I like to think of this book as female empowerment. Diana has from the outside the perfect marriage and family, but from the inside her marriage to Oliver is crumbling. When a trip to Santa Fe sparks memories of younger Diana, she returns home inspired with art once again. She begins painting the portraits of women and while painting she asks them to share their deepest secrets about love and sex. When a friend calls her “Dirty Diana” she doesn’t shy away as she becomes more torn between her marriage and a life of her own.

#bookofthemonth
@bookofthemonth
#readmorebooks
#readmorebooksbywomen
#readersofinstagram
#bookstagram
#bookstagrammer
#bookish
#mybookishlife
#wearebookish
#lovereading
#alwaysreading
#readinggoals
#2024reads
#goodreads

3.5⭐️

I’ll be honest — I requested this ARC for the cover (it is stunning), and I really didn’t know what I was getting into. The dual timeline was well done, going from present to past and then back to present. The characters are deeply unlikable (except perhaps Alicia), but I still enjoyed the book. Something about the writing style felt unfinished to me — unrefined, rough. The ending was fabulous and I can see myself reading the sequel!

WOW! What a debut novel! And this is only book 1 of 3 of Diana’s journey?! I am loving it! I wish more books expanded on characters so we can get the full stories!
And the ending?!?! You’re going to leave me on THAT?!!?


I was hesitant to start this book after getting accepted for the ARC but I am so mad at myself for waiting! This was so good!

Diana is a middle aged wife and mother to one 6 year old daughter, living in a comfortable marriage that is lacking any sexual spark. It felt so visceral to me because I could see her point of view and relate to it on some levels. In an effort to bring her marriage back from the dead, she tries to open up sexually with her husband and is rebuffed. They end up in couples therapy and these sessions were so interesting to hear. I felt like a fly on the wall with their raw and emotional moments.

Oliver, Diana’s husband, in my eyes did things a bit wrong. He claims to be an innocent guy with a wife who doesn’t feel attracted to him but he goes to a strip club most nights and engages in an intimate relationship with a stripper? NO! And their friend Raleigh, who is a divorcee due to cheating, becomes his companion!? NO! Ugh, I wanted to strangle him honestly. IDK how these two are going to come back from this!

The most intriguing part of this story was the flash backs to Diana and her life in Santa Fe, New Mexico. As a struggling artist she is working a cater-waiter job along with being an apprentice to a local famous artist. She meets a gorgeous photographer named Jasper and the two have a passionate romance until he decides to leave for Europe and leave Diana behind after telling her he wanted to move away with her. She quits her job, sells her possession, and jumps at the chance to be with Jasper and explore her art with him. He instantly turned into a classic shady guy by telling her he didn’t mean right now…when he in fact did. It made my blood boil for her and her hurt.

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!

Dirty Diana follows a woman in a complacent marriage who is reminiscing on times where she interviewed women about desire. You are introduced to her current life, flash back to her past, and come back to the present. I was captivated from the beginning and could not put this book down. Diana's story felt raw and vulnerable, and I felt such a wide range of emotions throughout my reading experience.

I received an ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book very interesting and provocative. Diana who is married to Oliver finds herself bored and losing interest in her love life even though she is still in love with her husband. She begins to think about a tryst she had when she was younger and unmarried that although hot and steamy didn't last.
I liked this character and found her relatable but I didn't like the abrupt ending of the book. I didn't know that this was a series when I began reading it so now I have to wait for the next book to see what happens!

Thanks to the authors, publishers, and Net Galley for allowing me to read this amazing arc.

💭 ⓂⓎ ⓉⒽⓄⓊⒼⒽⓉⓈ
It is a rare occurrence for me to dislike every character in a book but still end up loving the story. This one was provocative, addicting, and had me feeling uncomfortably comfortable while reading those STEAMY passages. This book asks the ultimate question…which should be our priority in a long-lasting relationship, comfort or passion? And can we actually have both? As a 41-year-old woman myself, there were so many things I connected with Diana on, yet so many things that also left me questioning her decisions. This book got me out of my comfort zone, and I honestly had a hard time putting it down. That ending had me running to NetGalley IMMEDIATELY to request book 2 in the series.

📚 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
🩷Romance
❎Flawed characters
💡Self-discovery
⚧️ Exploration of female empowerment
💍Complexities in a marriage
🫶Sensual and provocative
🌶️Steamy
🔁Dual timelines

⚠️ 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨: infidelity

🎨𝕄𝕐 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾🎨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💕Q U O T E: “𝐸𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝓈𝑒𝒸𝓇𝑒𝓉𝓈. 𝒩𝑜 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝒷𝑜𝒹𝓎."

🙏Thank you NetGalley, Random House / Dial Press, and Jenn Besser / Shana Feste for this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. 💕

This defied my expectations! It felt raw and heartbreaking- at times hard to read and other times hard to put down. Dirty Diana follows our main character Diana on her journey of discovering herself again. Finding passion, excitement and joy within her marriage, I felt for her and her feelings of loss within her own still active marriage.

At times the pace was off for me, at times it was fast spicy and keeping me wanting to read- other times I felt myself putting it down or forcing myself to continue. It may have been initial to make you feel similar to Diana may have felt in her own life.

Over all 3.5/5 I did enjoy my time reading it. It felt like a spicy coming of age/coming into your skin novel, not a light hearted read but still a worthy read for women in any stage of adult life.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House/Dial Press for the digital ARC of Dirty Diana by Jen Besser and Shana Feste. The opinions in this review are my own

Dirty Diana is a captivating and introspective story about identity, sacrifice, and the journey back to oneself. Diana, once a young, free-spirited, and sensual artist, finds herself trapped in a life that feels foreign—a life she built around her husband Oliver and his family's expectations in Dallas. Where she was once adventurous and unrestrained, Diana’s marriage has stifled her creativity and her sensuality, becoming stale and lacking the passion that once defined her.

Over time, she transforms into the dutiful wife and financial advisor, molding herself to fit into her husband’s world. However, the weight of these compromises distances her from her authentic self and leaves her feeling disconnected and unfulfilled, both emotionally and sexually. The distance between her and Oliver grows, eventually leading to a separation that forces Diana to confront the pieces of herself she’s neglected for years.

The turning point in Diana's journey comes as she rediscovers her art, reconnecting with the sensuality and creativity that had once been her lifeblood. This return to her artistic roots is not only healing but empowering, helping her embrace the parts of herself she had hidden away for so long.

What makes Dirty Diana so compelling is its honest portrayal of the complexities of desire, personal reinvention, and self-fulfillment. Diana’s journey back to her true self and sensuality is an inspiring reminder of the courage it takes to choose oneself—even after years of conforming to others’ expectations. This book is a deeply satisfying read for anyone drawn to stories of self-discovery, resilience, and the pursuit of personal and sensual authenticity.

The moment I read the synopsis, I knew this story would hit close to home. It is no secret that couples have to work to maintain excitement in a marriage, especially when it’s so easy to slip into routine. Here, readers watch a sort of mid-life crisis play out via this nostalgia for a highly sensual former love despite it not being a healthy relationship in the end. That said, Diana is a likable character who is easy to identify with as she navigates the complexities of womanhood following birth, but especially as she reasserts herself in her worklife passions. Readers get a sense of urgency in Diana’s search for herself, while maintaining the stability her daughter needs.

One of the book’s most impressive qualities is how well Besser and Feste, as co-authors, blend their voices to create a single, fluid narrative. I think their combined voices give a nuanced, layered picture of Diana without feeling dissociative and contradictory.

I loved this story, and I am so excited to read the next installment!

This book took a turn from what I thought it was going to be about, but I really couldn’t put it down and found myself immediately downloading the second. 4.5 stars!

Could not put this book down!!! Dived right into the sequel and am anxiously awaiting the third installment. I never listened to the podcast but am going to start right now!

reading dirty diana is like pulling the curtain back on a marriage that has been on the precipice for a few years now - do they work it out or do they throw in the towel? how did they get to this point and what would it take to move back away from the cliff?
diana is an artist and her work is provocative and sexy so you get a bit of that in the book, but it’s main focus is on relationships - those that come before marriage, the actual marriage, and friendships. you’ll see diana’s most memorable pre-marriage relationship play out and you’ll learn where she set her “standards”. is her marriage to oliver enough or should they have gone their separate ways years ago?
the vulnerability in this book hooked me right from the start. diana often wants more from life and we watch her navigate trying to get it. to get back to the time in her life where she felt full, awake, and open to possibility, in more ways than one.
i can’t wait to read the second book next! where will diana go from here?

thank you to random house publishing group for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley. all opinions are my own.

I am just loving this theme in book, a bit of a midlife crisis for a woman, questioning her marriage and sexuality, so I was excited to get an advanced reading copy. A propelling, well written read, in my opinion, and I think it will bring up some great discussion with audiences. A great, possible book club pick. I, and I am sure others will be looking for to book #2.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade for the ARC!

A great premise that could have been a fabulous novel but the writing was flat so it was a chore to finish.

Well. I was not familiar with the podcast and didn't know what to expect from this novel but I gotta admit I somehow missed that this is heavy on the steam. And to be honest, while this is an interesting look at marriage and so on, while I'm not a prude, I think the spice was more than I wanted. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

Wow! I went in blind to this story and came out with my eyes wide open. How many married women have felt like this? Where does taking a break leave you? So many questions for the next book!!

know what to expect from Dirty Diana, even though the concept sounded interesting, and since it is based on a successful podcast the novel has a built-in fan base. You can add my name to the list of Dirty Diana fans, I absolutely loved this book, even though it is quick but not an easy read, emotionally. I haven't listened to the podcast, but I will certainly try it out.

Diana is a character that I found very relatable, in what would be considered a good marriage even though she is not sure whether she is happy, and she fantasizes about her youth and what might have been. I think most married people have had tough stretches and will empathize with both Diana and Oliver as they navigate marriage in mid-life.

The excerpts from Diana's recorded interviews added a level of spice and fun to what is essentially the tale of a rocky marriage and the examination of how two people who love each other can grow apart. I am excited to see where Diana goes in book 2, as Dirty Diana left me eager to see what develops!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House/Dial Press for the digital ARC of Dirty Diana by Jen Besser and Shana Feste. The opinions in this review are my own

This book right here was WILD!!! Dirty Diana, did not know it was inspired by a podcast and I want to listen to it now, lol. Diana is married to an amazing man named Oliver, but she’s not happy and she can’t put her finger on why, she is just not connecting with her husband and all Oliver wants to do is connect with her. They work in it but in this book we get Diana’s story from before meeting Oliver, and being with this photographer named Jasper. Now I will say this, the spicy scenes were spicy and even how she goes about creating art. I loved her friends though they made me laugh so much, and they are so badass I loved it. This book is part of a series and I can’t wait to read more, because the way this book LEFT ME!!! THAT ENDING THOUGH!!!!

This book was inspired by a podcast featuring actress Demi Moore, and it centers on the marital struggles of Diana and Oliver. Diana, once passionate and engaged in her relationship, now finds herself withdrawing from intimacy, while Oliver is still eager to connect. The story also takes us back to Diana’s younger years, before her marriage, when she was an intern in the art world. At that time, she created a provocative art project focused on sketching and painting nude women while recording their intimate confessions. During this period, she also had a brief but intense affair with a charismatic photographer, adding layers of complexity to her present-day dilemmas.

As for my experience with this book—it was a bit of a mixed bag. While it was certainly sensual and full of steamy moments, I found it lacking in substance and emotional depth. The sexual encounters were frequent, but the story didn’t engage me on a deeper, more intellectual level. Though the plot revolves around a couple with a young daughter whose marriage is unraveling, the characters were hard to connect with, and I never found myself invested enough to keep thinking about it long after I finished.

That being said, there was something deeply intriguing about the book. It was undeniably tantalizing, with moments that made me want to shout about how great it was. If this book hasn’t made it onto your radar yet, it absolutely should. There’s something about the raw, unfiltered conversations around sex and intimacy that felt incredibly real. I couldn’t stop reading, especially the “Dirty Diana” excerpts inspired by the podcast. Those sections captured a gritty, unapologetic look at Diana’s world that felt refreshing and bold.

Diana, at 41, is juggling the roles of mother, wife, and artist, and anyone who’s been in a long-term relationship, especially after having children, will relate to the tension and struggles of keeping that spark alive. There’s a real emotional resonance in the way the book explores the complications of intimacy in long-term relationships. I felt for Diana—her confusion, her longing, her frustration—and I found myself completely immersed in her journey. I’m still processing all the conflicting emotions this book stirred up.

As a romance reader, I expected a resolution, but the ending left me feeling a bit unsettled—like there was no neat conclusion or finality. That ambiguity is jarring, but it also kept me thinking long after the last page.

Dirty Diana, based on the Podcast by the same name, is an exploration in a women's world, marriage and life of sex. We meet Diana who feels something is missing, and begins reminiscing about a time when she felt most desired and talented.

Diana's twenties were filled with art, Sante Fe and the desire of "Sante Fe's Next Art-Throb," Jasper. Now years later, married and a mother, she lost her ability to think creatively and lust after her husband. She longs to be that free-thinking, adventurous individual instead of stuck in this rut.

Dirty Diana's cliffhanger has me reeling! NEED BOOK #2, Diana in Love!

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback