3 out of 4 stars
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The 21st Century Escort by Eva Jean follows Eva, herself, as she gives an honest and humorous account of her experiences being a modern day escort. The book begins by simply asking you to give it a go, and not to judge her too much before you have understood a little more about what she does. It then proceeds to explain how she found herself in the profession of escorting, and opens your eyes to what is really going on behind the scenes. She takes you through her thorough planning process, and making the decision to provide a Girlfriend Experience (GFE) rather than a Porn Star Experience (PSE). It is evident this was an extremely important decision for her, not just about the clients it would attract, but also about safety, self-esteem, and personal preferences.
Eva continues by giving a very amusing (and sometimes disturbing) list about what PSE involves, and why it wasn't for her. She also talks about her biggest fears before she started, which were all very understandable. The book then progresses at an enjoyable rate, telling you about her first ever client, her most enjoyable clients, her most memorable clients, and her worst clients! Eva uses a combination of her personal blog, and unique writing style to tell you her story as honestly (and explicitly) as she can. The book is ended, brilliantly, with letters from her friends explaining how they feel about her profession.
As The 21st Century Escort fell under the 'Romance' genre, I gave the synopsis a brief read, already thinking it wouldn't be for me. However, the originality of the story, along with witty writing style made me want to give it a go. I am so glad I did! It was unbelievably refreshing to read such an honest testimony of someone working in an area which is seen to be so taboo – especially in the UK, where Eva is based. It opens your eyes to her profession, and at the end of the day is written by a very 'normal' sounding woman, making it extremely relatable. It is written brazenly, and it was pleasant to read a true account of her life with no shame, especially when it came to racy words and descriptions.
Eva often used dictionary, or Urban dictionary descriptions at the beginning of each chapter so you begin to get an insight into what the next phase of the book is going to be about. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book, as well as the strong message about not judging others. This, for me, is exceptionally important, especially in today's society.
She uses wit, charm, and integrity to make her experiences really come to life in your head. It almost feels like you are sitting down with a friend, and listening to their juicy sexual gossip over a glass of wine. I often found myself laughing out loud, and quoting sections of the book to my friends - something I have not done with a book in a long time.
It is full of nitty gritty details, and some very explicit language. However, it is also immensely interesting and informative. She introduces her clients, and her experiences with them, with taste and dignity, and leaves out no details as she leads you through her encounters. It is lovely to see how comfortable, familiar, and confident she is with herself, and she shows it with pride. I, for one, was slightly jealous of her self-assurance, and I imagine other people will feel slightly envious as well.
The one issue I had with the book, although very interesting, is that is began to get a bit repetitive. Although the clients and situation changed, the writing style for each client was so similar that after a while they began to merge into one. At the end of the book, I could not definitely distinguish one story from another, and they began to cross over and become confused in my head. Along with a few grammatical errors, this was the only downside. However, for such a short book, it is a shame that it became so repetitive so quickly.
I award this book 3 out of 4 stars. If you are looking for something a little different, and willing to put your own opinions aside, and learn about something you've most likely not experienced, then it is definitely worth a read. It is engaging, relatable, and very funny. Had it not become so repetitive, I would have awarded it 4 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a laugh, and has an open mind. I would strongly discourage young readers because of the very explicit content. This advice also goes for people who do not like being put outside their comfort zone.
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The 21st Century Escort
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