A review by marywahlmeierbracciano
The Hop by Diana Clarke

challenging hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The Hop is a documentary-style tell-all novel about the rise to fame of Lady Lane, a woman who becomes the face of sex work overnight.  But before she was Lady Lane, she was Kate—a white girl growing up in poverty in New Zealand with a wonderful, whip-smart, sex working mother.  Kate, too, begins to capitalize on her desirability, her wide open heart eventually leading her all the way to America’s most famous legal brothel, the Hop.  And she won’t stay silent when the illegality and stigma of sex work lead to others in her profession to be murdered without consequence.  Diana Clarke’s picture of modern sex work features a diverse cast, vehemently acknowledges privilege, and validates and humanizes sex workers.  The Hop is the sex worker revolution novel of your dreams, and, quite frankly, a delight.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Bullying, Eating disorder, and Pedophilia