Review: The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan
When I heard all the buzz surrounding The Roommate last Fall, I knew I needed it on my shelf. While it didn’t become a new all time favorite, I did really enjoy it! Find my review here. One of my favorite characters was Naomi and I wanted more of her. So when I heard that Rosie Danan was writing a novel from Naomi’s perspective, I quickly added it to my list.
And wow, everything that I wanted from The Roommate I got in this book. I was really drawn to Naomi’s story and what she stood for in terms of bodily autonomy and personal power. I’m so happy her story is explored in this story and I really think it will resonate with so many people.
I mentioned in my review of A Court of Silver Flames that I’m exhausted by the discussion of sex in books based on “personal preferences.” Our preferences are our opinions and our opinions are 100% valid, but they are not facts, therefore they can’t be right or wrong. Whatever you think about sex represented in media, you are allowed to think, but those preferences do not determine the worth of human bodies. I feel like this book finally helped me articulate those thoughts.
The Intimacy Experiment is available wherever you get your books today, April 6, 2021! Thank you to Berkley Romance for my advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Synopsis: “Naomi Grant has built her life around going against the grain. After the sex-positive start-up she cofounded becomes an international sensation, she wants to extend her educational platform to live lecturing. Unfortunately, despite her long list of qualifications, higher ed won't hire her.
Ethan Cohen has recently received two honors: LA Mag nominated him as one of the city's hottest bachelors and he became rabbi of his own synagogue. Low on both funds and congregants, the executive board of Ethan's new shul hired him with the hopes that his nontraditional background will attract more millennials to the faith. They've given him three months to turn things around or else they'll close the doors of his synagogue for good.
Naomi and Ethan join forces to host a buzzy seminar series on Modern Intimacy, the perfect solution to their problems--until they discover a new one--their growing attraction to each other. They've built the syllabus for love's latest experiment, but neither of them expected they'd be the ones putting it to the test.” —From the publisher
What I Liked:
The Explanation of Consent and Value—THIS BOOK!!! SO many quotes and moments that I just loved that show how our bodies are our own and whatever we choose to do with them doesn’t reflect our value. “Own your own boundaries.”
The Romance and Friendships—I loved Ethan and Naomi’s slow burn romance. I loved the symbolism of a rabbi, a man of faith, loving and accepting this woman who built an empire with her own body. It was vulnerable and sweet and relatable and important.
Naomi’s Journey with Her Trauma—We learned a little bit about the trauma Naomi experienced that led her to sex work as a way to reclaim the ownership of her body she felt she had stolen from her. In this book, I love that that was explored more and that even when she is vulnerable about her past, Naomi never regrets what she has built.
What Didn’t Work:
The Beginning Pacing—It was a little slow at the beginning for me but once I recognized that it was going to explore more than a relationship like in The Roommate, I became fully invested.
I overall wouldn’t say that it’s not this book didn’t work, it’s just that there is A LOT packed into these pages and it felt like my brain had to keep adjusting. I loved all the points, from the Jewish faith to different levels of intimacy, but it lacked that “can’t put down” factor I look for in a romance.
CW/TW: Breach of trust by a loved one, leaked personal photos
Character Authenticity: 4.5/5 Steam Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Overall, I just really loved how sex positive this book is, in addition to celebrating different forms of intimacy in relationships and friendships that aren’t always physical. I just found it to be really well rounded!
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