Why is it so hard to talk about consent?

The book tells the story of Evelyn Hugo, a reclusive Hollywood movie icon who, at the age of 79, decides to reveal the true story of her life to unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant. Evelyn's life is chronicled through her seven marriages, her rise to fame in the 1950s, and her struggles with identity, love, and the harsh realities of being a Cuban and bisexual woman in a repressive culture. The novel explores themes of ambition, friendship, and forbidden love, and how Evelyn's life intersects with Monique's in tragic and irreversible ways.

This novel follows the lives of Daisy Jones, a young and beautiful singer, and The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne, as they navigate the highs and lows of the 1970s music industry. The story is presented as an oral history, with interviews from the band members, their friends, and family, providing a realistic and immersive account of their journey. The book delves into themes of female empowerment, addiction, and the complexities of personal relationships, set against the backdrop of the glamorized but often destructive rock 'n' roll lifestyle of the 1970s. Taylor Jenkins Reid's vivid portrayal of the era and the characters makes the fictional band feel eerily real, capturing the essence of the music and the times with remarkable detail.

Women Talking is a novel inspired by the true story of a Mennonite community in Bolivia where hundreds of girls and women were drugged and raped by men from their own community. The novel is told through the 'minutes' of a secret meeting where the women discuss their options: to stay in the colony, fight back, or escape. The story is narrated by August Epp, a schoolteacher who takes the minutes because the women are illiterate. The novel explores themes of power, faith, and the women's struggle for autonomy and safety in a patriarchal society. It delves into their philosophical, practical, and emotional discussions, highlighting their courage and resilience in the face of horrific abuse.