I've read a number of Lolita - esque books and short stories, but this one was especially important being that it came from a first hand account. It reveals the complexity of a power- abusive relationship and how an underage individual was incredibly misguided and misled.

Alisson Wood's Being Lolita was an amazing take on Lolita and being the object of a grown man's eye was absolutely stunning. I wish more people would read this.

Absolutely devastating. I'm always uncomfortable rating memoirs (it doesn't feel like my place to rate someone else's story), but, with that caveat in mind, I was blown away by the quality of the writing. Wood's decision to structure this book in a way that mimics Nabokov felt like a gut punch. For those able to handle the difficult subject matter, this is a must-read.

4.5 stars

“I can’t change what happened to me. I try to do the little I can to make sure what happened to me doesn’t happen again.” What a powerful story told through incredible writing. I wish I had Alisson as my writing professor when I was in college.

I can’t believe it took me so long to finally read this memoir, but it was fantastic. I think it took a little while to get going, but Wood is able to show us exactly how she felt in each section of her life, and each time she learns more or understands better what happened to her and what was done to her. This was a great memoir and also a great way of showing how a story can change once you understand the subject matter more.

This was a solid 3.5 stars from me, rounded up to 4. It is real, raw, and moving memoir about the author's lived experiences and processing of trauma of her abuse and manipulation from her former high school English teacher.

Being Lolita is a powerful memoir from a strong woman. It is striking as the author is able to tell her story about her relationship and abuse.

Alisson Wood details her experience as a teenage girl and her relationship with her English teacher. At the time, her English teacher used the book, Lolita, to describe their relationship with her. It's sad but it reminds you of a child's naivety. It really brings up so many emotions but to see how the author is able to put the pen to paper is hopeful.

I give Being Lolita 4 stars. I think this is a captivating memoir about a young girl being in an abusive relationship. It will take you back to your teenage years and give you perspective on this type of situation. I'm so grateful for the author. She is brave and tells her story which can help so many young individuals understand more about themselves and how others can deeply have an influence on your life.

This book was so good! It showed the relationship between the author and her teacher, which was a crazy ride. The writing was great.

I’m so overdue to review this glowing memoir. With deeply personal narrative and sentences that read like music, Being Lolita is a uniquely powerful addition the memoir genre—and an important story for all ages. Having been groomed by her high school English teacher and challenging the traditional narrative of predator and prey, taking back the right to her telling of the story, Alisson Wood writes a debut book that’s equal parts seething and soothing. A celebration for the soul. I’d particularly recommend for young women, and all teachers, but I really believe this is a book for the masses.

This book was so beautifully written. It is a heartbreaking story of a girl who was groomed by her high school teacher. I simply could not put this book down the entire time I was reading it. It deals with a difficult subject matter that, unfortunately, happens way too often.

This book was difficult to read; definitely a heavy read. But it was a good read. And one that is a must read. An intriguing story for sure.

Alisson Wood's memoir, Being Lolita, is a powerful, heartbreaking and emotional read. Allison writes about her two-year relationship with her high school English teacher, Nick North, who preyed on her and seduced her by teaching her Lolita, romanticizing it and making her believe the book is about love. Nick is manipulative and abusive, yet Alisson believes they are in love. There were so many times I kept thinking why is she staying with him after all the things he did to her, but I had to ask myself how I would have handled the situation at her age. I've been out of high school for many years, but the book made me think about the rumors I'd heard in my own high school back then about teachers and specific students. It's a lot more common than we think.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. And thank you to Alisson for telling her story.

Great read. Brutally honest, naive yet seductive. I was transported into the book, felt like I knew the character from my own experience as a boarding school student. Bravo!

I was expecting more drama and inappropriate sex with this modern day, memoir Lolita book. While there is an inappropriate relationship between student and teacher, this book is not explicit, and didn't feel as dirty as most lolita stories. Alisson is 17 when she meets Mr. North, and he does encourage the relationship, but it doesn't turn for a truly dark relationship until after her graduation, making it a bit more acceptable than grooming of a younger teen.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A truly harrowing novel about a young girl’s survival against her teacher. This book was extremely eye opening and heart wrenching. At times I felt like screaming “You gotta leave! What are you doing?!” But, in those moments, I had to reflect upon myself and ask, “What would I have done in that situation?”

I applaud the author for being brave enough to write such a personal story in hopes to save anyone else from a similar situation. Highly recommend this book in hopes to help notice the signs of abuse.

Being Lolita
By Alisson Wood

This was a very compelling and emotional read for me. I find that the story on the way Alisson Wood told her story with strength, grace and honesty really resonated with me. I also listened to the audio book as narrated by Alisson Wood herself and this really made this read quite powerful for me. I had to put it down a few times as this was a very heavy read and needed to be in the right headspace for this book. I did in the end really loved it and applaud Alisson Wood for the strength it took to tell her story. It was a story that needed to be told and I am very proud of the way she did it.

The relationship that started between herself and her English teacher who uses the book LOLITA as the guide to their relationship was really just mind blowing for me. The insights and progression of her story as she tells how she comes to realize the true nature of the relationship was a turning point for me in this incredible memoir. I highly recommend this book and cannot stop talking about it now recommending this to readers.

Thank you you to Alisson, @flatiron_books, & @macmillanusa for the gifted copy!

This memoir details a haunting but all-too-familiar story of a high school teacher preying on one of his most vulnerable students. Alisson’s bravery in retelling her experience is beautiful (as is her writing). I read this book in two sittings, thinking about how many girls this has happened to. And of course, the book weaves in the ever-permanent theme of Lolita in these stories (My Dark Vanessa, anyone?). I so admired how Alisson took back the Lolita narrative & made it hers.

Alisson, thank you for sharing Being Lolita with the world. Your courage is inspiring, & I know it will give other women the strength to share their stories. ❤️

This coming-of-age memoir is a deeply personal story of how a vulnerable teenage girl is manipulated by her teacher. I hate to say that I loved this memoir because the topic is heavy and devastating, but I did. This memoir read as a fiction story - I had to keep reminding myself that this really happened to Alisson. I appreciate her using her voice and her courage to show readers what love is not. Her courage will certainly help others. I look forward to reading more by Alisson.

This memoir reads like a novel! It’s one of the first memoir’s I’ve picked up in a long while and the writing was excellent! The subject matter is heavy, I did have to take breaks occasionally because I couldn’t imagine enduring the abuse, the grooming, all that Allison endured. If you can handle the sexual abuse aspect this memoir is well written, poignant, and shows remarkable vulnerability. Thank you @netgalley and Flat Iron books for the digital copy of this book, it was a giveaway win for me!

**FULL REVIEW**

There is an innate fascination with the book Lolita amongst people I know...even I have recently acquired a copy to read because truly, I hadn't given it much thought to even pick it up until it became such a topic of conversation.

So, when this book became available, I knew it was something I would find interest in. I wasn't wrong...so FASCINATING. And that sounds a little morbid knowing the true context in which this real-life happening is based. Even so, I was hooked and determined to read yet another memoir...one I was sure would keep my attention. I love being proven right.

"Lolita's name is sadness. Something about this fact circled inside me, in the cage of my chest, but it would be years before I could define it. It would be years before I understood the connection between Lolita, pain, and me."

Wood delivers a book that reads better than most fiction, every line carefully curated to flow off the page like Nabakov's butterflies. I was enamored and intrigued from beginning to end. I would love the opportunity to sit in one of her lectures, take a course she offers...her own experience and how she's tied it so tragically and beautifully to great literature is remarkable.

This book, her real-life fairytale turned nightmare, is one I would recommend to any young woman (and even man) to read...to envelop themselves into a relationship so romanticized and yet proves predatorial in every broken facet...it's madness and epiphany all at once.

"Yes, Lolita is beautiful. But yes, it's also terrible. We can hold both in our hands."

*Thank you Netgalley for this copy to read and give my honest review.*

**4 Accessible and Forbidden, Stars**