This was a really interesting exploration of sexuality, sexual identity, and the layers and growth of friendship. The relationship between Serena and Beth felt real from page one, and their shifting dynamic as opposites was interesting to read. Beth especially felt like a fully realized, relatable character, and a strong narrative voice. The writing was simple yet poignant, making it a quick, engrossing read.

An absolute delight! I loved not only the pacing of the story, but the telling of it as well. From start to end, I was given an adventure!

I was gifted this ARC by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was excited to read about Serena and Beth because I feel like we’re all Serena and Beth in one way or another and it was validating and comforting to see those experiences between the pages of a book. But disappointingly, I wasn’t invested in either of them. I really enjoyed the topics being explored and the way that they were explored. So many people are afraid to dive into the parts of the sexuality spectrum that involve aromanticism and asexualism, but Pitcher doesn’t shy away. There was something really validating about hearing about being aromantic hot just from Beth, but about what it’s not and what people assume it is and the relief she felt when someone like a therapist actually truly understood. I also appreciated the casualness of Serena’s sexuality. She just so happens to be queer and it’s just one of her many facets. Where I get stuck and disappointed is in rooting for the characters and seeing where the novel goes, or fails to go. I love the candor and vulnerability, but it’s missing a driving force. I need something else to keep me invested with these being topics on the side. I could put the book down and forget about it if I wasn’t reviewing an ARC. I’m looking for something that I’m eager to put up or hate that I have to put down and I couldn’t find that here. I wished I could root for these characters more. They’re not unlikable, I just wasn’t invested but I did find them relatable and funny and appreciated the honesty and wit.

As a person on the Ace Spectrum, Beth was one of the first characters that I really felt seen. Her journey was something that was so truly special and beautiful and relatable for me. Serena and Beth’s journey as friends was amazing and so fleshed out. A beautiful beautiful novel about discovering yourself.

Eleanor Pilcher is electric in her witty, funny, and heartfelt women’s fiction debut, following polar opposite best friends Beth and Serena. When demisexual Beth decides she’s done with being a virgin and enlists Serena’s help, her new personal journey just might be the thing to end their friendship for good.

This was a fun read overall, but I did feel that the pacing was a little off at times. The character driven storyline was enjoyable overall, and I liked seeing how the characters develop as the story progressed.

Just finished That's What She Said by Eleanor Pilcher, and I couldn’t put it down! This book is a refreshing, witty, and empowering read that had me laughing, nodding in agreement, and even reflecting on so many relatable moments.

Eleanor Pilcher’s sharp sense of humor and clever storytelling make this book an absolute standout. The characters are bold, the dialogue is spot-on, and the themes of confidence, self-discovery, and finding your voice are woven beautifully throughout.

If you’re looking for a book that’s equal parts entertaining and inspiring, this one’s for you. It’s smart, funny, and leaves you feeling ready to take on the world. Highly recommend!

This was a really fun, sometimes silly, dual POV romcom! I had a good time with it, and it was a really quick read. I enjoyed how the author created a demisexual character and how that was a main plot point, but it wasn’t some big deep, heavy thing. The book was mostly light-hearted and even a couple times over the top goofy. That being said, it was in no way disrespectful of the topic. Sometimes I found both of the main characters to be rather cringey, but overall I liked the book!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

A story about self discovery that everyone should read in their 20s! This is a great character driven read about friendship, however I did find this quite slow, and lost interest at times.

That's What She Said is an excellent read about two friends discovering themselves in their 20s and the challenges it brings to their long-term friendship. The story focuses on character development, especially for Beth, who is really pushing outside her comfort zone. There were many hilarious antics from Serena and sweet moments in their friendship, too. I also enjoyed Serena and Beth's support from friends while they were on their coming-of-age journeys.
I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced read with great demisexuality representation!
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The star rating is not reflective of a bad book I’ll say to start!! I did enjoy this and found it funny at some moments (see smear test and escort - these should also give you an idea of what the book is about). I’m not sure I liked either of the main characters but the friendship felt real and you can see the growth throughout the book in them both! Never heard of demisexual before so it was interesting to learn about it.

hmmmm this book was a major roller coaster for me between oh for the love of god shut UP (1 star) and awwwww wait she is discovering herself and i’m so proud but also how did we get here (4.5 stars). so that being said, i have landed on a solid three. 3.5 i suppose but rounded down for the shitshow (sorry not sorry) that the first quarter of this book was. GOOD GOD i wanted to claw my eyes out.

then we got some character development, even though it seemed like serena was a walking red flag, a basket case, and set in standing in her stupidly stubborn ways. beth started growing, and i think it was surprisingly enough, the tantra experience, that convinced me of this.

in that delicate middle section of the book where i wavered in my opinion of it, there was a odd imbalance between “wow this book is out of my comfort zone but in a good way” and “oh my lawd the second hand embarrassment is so bad, i want to melt into this airplane seat.”

also girl (narrator), learn punctuation, for someone who yaps endlessly on journalism careers and marketing (shut UP we don’t need that many details) please learn how parentheses work

and then the ending….eh?? it was all too happy, too tied up, and im not saying im a HEA hater BUT the evan and beth instant intimacy ugh. okay lemme break this down. im very happy we got to witness her “transformation,” and i suppose that opens the door to enhanced sexuality. i mean of course it does. but so soon?? and so bluntly after an ENTIRE book of her saying she didn’t want it?? like okay i get it. BUT strong emotional connection is important for her to feel safe, right? SO WHY TELL ME WHY is she so instantly aroused by this man she had a crush on years ago, who hasn’t reached out in two years and whom she has been on TWO DATES with. high key only one?? idk that doesn’t qualify as a strong emotional connection to me and it screwed the whole plot over in my mind.

WAIT BRING THE THERAPIST BACK WE DIDNT GET TO SAY BYE!!!

**quotes i enjoyed**

“push yourself but don’t force yourself”

“i was a frickin’ elephant at the birth of jesus!”

“ive never understood why people say they see fireworks. i just felt like i was as safe as i could possibly be” - THIS. this made the book exceptional. TLDR; wacky plot, weak side characters, strong fmc and THIS QUOTE. that’s all :)

The only real good that came out of reading this book was maybe a better understanding of demisexuality. Overall the story was okay. I just couldn’t get into all the things that were happening between the two friends.

I think “That’s What She Said,” is meant for a different audience than me. I didn’t want to DNF so I did read it all. The pacing felt off and the characters felt like caricatures sometimes with how absurd their actions were. Also, the description of the book was misleading and I assumed this would be a friends to lovers situation but one of the two main characters is straight (and demisexual).

That's What She Said by Eleanor Pilcher is the kind of book that feels like a chaotic brunch with your besties—equal parts heart, humor, and scandalous confessions. Beth’s Sexual Odyssey List is pure gold, from awkward speed-dating to sex therapy, all with Serena, her hilariously no-filter BFF, cheering (and meddling) from the sidelines.

The friendship? A glorious hot mess. The humor? Chef’s kiss. And the representation? A+ for tackling demisexuality with honesty while keeping it fun. It's like emotional growth wrapped in a sitcom episode. This heartfelt, laugh-out-loud debut drops April 15, 2025, and trust me, it’s worth the pre-order. Thank you, @NetGalley, for this gem!

I couldn’t really connect with the characters. They were really dependent on one another and it was a bit annoying. Overall though, it was a decent coming of age story. It felt a bit YA, even though it may be targeted for an older group.

A story about best friends navigating life in their late 20s including career challenges, relationships and sexual orientation. I enjoyed that this novel was told from dual POV so the reader could experience the emotional and internal thought for both Eleanor and Beth. I also thought the author did a beautiful job capturing the cross roads in life we sometimes approach and the raw and honest conversations we sometimes need to have with our loved ones.

I was slightly disappointed with how slow the pace of this novel was and some of the "conflicts" the characters faced felt juvenile and had me rolling my eyes. I don't know if that was the age of the characters but some of the conflicts were blown way out of proportion. However, I felt the dialogue was done extremely well and I enjoyed the happily ever after ending 🥰

Thank you Avon for the ARC!

This was a fun debut about two best friends/roommates as they navigate early adulthood, relationships, and sexuality. It's rare to see demisexual representation as a central focus! Though it was a little heavy-handed (ex. inserting statistics about the percentage of people who are demisexual in dialogue) it was handled thoughtfully.

I felt that the writing style was a bit too much "telling instead of showing" and I sometimes had to check the chapter header again to remind myself which character perspective I was reading. But this was still a cute read and I'd recommend to anyone looking for ace spectrum representation.

3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book was pretty slow, but I did finish it. However, I really didn't like any of the characters. The main two, Beth and Selena, were roommates and frankly had a pretty dysfunctional and codependent friendship. The best thing about the book was the ending, and how things were tidied up in the epilogue.

While I went into That's What She Said expecting more of a rom-com vibe, I left appreciating this coming of age and friendship tale. I loved following Beth's journey navigating her demi-sexuality and her gaining more confidence in her friendship with Serena. Enjoyed the writing and journey that Eleanor Pilcher took us on with the main characters.