more out of her control as we see her revel against her family and her upbringing. 

I did not expect to like SHMUTZ as much as I did, but the story really sucked me in and the chaotic nervous energy of the writing kept me flying through the pages. 

Please please please make sure you look at content warnings before diving in, I have listed what I hope is a comprehensive list below:

CW: very detailed descriptions of porn/sex acts, death of a grandparent, drinking, smoking, drug use, talk of addiction