A review by morganjanedavis
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

4.5

Greta is content. She lives in a crumbling Dutch farmhouse with her best friend Sabine, her dog Piñon, and an insane amount of bees. During the day, she works with a local sex therapist as a transcriber. Having access to acquaintances and towns people’s innermost thoughts doesn’t normally have an effect on her aside from creating some hot goss for her to disseminate with Sabine. That is, until Big Swiss. Big Swiss’ sessions are different: she doesn’t let her traumas define her, refuses to see herself as a victim, the antithesis of Greta. She becomes entranced, obsessed with Big Swiss. 

While at the local dog park with Piñon, she hears the voice she’s come to admire. She knows she has to play it cool but, the desire to worm her way into Big Swiss’ atmosphere overrides all, driving Greta to lengths of immorality to feed her obsession. 

Big Swiss is so fun. Most litfic I reach for showcases women existing with and/or enduring traumas, how it affects their relationships and overall existence. While Big Swiss definitely falls into this category, there’s a fresh layer of humor that balances the atrocities inflicted upon Greta and Swiss. Balancing funny with sadness makes the story seem so much more realistic. Infusing the 2 exemplifies how smoothly humor allows us to deflect, highlighting the fact that while the traumas we experience can cause unfathomable pain with real mental consequences, the world doesn’t pause for the masses, it’s ultimately our job to unpack the issues as to not pass the pain on to others. Swiss and Greta’s relationship is fascinating, each so opposite yet so the same, I couldn’t tear myself away. 

I loved the journey Big Swiss took me on. The imagery and strong characterization (especially of the farmhouse and Piñon!) hooked me from the start. This is my first Beagin novel and has me itching to tear into her other works. I LUV SWISS 🧀