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A review by lindsaymck
The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.75
I did not expect to love this book as much as I did, but it was an incredible blend of vulnerability, community, and self-discovery on one’s path towards love.
Naomi Grant is an independent badass and at first it was tricky to imagine her wanting a relationship with anyone. But, Ethan Cohen is not just anyone! Rosie Danan did such an impressive job of exploring Naomi’s sharp edges and then making her SO *TENDER.* I think the tenderness in this book is what truly makes it stand out. Ethan’s wisdom, vulnerability, and outlook on life shape Naomi in such a powerful way and vice versa. She had made herself sharp enough to slice up anyone who would try to slice her first and Ethan shows her what unconditional love really looks and feels like.
About Ethan - What a MATURE man. He is so responsible and dedicated to everyone in his shul, communicative but not overbearing, and insightful without being preachy. Naomi asks, “were men allowed to be so lovely?” and I had the same thought because I haven’t seen one like him in the wild!
“What I’m trying to articulate, probably a little poorly, is that you’re precious,” Ethan said, “not in spite of, but because of all the ways you believe you’re broken.” In first being physically attracted to, and then emotionally drawn and connected to Ethan, Naomi evaluates her own romantic tendencies. Her work in unraveling her own layers is reflective and thoughtful and Ethan is an important part of her journey to embrace and explore her true self. This unexpected couple practicing what they preach by approaching their relationship through the lens of their seminar was a pleasure to read.
The seminar is something that shouldn’t be as revolutionary as it reads on the page, but it is when one is currently surviving (not thriving in) the hellscape that is online dating. Why does something like this not exist?!
Two other quotes that I will be thinking about for a long, long time…
“I think I could be good at loving you if you let me.” *SWOON*
“One of the best things about love, real love, is that it doesn’t demand perfection. It simply invites us to live up to our potential.”
<3
Naomi Grant is an independent badass and at first it was tricky to imagine her wanting a relationship with anyone. But, Ethan Cohen is not just anyone! Rosie Danan did such an impressive job of exploring Naomi’s sharp edges and then making her SO *TENDER.* I think the tenderness in this book is what truly makes it stand out. Ethan’s wisdom, vulnerability, and outlook on life shape Naomi in such a powerful way and vice versa. She had made herself sharp enough to slice up anyone who would try to slice her first and Ethan shows her what unconditional love really looks and feels like.
About Ethan - What a MATURE man. He is so responsible and dedicated to everyone in his shul, communicative but not overbearing, and insightful without being preachy. Naomi asks, “were men allowed to be so lovely?” and I had the same thought because I haven’t seen one like him in the wild!
“What I’m trying to articulate, probably a little poorly, is that you’re precious,” Ethan said, “not in spite of, but because of all the ways you believe you’re broken.” In first being physically attracted to, and then emotionally drawn and connected to Ethan, Naomi evaluates her own romantic tendencies. Her work in unraveling her own layers is reflective and thoughtful and Ethan is an important part of her journey to embrace and explore her true self. This unexpected couple practicing what they preach by approaching their relationship through the lens of their seminar was a pleasure to read.
The seminar is something that shouldn’t be as revolutionary as it reads on the page, but it is when one is currently surviving (not thriving in) the hellscape that is online dating. Why does something like this not exist?!
Two other quotes that I will be thinking about for a long, long time…
“I think I could be good at loving you if you let me.” *SWOON*
“One of the best things about love, real love, is that it doesn’t demand perfection. It simply invites us to live up to our potential.”
<3