NOTE: The author graciously gave me a copy of this book and asked me to write a review.

I don't know Olivia Wild, author of "The Sex Tourist," other than through the couple of short e-mails she sent me asking me to review the book and her blurb on the author's page of Amazon. So, I don't know how much of her story about the life and death of a Hungarian call girl is true, but I strongly suspect that there's a good basis in fact. Regardless, but for that very reason, the book has the mark of good fiction: it allows the reader to suspend any disbelief and immerse himself in what are actually two stories in one.

"The Sex Tourist" is written in two separate halves. The first half of the book is a memoir "written" by Lilian Biro, a young Hungarian woman, who becomes a teenaged prostitute to pay for her mother’s medical bills and her own college bills. At the end of that half of the story, Lilian dies, ostensibly a suicide. But her twin sister Vivian suspects foul play and, in the second half of the book, launches an investigation that eventually leads halfway across the world. The second half of the book, "written" by Vivian, details the manhunt as Vivian searches for the elusive killer.

Lilian’s story is fairly common in the sex trade, but probably an eye opener for most readers. She starts out as a free-spirited and sexually uninhibited girl in Hungary who becomes an underage groupie for a rock band. From there, she winds up working as a stripper and, eventually, a call girl. She acquires a boyfriend who, over the course of the book, transforms from an earnest young worker into an abusive drug-dealing male prostitute. After her death, her twin sister Vivian, a veterinary student in England, where she moved after their parents divorced, figures out that Vivian was actually the victim of a very meticulous serial killer who preys on prostitutes in various countries. With the help of Lillian’s new boyfriend, Vivian tracks the killer down to South Africa, where he is preparing for his next crime.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of “The Sex Tourist” is the book’s authentic feel. The writing, especially in the first half, is a bit awkward at times, but quite similar to the way in which someone in Lilian’s position, a student with a love of Jane Austen but an unfamiliarity with English, might write. Further, the mistakes she makes along the way, talking herself into continuing in the business and giving her abusive boyfriend another chance, exhibit precisely the type of flawed reasoning that women in her situation employ over and over.

The writing in the second half of the book is more assured, as if written by someone more familiar with English. Unfortunately, Wild adopts an odd convention in a couple of chapters, writing sections of the book in the second person (“you do this”) to describe a couple of brief sections written from the point of view of Lilian’s last boyfriend, who helps Vivian with her investigation. Despite this awkward device (and Vivian’s extremely convenient ability to gain access to Lilian’s body and perform all the medical tests she needs), the second half of the book turns into a solid thriller, culminating with a suspenseful showdown between Vivian and the killer.

Of course, this is a book about a woman who has sex for money, so there are a number of sexual encounters depicted, some of them in a fairly graphic manner. But this is not a standard erotic novel; none of these encounters are intended to titillate. Instead, Lilian describes many of them in a rather ho-hum fashion, with little enjoyment on her part, merely a need to get through the sometimes painful encounters. Actually, her descriptions of many of her lovers focus on their cleanliness habits (or, more often, the lack thereof). Those looking for some cheap thrills should probably look elsewhere; Wild intends, and succeeds, at making “The Sex Tourist” a more serious look at the sex trade.

Olivia Wild has written a book that works both as an expose of the sex trade and as a serial killer thriller. The events portrayed in the first half of the book have the feel of authenticity, while the second half becomes a solid serial killer thriller. Combine them both, and “The Sex Tourist” becomes a go-to destination for readers.

When sex worker Lilian falls for a British guy she can’t help but imagine a better life for herself, but the temptation of easy money will ultimately seal her fate.

After finding Lilian’s diary, her sister, Vivian, sparks a private international man hunt across three continents, using whatever resource she can and without any help from the authorities, in the hope of catching her sister’s killer. But to do so Vivian must also face the shocking reality of the life her sister had led. The trail to discover the truth is often more complicated than it first seems…

**This story contains explicit sexual content and graphic language and is only suitable for readers aged 18+**

Dull and Repetitive.

Summary-
Lillian falls for a British guy that she hopes will change her life for the good. She is tempted by easy money through prostitution and stripping to help pay for schooling and medical procedures for her Mother. Vivian, Lillian's sister, spends time tracking down Lillian's killer by retracing her steps as told through a journal she has found. Vivian wants revenge for what her sister has been through during her time as a prostitute.

Review-
The Sex Tourist is told from many different points of view that all seem to mix together. The first part of the novel started out interesting and fast paced. Part one is all about the life of a prostitute and the day-to-day struggles that the girls go through. This part was graphic and difficult to read at times due to the abuse and amount of disrespect shown to the women.

Part two is told from Vivian's point of view. We leave the prostitution world and begin a journey to track down a killer. Vivian feels it is her job to bring justice to her sister since she can't get help from the police.

There were parts of both topics that were interesting a felt honest and real. However, there was WAY too much time spent on the sex scenes and the DNA lingo to track down Vivian's killer. The build up to find the murderer ended abruptly in the last few chapters. Overall, I just felt this novel was a mess and not at all what I was expecting. I am giving two stars due to parts of the story that I did enjoy. I feel there is great potential here but it fell short me for.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Lilian Biro is an ambitious young Hungarian woman with dreams of a storybook life, and when she meets a kind, handsome British man she hopes she's on the right path. Finally.

Lilian meets the man of her dreams when his friends pay for her to perform a lap-dance at the local strip club where she is working. When she fails to get his name and contact information she moves from stripping to prostitution in order to make money because her mother badly needs an operation. But the prostitution leads to drugs because she needs to get high in order to do the things she needs to do. And her boyfriend encourages she keep hooking in order to bring in the money because he needs what she makes to pay for his drug and gambling problem.

Lilian meets an untimely end, and her sister Vivian tries to track down Lilian's killer, meeting the handsome British man along way.

I ... I'm not sure where to begin with this ...

Let's start with the title. I've read the entire book and I must have missed something because I don't understand where "tourist" comes into play. It was certainly the word that got my attention when I requested this book, but I didn't see the connection to 'sex tourist' in the book. After reading this, I feel that "The Sex Victim" would have been more appropriate.

Now the cover photo, as pictured above... Clearly this is meant to capitalize on the popularity of <em>Fifty Shades of Grey</em>, with a similar style photo which implies a sensual-ness. But there is nothing sensual inside these covers. This book is about as un-sexy and un-sensual as a book with lots of sex can be. The women in the story are prostitutes. They do not enjoy what they are doing, but do it because it is how they make money. Their 'johns' - or 'punters' as they are referred to in the book - are typically not attractive or respectable men.

Now the story ... we are tantalized with the idea that this is "based on a shocking true story" and author Olivia Wild tells us in the Foreword that:
<blockquote>This book is in memory of my beloved sororal twin, Lilian. The last time I saw her alive she talked about her ambition to become a writer one day. That way, she would have escaped her death-trap: prostitution. I inherited both her handwritten diary and, on her laptop, her very first book in the making.</blockquote>
Except...! The Foreword is by "Vivian Biro" - a character in the book. Ah, rascal Olivia Wild - this is just part of the set-up to make us think we're reading something that the prostitute wrote.

Except... the book is written from three different points of view, and the first 1/3 or so definitely has a different voice to it. A different rhythm and meter to the language. So either Wild is very clever and talented and definitely changed her style, or this first part was written by someone else.

This first part really lets the reader see how someone could 'fall' into the world of prostitution and drugs, and how difficult it would be to get out, along with what a despicable world it is.

The second part, told through the eyes of "Vivian Biro" changes the nature of the story completely. What was a narrative about life as a prostitute now becomes a murder mystery, with Biro on the path to solving her sister's murder. The police wouldn't bother because the woman was just a prostitute.

This section was dull. There was no drive or passion. We understand that the women were sisters, creating Vivian's drive to solve the crime, but it's really not enough and for as much as she kept telling her sister to get out of the life, we never buy in to her stepping in to her sister's shoes (literally and figuratively) in order to track her killer.

I wrote earlier that we had three points of view in this story. Out of the blue we suddenly get some narrative written in second person. I'll be honest ... <strong>three times</strong> I thumbed backward through the book to read up on it again to see where the second person narrative was coming from. It took me a long time to realize that we were getting a third point of view from another person. Note that we are more than 3/4 of the way through the book before we get this new POV - without any hints that it's coming. This is 'Paul' - the perfect English gentleman - the man of Lilian's dreams - who agrees to help track Lilian's killer.

So, we have an 'erotic-thriller' that is neither, with multiple points of view, in multiple styles. This is quite a mess. I give it two stars based on the first section of the book, which, while not erotic in any way for me, was captivating and eye-opening and felt quite honest.

Looking for a good book? The Sex Tourist by Olivia Wild tries to cross-blend genres - erotica and mysteries - but doesn't do either particularly well.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

WoW, what a brilliant book The Sex Tourist by Olivia Wild.....Its Hot, Hot, Hot!!! From the second chapter I couldn't put it down. This book is full of mixed of real life and fiction that is not for the faint at heart. Its not a book I would read but I am glad I read it. Looking forward to read other books by Olivia Wild in the future.
I highly recommend it. I was given a review copy and voluntarily review it.


Feedback left on Good reads and Amazon UK. However, it will not let me link these sites.

I don't think this book deserves a one star, to be honest I think it should be a zero star rating. I couldn't get into the story and I stuck with it hoping that I became more invested and I noticed while reading it, I just couldn't wait for it to end.

WOW not sure where to begin.
This was a shockingly dark, graphic and twisted tale that will leave you breathless at times and clutching and hanging on for dear life at others. I was not sure what to expect going into this twisted thriller but I am so glad I read it. I need more books like this on my bookshelf.

Literally every problem in this novel could have been solved if the characters had put two seconds of thought into any of their decisions. "My boyfriend and I don't have any money. Should we get jobs? Heck no! I'll become a stripper and a prostitute and he'll sell drugs!" Just like that. All through the book. Every time a character is given the chance to make their life better, they run in the opposite direction because having sex for money is, I guess, easier than applying for a normal job. The first half of the book follows Lilian and all of her terrible decisions, which lead to her supposed suicide. The second half follows her twin sister, Vivian, who is trying to prove that Lilian was murdered. And how does Vivian plan to track down her sister's killer? Why by becoming a prostitute, of course! Whatever. I just can't anymore with this book. If it hadn't been a free NetGally read, I definitely would not have powered through it.

I could not get deep into this book, just didn't hold my interest. It is even sadder to think it was based on a true story. I did not find the characters and their actions to be relatable or believable.

I had every intention of reading this book and writing an honest review but it expired before I had the chance. My apologies, If you like to resend it to me I would be happy to get it reviewed,

I love erotic books and this one is no different it sucked me in from beginning to end.

I DNF'd after the first couple of chapters. The story wasn't flowing, the writing was clunky... It just wasn't for me.

I give most books the benefit of the doubt, but I could not finish this book. There was nothing about it that I enjoyed

The Sex Tourist was a horrific but incredible tale of two sisters and their fight for love. I love how Vivian had the energy to carry on Lillian's book and find justice for her murder. I couldn't put this book down and it was beautifully written, to the point were I was almost crying on some occasions and that NEVER happens when I read. HUGE well done and congratulations to the author!!

The Sex a Tourist - Olivia Wild

🌟🌟🌟🌟

A dark, brutally honest and gritty story. Perched in the underbelly of society, the story and its characters are brilliantly complex enough to drag the reader in and the story takes you down into their deepest, darkest depths.

My first book by Olivia Wild but this was definitely a brilliant book to read as my introduction to her work.

This book will stay with me for a long time.

This book had so much. Great writing that trapped you attention to the very end. Layers upon layers of every possible emotion. And intense subject matter. I couldn't put this book down!

What an emotional roller coaster! I liked this book much,much more than I thought I would. It was a journey I couldn't help but be on as I didn't want to put my Kindle down. I'm looking forward to what's next from this author.

This story is incredible, and I could not put it down. Devoured this baby in 2 days, and it was amazing. The fact that this book is based on true events threw me off in the beginning. I was not sure if I would enjoy it, or find it hard to believe. Well let me tell you that it was believable and I was shocked through most of it. It`s a very sad story when you get to the end- Im not sure that it counts as a happy ending. Not to me anyways. The book is split into two parts, the foreword is where the autho explains that part
1 is 100% real and from her sister`s diary, with the exception of the last chapter. Part two is her fictionalized ending. The writing in the entire book is amazing. Im not sure if the author did this on purpose or not, and not that it bothers me, but the dialect fit the protagonist perfectly. I have a friend with who speaks exactly the same way. Sometimes too detailed, but that`s how she learned to speak English. It was wordy. but in a way tht worked for someone who`s secon language is English. So we follow Lilian, the protagonist, through a few years of her life as a hungarian prostitute. She is a twin to Vivian, and though they are very close, they are also strikingly different. The book begins when they are "sweet little (almost sixteens) and their birthday celebration. The young girls are full of life and we quickly find that they are also quite promiscuous. It was fun to read about their adventures and heartbreaks, very relatable, even if it wasnt band members my friends and I drooled over. It gets a bit confusing though because it forwards quite a bit through the years. Suddenly we are with Lilian, her mother is ill and they dont have much money. Her terrible boyfriend Tiby who is the antogonist in the entire book, persuades her into stripping and eventually prostitution. It helps her and her family tremendously, but not at a small price. It doesn`t seem that Lilian ever gets used to the lifestyle, but continues as if it is the only thing she can do. It is traumatizing and she cries after every encounter. Tiby also aides her with drugs and alcohol the bastard- She goes to school and studies English, she has big plans for her life, and following her story you too are excited to see her out of the game and see her suceed. What really grabbed me about the book is the way that she describes each experience with the `punter` in such detail. For a moment, it really is just erotica. Then it gets ugly and my heart aches for her beause screw these guys they really do treat her like trash and I cant imagine anyone puttig up with it. Death was in her face so many times and even though she barely escaped with her life, she continued to do it. Some of these scenes were so hot- so so so hot that it wasn`t until she cried in the shower that I remembered she hated everything about her job Based on the events, this story has my mind reeling. Who did this and why? Do we ever find out?

I was worried to read part two of the book because unlike part one, it is fictionalized and I just wanted to make sure it did the first part justice. It did not disappoint.

Like book one, the beginning is a bit confusing to me. It starts to make sense evetually, but I am not sure that others would be able to get passe the confusion. I think it needs some clearing up. Part two is also a bit unbelieable. let me tell you why: in book one, we know that their father is not very present, at least not in Lilian`s life- but he is in Vivian`s. He is much more present in the second story and very involved I know he is close with vivian but I just didnt fall for it. It seemed to ungenuine and unrealistic which was my biggest concern for part two. Vivian has these big plans of revenge and I just cant fall for it! I have a very hard time getting by but I need to know what and why happened. I also have to remmber that this is a different country and nothing I know is the same there. The laws, the strip clubs, and so on... also the dialogue in part two throws me off. Where it flowed and made sense in Lilian `s story, here it is just too wordy and takes up too much of a page- pointless words. Because Vivian is a vetenary student, she knows a lot about DNA which comes to be a big chunk of part two. Im sorry but she explains too much about it. Its cool yeah but im interested in the story, not really in a lesson in DNA samples. BUT she does give a crazy description of "red headed sperm heads which turn blue at their necks just to end up in an inert evil yellowish greenish tail" appartently this makes her throw up and now I have to find out what it means lol but why couldnt she just tell me in the story? see what I mean?

the chapters in part two switch POV from 1st person to 3rd person narrative. it is extrememly confusing because this entire time I thought it was a particular person. Its not until a specific sentence where it says "you try to call me" that I realize it is Vivian talking about Paul (youll find out all about him) and all along I thought it was Paul speaking in 3rd person about him self. it was weird Im not sure how other readers would feel about it. It also made me feel as if it was foreshadowing Vivian`s doom or something.

so we get to the ending. A very satisfying unbelievalbe, but satisfying ending. The author comes in to tie up some ends. She apologizes for not sharing certain informationwith us because as readers, it would be obvious who this man they killed was.....wait a minute, so you`re telling me that this author killed a probably important man, got away with it, and wrote about it- but is claiming the story to be fictional but shes explaining that its not... idk this threw me off 100% but the book was over and there was no where else for me to go. I still give this book 10000000 starts mainly because of book 1. It was too good to let part two bring it down. I highly recommend it becuase I think its great to discuss. Id def read more of the author`s work should she continue to write.

Hot! Hot! Hot! I really enjoyed this book, the characters are likeable and well written, the story line was developed and the chemistry between these characters is undeniable.

Wow this is he best book I have read in a while, whilst reading this you will go through every emotion you have from love to hate and shock to terror.
This is a well written book and to say I felt relief at the end was an understatement. The book is based on a true story that is split into two parts, the first part is from Lillian, and follows her life as a sex worker, from starting off as a dancer to stepping over the line to prostitution. This part of the book has some quite harrowing parts to it and is written by Lillian. The second part is carried on by her twin sister, Vivian, who is training to be a vetinary surgeon and shows how her work in this area helps her on finding Lillian's killer.
I thought I wasn't going to like this book but by page 10 I was hooked, I found it hard to put down as the book went on and all the time thinking that this has actually happened. There are parts that are hard to read but I didn't finish the book thinking too much about those times, I thought more about what a genuinely nice girl Lilly was and how hard her sister worked to get payback on that t****r that ended it all.
I would like to thank netgalley and Olivia Wild publishing for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.