Book Smart Kate

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by Rosie Danan

The Roommate is a book I consider a must-read romance because it perfectly blends a steamy love story with a more profound commentary on the shame and stigma around sex. The Intimacy Experiment is the follow-up to The Roommate, where Naomi becomes the central character. She was a fantastic part of the first book, and this novel allows her to shine.

With her online company, Shameless, now highly successful, Naomi is looking to expand into in-person lectures, but she is having difficulty finding a forum due to people judging her past career as a porn star. While attending a teaching conference, she goes on a rant about her problems and is approached by Ethan, a devastatingly handsome man, with a proposal. Assuming he is hitting on her, Naomi has to regroup when he explains that he is a local rabbi looking to expand youth membership at his synagogue. He would like to partner with her on a modern intimacy course to discuss religion and intimacy in the current times. As they embark on this social experiment, interest and attendance grows exponentially. As they develop and conduct the course sessions, notoriously closed-off Naomi and exceptionally warm Ethan burn with an undeniable attraction. Sparks fly, but they may end up burning everything down.

This book, like its predecessor, mixes steamy romance and social commentary. In this case, how to develop openness in modern relationships, ask for what you want, stand up for what you deserve, and be present in relationships. The author also does a remarkable job of weaving the Jewish faith throughout – through how Ethan became a rabbi and Naomi re-explored her faith. I highly recommend reading The Roommate first, as the books build on each other. Danan has written two intelligent, sexy books that push you to think about intimacy in more complex ways.

The audiobook is a dual narration that perfectly captures both characters.