Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan Published by Berkley on April 6, 2021
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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Naomi Grant has built her life around going against the grain. After the sex-positive start-up she cofounded becomes an international sensation, she wants to extend her educational platform to live lecturing. Unfortunately, despite her long list of qualifications, higher ed won't hire her.
Ethan Cohen has recently received two honors: LA Mag named him one of the city's hottest bachelors and he became rabbi of his own synagogue. Taking a gamble in an effort to attract more millennials to the faith, the executive board hired Ethan because of his nontraditional background. Unfortunately, his shul is low on both funds and congregants. The board gives him three months to turn things around or else they'll close the doors of his synagogue for good.
Naomi and Ethan join forces to host a buzzy seminar series on Modern Intimacy, the perfect solution to their problems--until they discover a new one--their growing attraction to each other. They've built the syllabus for love's latest experiment, but neither of them expected they'd be the ones putting it to the test.
I loved The Roommate so I decided to continue the Roommate series. The primary character is Naomi Grant who was Josh’s partner when they were porn stars. I could imagine how much more difficult it is to be a female sex performer. I appreciated getting Naomi’s history of how she ended up in the business and all her feelings and life choices. While The Intimacy Experiment is flirty and funny, it also covers deeper topics.
Just as Josh moved on to be a sex therapist, Naomi has developed a website called Shameless. It has a few different subscription levels and provides sex education. With the website very successful, now she wants to move forward with live lectures. Since higher education doesn’t seem very interested, she attends a conference hoping to make some personal connections with them, but she receives a teaching offer from a Jewish synagogue to teach a course. Ethan, the rabbi, is unusual in his youth and good looks.
We get a bit of Ethan’s point of view. The board has given him just three months to revitalize the membership (which doesn’t seem very realistic to me). He doesn’t want to take members from established shuls, but instead to reconnect with younger members who aren’t practicing. So he wants to offer something younger and more modern at the community center.
The Modern Intimacy course is brilliant. It touches on so many great concepts and feelings. I appreciated the idea that while intimacy is naturally part of sex, the intimacy is about trust and connection and does not have to include sex. Of course, the board hates it, because sex and some of them are stuffy. Of course, Ethan and Naomi are attracted. They both have some issues to sort through along with some personal learning and growth. I loved the emotional journey and thought-provoking perspectives.
About Rosie Danan
Rosie Danan writes steamy, big-hearted books, articles, and tweets about the trials and triumphs of modern love.
The New York Times calls Rosie Danan’s debut novel, THE ROOMMATE “a book about people expanding into their best possible selves…warmly funny and gorgeously sexy.” The rom-com has been optioned for film, and a companion book THE INTIMACY EXPERIMENT is forthcoming April 6, 2021 in both the US and UK.
After participating in the writing mentorship program Pitch Wars as a 2018 mentee, she was thrilled to rejoin the organization as a 2019 and 2020 mentor.
When not writing, Rosie enjoys jogging slowly to fast music, petting other people’s dogs, and competing against herself in rounds of Chopped using the miscellaneous ingredients occupying her fridge.
As an American expat currently living in London, she’s developed an incurable fondness for electric kettles.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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This sounds like a thought provoking and interesting series. I have the first book and this inspires me to get started. Excellent review, Anne?
Thank you Jonetta. It’s a great series. I like the realistic emotions the characters have and work through.
Interesting premise. You don’t see a lot of my life after porn books.
It is. And it’s very well written.
This story sounds so unique. I didn’t realize it was part of a series, which means there may be more books coming?
It is a series and I would read it in order because of character personal developments. I don’t know anything about another one so it’s possible it’s a duology but I would be happy to read more.
I can see myself enjoying this one. Thanks for sharing!
I’d read the series in order, but they are great people stories.
Sure does sound fun. And so is the cover.
I think I like it because it is so different in premise and really develops the characters.
I’m reading this one right now so I just skimmed but I completely agree about the modern intimacy seminar. I would have loved having a seminar like that back in my single days!
It’s a great story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I didn’t pick up the last book because it’s hard to picture it being a viable romance when one of the parties is in porn. I’d have a hard time dating someone with that job, because I’m sure jealousy would drive me nuts. So, yeah, hard to picture it. Sounds like an interesting premise here. I might like this set up. Glad to hear you enjoyed both books. Fab review, Anne. 🙂
Thanks Rachel. In both books, the performers leave the industry but it would still be hard I think as they are well known. At least to those who watch porn apparently.
It looks like a nice romance. I think I saw the cover somewhere but I never went farther
It’s a good story with some interesting issues. It boils down to trust.
This sounds like a nice romance. The setting definitely sounds unique and interesting. I’m glad you enjoyed it 😉
It’s different than I would think for any romance which made it interesting.
I feel like I really need to pick up this series. It sounds like something that I would enjoy.
It’s not typical and I like that.
Another winner! I really wish I’d picked up the first book. There’s still time before she gets too many more written!!
We all have that issue of not being able to get to all the books even if we know they are great. But this is different and I’m enjoying them.
Thanks for the review, a good reminder that I need to read the first book! I’m going to put it down to read in May- so I don’t push it off 🙂
I enjoyed these as they are quite different than the usual careers and that led to some interesting emotional aspects.
I have The Roommate on kindle (surprise surprise! haven’t read it yet) but I love the sound of this one too… All the reviews are bumping it up the TBR but I’m such a mood reader who knows when I’ll actually read either!
yes I am quite the moody reader lately but I do best by mixing up my genres. Romance is something I often like as part of the story, maybe a background story, but not always the focus or only focus in a book.