Title: Asking for It
Author: Lilah Pace
First published June 2, 2015
336 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780425279519 (ISBN10: 0425279510)
Rating: 4.02
Overview
Graduate student Vivienne Charles has always kept her deepest desires hidden, too afraid to share her fantasies of being taken by force with anyone. Until she meets the enigmatic Jonah Marks, who not only understands her needs but offers to fulfill them.
Their arrangement is unconventional, meeting in secret to explore their darkest desires. As their passionate encounters become more intense, so do the feelings they have for each other.
But their pasts hold secrets that could destroy everything they have built. Will their forbidden passion be enough to overcome the obstacles in their way?
About the Author
The author known as Lilah Pace has reached New York Times bestseller status, but prefers to remain anonymous. She’s traveled extensively, residing in Italy and the United Kingdom before settling down in the southern United States.
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her sipping on Diet Coke and doting on her furry companion. She also has a penchant for daydreaming about a few British actors, but limits herself to two at a time.
Although it took some time for her to gain the courage to write, she now hopes to keep creating stories for years to come.
Editoral Review
Asking for It, written by Lilah Pace and first published on June 2, 2015, is a controversial and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexity of human desire, power dynamics, and consent. With its raw authenticity, compelling plot, and nuanced characters, Asking for It is a must-read for fans of the romance and contemporary literature genres.
The novel follows the story of Vivienne Charlton, a successful law student living in New York City who is raped at a party. Vivienne’s journey is painful but poignantly portrayed as she grapples with the after-effects of being raped and the ways in which her world changes afterward.
Moreover, the novel raises important questions about the role of consent in intimate relationships and how the judicial system can sometimes exacerbate the trauma of sexual assault. Lilah Pace’s writing style is impeccable, as she weaves a complex tale that explores the darkest depths of human nature with a sympathetic yet unflinching eye.
Her prose is elegant, vivid, and unapologetic, capturing the emotional complexity of the characters and the situations they find themselves in. Additionally, the pacing of the novel is pitch-perfect, building suspense and tension in all the right places while seamlessly transitioning between scenes.
The novel’s themes of power, control, consent, and trauma are timely, as they reflect the current cultural climate and social dynamics in our world today. The book resonates with people who have experienced sexual trauma themselves, as well as those who seek to understand and empathize with those who have.
It also invites readers to take a deeper look into the systemic injustices around sexual assault and the importance of acknowledging survivors’ experiences and providing them support. However, the novel can be emotionally difficult to read due to the graphic nature of the rape scene and the ensuing trauma Vivienne experiences afterward.
Some readers may find the depiction of sexual assault triggering, and those who are sensitive to graphic content should be aware of this. Also, the ending of the novel is a bit abrupt and may leave readers wanting more closure.
Overall, Asking for It is an important and powerful novel that explores essential themes with compassion, insight, and sensitivity. It is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the complexities of trauma, consent, and power dynamics in intimate relationships.
I highly recommend this novel with a score of 4 out of 5 based on the quality of writing, plot structure, character development, pacing, and themes.