THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID

When Beth, a 28-year-old demisexual virgin, decides it’s high time to take control of her sex life and see what all the fuss is about, she turns to Serena, her bisexual best friend, for guidance.

It’s clear from the opening pages of Pilcher’s debut novel that, though Beth and Serena are best friends, roommates, and generally attached at the hip, they could not be more different from one another. Beth is a socially awkward people-pleaser who struggles to feel like she fits in both at work and with her friends. Serena, on the other hand, oozes self-confidence in day-to-day life and on the dating scene. When Beth decides she finally wants to cash in her v-card, Serena is more than happy to help her out on her sexual odyssey. But what begins as a lighthearted comedy of errors ranging from speed dating to hiring an escort soon throws both the women’s worlds and their longstanding platonic friendship into disarray. A crush from Beth’s work begins to show interest in a way she wasn’t expecting and Serena’s casual hookup asks to be more than just friends with benefits. While the writing is messy at times, its messiness effectively reflects the state of Beth and Serena’s lives as they navigate the strains on their friendship as well as their individual romantic endeavors. Pilcher manages to capture what it feels like to be adrift and unsure of what comes next on the cusp of 30 in a way readers of all ages will find easy to relate to. The end result is a charming spin on the coming-of-age novel that examines the nuances of sexuality, modern dating, and, perhaps most importantly, female friendship.

A charming novel that examines the complexities of female relationships, both platonic and romantic.