REVIEW: That Filthy Book

THAT FILTHY BOOK by Natalie Dae and Lily Harlem

Total-E-Bound, 2012

Karen and Jacob have been married for nearly ten years. They're still deeply in love, but the demands of Jacob's job, their two school age daughters and other everyday responsibilities have taken a toll on their sex life. It's tough for them to find time to connect physically, and even when they do, they have to keep quiet to avoid waking the children. Meanwhile, after a decade of aging and two pregnancies, Karen feels dumpy and sexually unattractive. She knows she's not the girl she was when she and Jacob met and she worries the erotic intensity of that time is lost forever.

On a rare weekend away from the kids, Jacob coaxes Karen into “talking dirty” the way she used to. In the throes of love-making, she blurts out one of her most shameful fantasies. Her beloved Jacob challenges her to make that fantasy real.

Thus begins Jacob's and Karen's sexual odyssey, as they explore the desires they've hidden even from one another, and discover a new level of love and trust. I won't spoil the suspense by revealing all the nasty, kinky, and incredibly hot erotic adventures the two experience, but I can guarantee that if you're open-minded, you'll enjoy them as much as the protagonists.

That Filthy Book is a steamy example of romantic erotica, with a sex scene in practically every chapter. However, what impressed me most about this book was the authors' skill in conveying Karen's doubts and insecurities. It's difficult to be honest about one's sexual fantasies, even with someone you know well. There's always the fear that you'll be condemned as evil and perverse – or perhaps even worse, laughed at. With her fears about her physical attractiveness, her preoccupation with her kids, her worries about whether her desires are “normal”, Karen is totally believable. I suspect that many readers will strongly identify with her. As the book is narrated from Karen's point of view, we see less of Jacob's insecurities, but in the one scene where Karen dominates him, his confusion is brilliantly portrayed.

I also want to comment on the seamless quality of this collaborative narrative. The style is consistent throughout the book. I couldn't tell which parts were Natalie's and which parts were Lily's, which is of course the way it should be.

If you want to be convinced that there is indeed (super-hot!) sex after marriage, buy this filthy but delightful book.