Thanks to The Dial Press for an advanced copy of Dirty Diana by Jen Besser and Shana Feste which came out in October. I listened to this while I was in Spain and this is book one on the trilogy inspired by the Dirty Diana podcast.

I hadn't heard of the podcast before reading it. I really liked the full cast narration and it's felt like it helped bring this book to life. It was different than I expected but powerful about love, marriage, sex and our desires. The characters aren't ones you really want to root for but you're hooked on wanting to know what happens next. This book does end on a cliffhanger but the second book Diana in Love comes out in February and I am looking forward to listening to the audiobook!

Diana is stuck in her marriage. She and husband Oliver are going through the motions, but not connecting. They've always had a strong emotional connection, but the intimacy has disappeared. Diana begins flashing back to her younger years, when she had a passionate relationship with fellow artist Jasper. She also misses her creative work - she published a book of paintings tied to women's stories of their most sensual moments.

This was an engrossing drama! Diana is at a crossroads and I enjoyed the back-and-forth between past and present. Now a buttoned-up parent, Diana reflects on her younger years when she was more adventurous and carefree. The story felt salacious, not only in the many sexual descriptions, but also an honest look at a struggling marriage. There were portrayals of therapy sessions and Diana's innermost thoughts. It was super interesting and hard to put down! The ending left on a cliffhanger and I am looking forward to the next installment!

I know characters don't have to be likable, but I disliked Diana from the first two chapters and it just never stopped. Then it seemed like they decided to make Oliver an ass by the end just because. Diana was just completely selfish and immature. So much of her issues could be resolved by simply having a conversation like a adult. You're mad because your husband isn't clairvoyant? *insert eyeroll here* She seemed so dead set in being immature, that I just lost all respect and interest in her very early on. It is not a series that I would continue on with.

Not the biggest fan of this one. I couldn’t seem to connect to Diana & her husband. Definitely a lot of sex in this, which isn’t surprising given the title. The premise is interesting. Not sure what the next book will bring.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy & I give my review freely

the perfect one sitting read! both light and pacey but also an emotional and honest mediation on female desire. the ending had me at the edge of my seat and I'm beyond excited for the next volume

I have read other reviews of this book and I guess it just didn't hit me the right way. I felt like too many stories were happening. I couldn't relate to any of the characters and Diana actually annoyed me. I also don't enjoy a cliffhanger ending. Overall this book is a no for me.

I loved this so much! As an almost 40 year old myself, Diana felt relatable in some regards. I loved her friendships, the flashbacks to her former life. This book was so spicy, but well done! I’ve been approved for book 2 and I can’t wait to dive in!

The first book in a 3 book series about a woman caught between the comfortable stability of her marriage and her memories of a more sensual past, I tried but failed to connect with this book. I didn't find any of the characters likable,, which is a dealbreaker for me, and the book just lacked any depth or much of a plot. Maybe this book just wasn't the book for me, but the best thing I can say about it was that it was a quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC of Dirty Diana, in exchange for an honest review.

In Dirty Diana, we meet Diana, a woman whose marriage to Oliver is falling apart, no matter how hard they try to fix it. The story really digs into the messy side of love, desire, and the emotional ups and downs that come with it. Diana is an artist who gets inspired by doing interviews about audio erotica, which she then turns into paintings. This creative side of her adds an interesting twist to the story and helps us see her in a new light.

As the story unfolds, we also learn about Diana's past with Jasper, a passionate love affair that still haunts her, even years later. The book goes back and forth between her current struggles with Oliver and the intense connection she once had with Jasper. This contrast adds a lot of depth to the story and makes it feel more real.

The book also has some really steamy moments. The intimate scenes are written in a way that adds to the emotional tension and makes the story even more gripping. Overall, Dirty Diana is a unique and compelling book that sticks with you long after you've finished reading.
4 Stars!

This book made me think. I didn't really like any of the characters, but the way it was written - how timelines were bridged and different events weaved in, kept me engaged.

Very open door and provocative - mixing coming of age and mid life together - who we were and what parts we choose to share.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Random House for the ARC.

What? WHAT?! No, NO! My exact words at the end of this book. The journey through this book is a sexual, complex, intimate, and desirable one. It’s well written, it’s a good length. It evoked so many different emotions. I’m finding it so hard to write a review because the ending has me perplexed! Definitely recommending this - it’s pleasurable (pun intended) but also sophisticated in the sense of real, raw relationships between friends, lovers, and enemies. So so good.

As a fan of TV’s Couples Therapy, and a snoop in general, I loved being a fly on the wall of Diana and Oliver’s counseling sessions and the secret interview sessions between Diana and her subjects. Dirty Diana raises questions about desire, the private vs. public selves, and what it means to seek the spark even if it means jeopardizing the everyday fabric of your world. Spicy, deep, and challenging, Dirty Diana left me wanting more in the best possible way!

Interesting novel about love, sex, desire, and what happens when your current self misses your old self, especially when a marriage is involved. I did not listen to the podcast (starring Demi Moore), but I thought this book was very interesting and relatable. Diana is a complex character.

"Diana Wood has a job she likes and a husband, Oliver, she loves. Together, they have a daughter they adore. She and Oliver spend so much time together, they even carpool to work in the same office. They’re in married love, which isn’t exactly the same as love love, but it’s fine.Or is it? Is fine good enough? Diana and Oliver haven’t had sex in months and their intimacy seems more like a memory than a reality. The cozy trappings of Diana’s life in Dallas, Texas have become ever-more confining. She is restless, growing more distant from Oliver by the day. A trip to see an old friend in Santa Fe prompts Diana to remember the woman she used to an aspiring artist; someone devoted to creativity, spontaneity, sensuality. In her past—especially with Jasper, the dashing photographer with whom she once had an unforgettable love affair—Diana let herself fantasize, she let her body lead the way. She was wholly…alive. Returning to Dallas, Diana decides to rediscover the deeply feeling woman she once was. She begins interviewing other women, painting their portraits as they speak. She encourages them to give voice to their secret desires as she captures their deepest, innermost fantasies. But is it possible for Diana to reclaim her more sensual self and maintain the marriage she committed to? What if connecting to her own desires means dissolving the safe life she’s so carefully cultivated?"

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

The book is very well written, creating a tension and a deep sense of frustration. Diana is floundering in her life, her marriage, and her sense of self. She is grasping at air, trying to find something, anything, to make her feel alive again.

There was just something about this book that really stuck with me. The difficulties of marriage and keeping it exciting, staying true to yourself and having your own place in the world apart from “the wife” label. I just really felt for Diana. I was impressed with her growth throughout the book and her push to become the person she wanted to be when she was younger.

I am so intrigued to see how this story progresses. Diana’s best friends L’Wren and Alicia were such amazing characters. They are the perfect blend of her past life and current life, each giving her the support and confidence she needs to take back control of her life. SO excited for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade for an ARC of Jenn Besser and Shana Feste's book Dirty Diana in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Dirty Diana by Jen Besser; Shana Feste was truly a fantastic read!
I’m so thrilled I was approved for the sequel.
This was a raw and vulnerable story, and I felt such wild emotions throughout.

I felt this in my bones! Such a raw and unrelenting look inside the walls of a marriage that the couple rarely shares with the outside world. The doubts & insecurities, the comfort, the lack of passion and the nostalgia that comes with long-term relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade for an ARC of Jenn Besser and Shana Feste's book Dirty Diana in exchange for an honest review of the book. I absolutely loved everything about this book except the cliffhanger at the end!

Diana represents so many women in today's society. In a loving marriage that seems to be stuck in a rut. She loves her husband but they haven't had sex in months and anytime he tries, she turns away from him. After visiting her best friend in the city she used to live, she remembers how she used to be when she was younger and also the one that got away. When she goes back home to her husband and daughter, she has a renewed sense to find the woman she used to be, the woman her husband doesn't know.

I found Diana and Oliver's relationship to be relatable. How work and life gets in the way and how at times, the marital relationship can take a back seat. I love the friendships between Diana and Alicia and also Diana and L'Wren. Everyone needs friends like them. In Diana's younger days she was pursuing her passion and making money in the ways she could which was also relatable to many.

I can’t wait for the sequel!

Dirty Diana is a fun read. This novel is poignant, with surprising emotional depth and characters that ring true. And lots of humor, considering the themes. Diana's marriage is stagnant, and she is trying to save it and get her, um, groove back in the process. Diana's art project, interviewing women about their sexual desires and fantasies, collecting their stories and complementing them by painting their portraits, is key to her journey.

This book is hot! Racy! And [I just found out] the first in a series so yippee for more! In the meantime, there's a Dirty Diana podcast that precedes the novel.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the digital ARC and fingers crossed I get my eyeballs on #2 soon!

I posted a review on goodreads today, 11/18/24.
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6700972567

Diana’s story is so beautifully written and draws you in from the beginning. Her life is real and the captured emotion left me not wanting the story to end. The authors did a great job detailing the complicated story of adult friendships, marriage, parenting, and how those relationships intertwine and change so drastically over time. The story also highlights the beauty of those relationships while keeping the reality of the difficulty as well. The cliffhanger ending left me eager for the next book.
Kudos to the authors for a great story that leaves the reader eagerly waiting for more.

Diana has been married to Oliver for a few years and they have a young daughter. But lately she’s found herself in a sexless marriage and wondering how to fix it. She’s an artist who had done a project in the past where she drew people’s erotic stories. She listens to the old tapes and she starts getting back into her art. We hear about Jagger, her long lost love from the past.

This book is apparently based on a podcast. It reminded me a bit of the show, Sex Life and also had me thinking about The Idea of You. It’s that middle age romance. Definitely don’t pick this up if you’re a bit prudish because it gets a few jalapeños for its spiciness 🌶️ I will say around three quarters of the way through I thought this isn’t turning out all that great, but then that ending really sealed the deal. I’m ready to read the next installment of the Diana series.