Just started reading and really like it so far! Also have Chappell Roan on repeat. This feels like the perfect July combo. Grateful to have some small delights during this bleak summer. Thank you, Greta!
I read this one when it came out! Really smart and sharp and covered a MASSIVE amount of thoughtful ground, but the tone felt just right for a binge read.
BOOK CLUB IS BACK BACK!! WOOHOO! Honestly I almost teared up a bit to see this. That is the level of joy you bring Greta! Will be listening asap and the book is top of my TBR pile 😍
Wasn’t sure about this book to begin with, but it was such a fun read. The characters were well thought out. I love that it’s a happy ending but not the typical happy ending. Looking forward to next month.
I really enjoyed this book. After reading this book, I convinced one of the book clubs I go to in real life to read this book. I need to have a round table and talk about soo much from this book. There was so much I loved about this book, and I thankful that your bookclub introduced me to it.
I love any book that gets me interested in things that I normally have no interest in. This book turned me on to the WWE. I never considered the performance art of WWE and how often the characters become interred within the humans who inhabit them. Very interesting.
I love Kathleen Hannah, and especially her Bikini Kill days in the 1990s. I kept seeing Margo as a Kathleen Hannah like figure who was using sex work to allow her to achieve bigger dreams.
There were so many wonderful characters in this book. Everyone of the was so interesting. There was nothing boring about this book, and I loved how it never turned sacrin. It stayed true throughout, but also wasn't too realistic- because it couldn't end with heartbreak. Margo had to have a promising future in the end. THat was a must. And Bodhi.
I loved how in the end JB and Margo were taking back the narrative of the pimp, and becoming just and righteous pimps- advocating for those who couldn't for themselves. That was great- like robinhood pimps. I enjoyed how this book was all about agency, and transforming the narrative. Owning your own narrative is such a central part of all of our lives, and when incorporating sex work, and the internet- I love all the ways in which this book got me thinking. And- I loved loved the Mary narrative. I love that Margo saw herself in Mary, and that Mary was really just a brilliant girl who was fighting for her life and her choices and found a way to make it happen for herself. I love that in Margo's view- Mary was the one with all the power.
I also loved the inclusion of addiction and the contradictions that are everywhere particularly with opioid addiction treatment. Loved all this.
Just a fabulous book- thank you! Loved it. Also- loved the interview.
I ADORED this book! I found the characters interesting and compelling. I loved the way the POV shifted throughout to call attention to the fact that it was a novel...but not in a precious, pretentious way. It was a clever (and not abused) strategy--Thorpe uses it to bump you out of the story sometimes...or to remind you that the narrator and Margo are the same, but the story is being crafted and thus things are hidden until it's the right time. I thought it was good storytelling but also an interesting way to comment on storytelling at the same time. I thought Margo was a delightful weirdo who is making her way as best she can (the summary of her psychology was another way to remind us that she's human and has foibles and will hopefully grow into them). Finally, the ending was *chef's kiss*. No spoilers, but I was worried it was going to end neatly, but it doesn't. But it does end with a satisfying conclusion that echoes the themes of the book. Anyway, I don't know that I would have picked this up if you hadn't kept recommending it, Greta, but I'm so grateful you did because it's a top-ten of 2024 book for me! (That and The Husbands, which you ALSO recommended, so.)
I loved this book! One of the best elements to me was what Rufi described about characters not being all good or all bad. Every character here lives in the la d of grey and that’s what made this book for me. Even characters like fucking Mark have qualities that don’t make them this over the top, unbelievable person.
Just started reading and really like it so far! Also have Chappell Roan on repeat. This feels like the perfect July combo. Grateful to have some small delights during this bleak summer. Thank you, Greta!
Oh Ally. Hang in there! It’s a wild ride isn’t it?
This is a DELIGHT!!!
Greta! You yelling to read a book is about all I need! Libby says I'm next in line for this audiobook, so perfect timing.
hahahaa I figured JUST IN CASE 🤣
I read this one when it came out! Really smart and sharp and covered a MASSIVE amount of thoughtful ground, but the tone felt just right for a binge read.
BOOK CLUB IS BACK BACK!! WOOHOO! Honestly I almost teared up a bit to see this. That is the level of joy you bring Greta! Will be listening asap and the book is top of my TBR pile 😍
Wasn’t sure about this book to begin with, but it was such a fun read. The characters were well thought out. I love that it’s a happy ending but not the typical happy ending. Looking forward to next month.
I really enjoyed this book. After reading this book, I convinced one of the book clubs I go to in real life to read this book. I need to have a round table and talk about soo much from this book. There was so much I loved about this book, and I thankful that your bookclub introduced me to it.
I love any book that gets me interested in things that I normally have no interest in. This book turned me on to the WWE. I never considered the performance art of WWE and how often the characters become interred within the humans who inhabit them. Very interesting.
I love Kathleen Hannah, and especially her Bikini Kill days in the 1990s. I kept seeing Margo as a Kathleen Hannah like figure who was using sex work to allow her to achieve bigger dreams.
There were so many wonderful characters in this book. Everyone of the was so interesting. There was nothing boring about this book, and I loved how it never turned sacrin. It stayed true throughout, but also wasn't too realistic- because it couldn't end with heartbreak. Margo had to have a promising future in the end. THat was a must. And Bodhi.
I loved how in the end JB and Margo were taking back the narrative of the pimp, and becoming just and righteous pimps- advocating for those who couldn't for themselves. That was great- like robinhood pimps. I enjoyed how this book was all about agency, and transforming the narrative. Owning your own narrative is such a central part of all of our lives, and when incorporating sex work, and the internet- I love all the ways in which this book got me thinking. And- I loved loved the Mary narrative. I love that Margo saw herself in Mary, and that Mary was really just a brilliant girl who was fighting for her life and her choices and found a way to make it happen for herself. I love that in Margo's view- Mary was the one with all the power.
I also loved the inclusion of addiction and the contradictions that are everywhere particularly with opioid addiction treatment. Loved all this.
Just a fabulous book- thank you! Loved it. Also- loved the interview.
I ADORED this book! I found the characters interesting and compelling. I loved the way the POV shifted throughout to call attention to the fact that it was a novel...but not in a precious, pretentious way. It was a clever (and not abused) strategy--Thorpe uses it to bump you out of the story sometimes...or to remind you that the narrator and Margo are the same, but the story is being crafted and thus things are hidden until it's the right time. I thought it was good storytelling but also an interesting way to comment on storytelling at the same time. I thought Margo was a delightful weirdo who is making her way as best she can (the summary of her psychology was another way to remind us that she's human and has foibles and will hopefully grow into them). Finally, the ending was *chef's kiss*. No spoilers, but I was worried it was going to end neatly, but it doesn't. But it does end with a satisfying conclusion that echoes the themes of the book. Anyway, I don't know that I would have picked this up if you hadn't kept recommending it, Greta, but I'm so grateful you did because it's a top-ten of 2024 book for me! (That and The Husbands, which you ALSO recommended, so.)
I loved this book! One of the best elements to me was what Rufi described about characters not being all good or all bad. Every character here lives in the la d of grey and that’s what made this book for me. Even characters like fucking Mark have qualities that don’t make them this over the top, unbelievable person.
Love this so much - both the book and you interviewing Rufi! What a delight!