I had high hopes for a book described as being a collection of “stories that swing a wrecking ball at our assumptions about women.” However, either my assumptions about women (as someone who identifies as a woman) are vastly different than the assumptions the rest of the general population makes or this is yet another book about the commodification of women.
As short stories, some were interesting and had a Roald Dahl-esque quality. However, the first two stories, especially, were slow starts. (And I admit that I got hung up on the main character in the opening story wishing someone would invent camera phones six years after they made their way to the United States.)
After that, though, came Jules. A story about a pair of m/f best friends who had no chemistry when they met but because she has no other real prospects–because all a woman really want is to land a man–decide to date seriously. The regret of all of this only comes later.
Then comes Jocelyn, an aspiring actress who is #MeToo-ed out of the industry so marries an extremely wealthy creep because, again, all women want is to land a man, and then she counts down the time until she can divorce him and get back to acting. Of course, when someone tries to save her — another stereotypical handsome, muscular man — she suffers the brunt of that, as well.
And finally, we get to Ashley, who gave up her friends and her career to chase a man across the country (at his request) and after eight years, he tells her he wants to sleep with other women. This story, at least, allowed Ashley to be somewhat empowered in deciding to brush away the tears and sleep with other people of her choosing. Even though it was all meaningless, wild oat-sowing sex, at least it was on her terms. Until the end of the story when the boyfriend decides he made a mistake and wants her back, and she’s super excited because he can treat her however he wants and she’ll always come running when he snaps his fingers.
Again, as straight short stories, they mostly worked, but as social commentary, we have a long way to go to actually see empowered women achieving real satisfaction in their lives (and not just in terms of whether or not men want them.)
Disclosure: NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories provided me with an copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. It has not influenced my opinion. (less)