2020: oooh I have so many feelings about this book. First off, I feel that the premise of the book is basically what was delivered - a true story “about the sex lives of three real American women.” That much is true. However, framing this as “the deepest nonfiction portrait of desire ever written” is not what this book was.

I liked it because the story was told as a narrative, but I would have enjoyed some analysis, as it was nonfiction. Why these women? What do their specific stories have to teach us? I can’t help but agree with the many criticisms of this book that if you wanted to put America’s desire on display, you could have chosen a palette of women that more accurately reflect America.

Also, the idea that Maggie’s story is reflective of desire in women is so problematic and so misleading. She is literally assaulted and taken advantage of by her TEACHER and this story ripped me apart to read. I was infuriated by the many adults who played a part in this story and allowed this to happen to her. In this family, we believe victims.

That being said, this was an extremely well written narrative nonfiction book that I was gripped by. It made me think of how desire spills into the everyday of my own life. I also learned a couple new words while reading this book, and I love when that happens.