Renee (itsbooktalk)'s Reviews> Three Women

It's taken me a few days to get my thoughts together to write what I hope is a usual review. I want to start by saying I think this book is worth reading. It’s bringing about important discussions, I’ve had some really great ones with a few bookstagram friends but I also think it’s important to have the right expectations going in. ⠀⠀
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I was excited to read what had been buzzed about as a juicy expose on female desire. This book has been marketed as the next great feminist book based on 8 years of research on women’s desire. To me, that meant an inside look at what women are really thinking and feeling about desire. Plus, I expected to read about female empowerment surrounding desire. None of this happened for me. In my opinion, this was a firsthand look at the effects of past trauma on three women, told in a narrative structure that brilliantly allowed the women’s voices to take center stage. ⠀⠀
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The three women’s stories - Maggie, Lina, and Sloane - were unflinchingly honest and raw…in emotion, detail, and tone… and I empathized with each of them at different points. It was jarring to see some of my own thoughts reflected at various times. However, I found myself only invested in Maggie’s story which was heartbreaking on so many levels. As the book progresses, I think it’s important for readers to understand that all of these women had dealt with childhood/adolescent traumas (including rape) and it felt to me that what I was reading was how the effects of that trauma continued to impact each woman years later - and not in positive ways. To me, their “desire” was not empowering at all. ⠀⠀
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In fact, I finished the book feeling somewhat depressed and frustrated about what I had just read. So much was left unsaid and unresolved. I applaud the bravery of each woman who told her story. I have no judgement toward any of their choices. In the end, I feel like the marketing of this book was misleading and it skewed my expectations