Explicit & Exotic

Whip Smart is a cracking good tale detailing the author Melissa Febos’ life as herself and as ‘Justine’, a well-paid dominatrix. This is not a book for modest, naïve, or easily nauseated readers. It is frankly startling as the author reveals how she has made a living, what clients have paid her to do, and her conflicting feelings about her own behavior. As her clients who repeatedly pay for abuse and humiliation, ‘Justine’ has her own addictions: to substances, lifestyle, and the sadomasochistic job that keeps her returning to the ‘dungeon’ to enthusiastically deliver biting remarks and twisted torture. After deciding to break ties, she suffers dominatrix withdrawal, loss of the power of dominant oppression over men, and relationship issues. I didn’t find it surprising that this type of behavior held a certain addictive quality for the author. I did find surprising that Febos had the audacity to perform the acts she describes and even more surprising that she has publicly revealed her actions as a dominatrix (I don’t think I could even write about behavior like this without feeling completely embarrassed). No matter if you are shocked or sickened by the subject matter, this book is beyond the imagination of even the most vivid minds and definitely difficult to put down.
See what Elle has to say about Whip Smart

Some girls: My life in a harem – Jillian Lauren had an alter ego which she would slip into (or out of, as the case may be) when she arrived at the royal palace in Brunei. Paid to live on the estate of one of the richest sultanates for months at a time, Lauren would check her own emotions and desires as she became one of a herd of foreign women handsomely compensated to be at the beck and call of the Sultan’s brother, Prince Jefri. Lauren’s exhausting jet-setting travel to exotic locales with her Louis Vuitton luggage would rival the itinerary of Lara Croft. In an atmosphere of privileged boredom, catty female behaviors reminiscent of New York Housewives Bethenny and Kelly, is the daily forecast for Brunei. Jealousy in the harem abounds over jewelry, designer clothes, and the favor of the prince. In learning the best way to please the prince, Lauren learns important lessons about herself, her attitudes about love, and her values. Like Pretty Woman is to Cinderella, a movie of this tale would be the modern version of The King of Siam.

Put Some girls: My life in a harem on hold