Memoir of a woman's relationship with her high school teacher, beginning from when she was a teenage student in his class through her college years. Reading it, it is very clear that the teacher is predatory and narcissistic. I'm sure living it was much more confusing, with mixed messages and gaslighting constantly.

What is the most interesting is that she breaks away from her obsession with him as she grows up, and becomes a teacher herself, finally able to see, in hindsight, how destructive and cruel the teacher was. Mature and empathic writing.

This incredible memoir was very well written, but extremely hard to read due to the subject matter. The author speaks in detail about the "relationship" she had with her high school teacher. This was painful to read as I am sure it was painful to live. I read for joy and there is no joy to be found here at all.

"...the gaze and what it felt like in my own body to look at someone who looked back at me, to see and be seen. To be acknowledged and understood".

This memoir was raw, created emotional upheavals and took an intimate look at the predators around us. Wood shares her story openly about the relatable struggles of our teenage years, those predators who can take advantage of our vulnerability and how that can impact our lives as we enter adulthood.

I found that she did a fascinating comparison and provided deep insights to Lolita, all which has made me decide to read Lolita next.

For those who were intrigued by reading Dark Vanessa - continue your journey on learning the complexity of predators by picking up Being Lolita.

Thank you Netgalley and Alisson Wood for the gifted copy!

Happy release day to BEING LOLITA by Alisson Wood! 📚 This incredible memoir is brutal and stunning, heart-wrenching and compulsively readable. Wood recounts the relationship she had with a high school English teacher—a teacher who groomed her to believe that Nabokov's LOLITA was a beautiful romance, written just for them. Witnessing Wood's reflection on this time in her life, and seeing her harness language to reclaim her own story and identity, is incredibly powerful. I couldn't put this one down. 📚 Thanks to @netgalley for advanced copy. ❤️

Thank you to the author @alisson_wood for sending me a copy of your powerful book.

Being Lolita is Alisson Wood’s memoir about being seduced by her high school teacher. Mr. North gives Alisson a copy of Nabokov’s “Lolita” and it parallels much of what their relationship turns into. This memoir is about the journey of a vulnerable teenager, her recognition of the abuse that was occurring, and her growth to the strong and powerful woman she is today.

This is one you won’t want to put down — I finished it in less than a day. It completely captivated me from start to finish. Being Lolita was powerful, gripping, heart-wrenching, and beautifully written.
Alisson, thank you for sharing your story with us.

I finished Being Lolita quickly and it is one powerful read. I read it in two sittings. I had to remind myself that this was a memoir as Part one reads like fiction. Alisson Wood's journey throughout the book is insightful and fascinating. The feelings and emotions she must have gone through in her twenties must have felt like a scary roller coaster ride. This read was insightful and scary how quickly Alisson was seduced by her high school teacher. I highly recommend this fast memoir. It's an intense read but one that I'll be recommending.

The topic of this book is uncomfortable but Alisson Wood has a writer's touch in writing her memoir. Seduced by her high school teacher, Alisson explores her former relationship. Starting in high school and into her college years, the forbidden relationship with a power-dynamic and manipulation.

Wood is hope and honest, looking back with clear eyes and a clear heart. This is the kind of story that needs to be told instead of "Lolita". This is the truth of what happens.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

"I wish I understood what I was giving up when I let him write our story."

Being Lolita, Alisson Wood's memoir of her teenage relationship with her high school English teacher, is anything but an easy read, but it's certainly worth the harrowing subject matter. Wood uses Vladimir Nabokov's iconic novel as a framework to explore, confess, unravel the story of what happened to her, just as her abuser used it as a framework and justification for their "love story" - and in so doing, she writes herself (and the original Lolita, Dolores Haze to give her her own name) back into the narrative. Wood's writing is as sharp, powerful, and clear as her ability to reflect on and share this part of her story; she likewise provides a thoughtful analysis of Nabokov's work and its place in our world. The result is an insightful, raw, deeply affecting exploration of the stories that are written about us, and the stories we write for ourselves.


Obviously, I would imagine, GIANT content warning for sexual abuse, as well as self-harm & suicidal thoughts. Also, for that matter, spoilers for Nabokov's Lolita.

This book exposes the darkness of a world that too many woman must endure. A world that is unfortunately normalized when it really should be sought as the disgusting monster it really is. Hopefully some will read this and realize that this behavior is not normal and the woman/child is not to blame.

I finished reading this book and I had to wait a few days so I could process what I read. Being Lolita by Alisson Wood is a memoir and it was painful to read. Alisson was a lonely teenager in her senior year of high school. She had mental issues in previous years, she was suicidal, had cutting issues and most certainly had low self-esteem. She got to a point where she was feeling better about life and herself but She was still lonely. Enter the predator, Mr North. This "man" preyed on a young, emotionally unstable young lady. In her book, Alisson takes you thru the timeline of their "romance", while comparing it to Nabokov's Lolita. Mr. North compared her to Lolita and had her read the book. The authors way of writing about this painful subject was part inspiring and part horrifying. Alisson was expertly hunted by Mr. North, and though she says in her book that she had to tell him about her past, I still believe that he knew and used it to his advantage. I hate saying that I enjoyed this book because the subject matter is so hard to read, especially if you have been a victim of abuse, but I always enjoy an especially well written book! Thank you to Alisson Wood for sharing her story with us, I hope it was cathartic for you! ❤️
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Thank you to Netgalley, Flatiron Books and Alisson Wood for the eARC and hard copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine. ❤️

"I wonder about things like fate, how sometimes things are just chosen for you, how women are chosen to endure suffering." - Being Lolita.

REVIEW: Thank you to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Alisson Wood for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. "Being Lolita" is Alisson Wood's memoir about her dark, forbidden romance with her high school English teacher Mr. North. Mr. North provides her with a copy of Nabokov's book "Lolita" and it soon becomes the basis of what their relationship is built on. This continues from Alisson's high school years and into her college years as well. Soon the relationship becomes abusive and Alisson starts to examine if this is (or has ever been) true love and if she was even the one in control at all.

I absolutely loved this memoir and am giving it five stars. I appreciate that Alisson Wood told her story with such vulnerability and strength. I especially like how the story is told, we first read about what happened to Alisson in high school and how that relationship developed, then see how it started to unravel, but rather than ending there Alisson talks about her adult life now and even examines/ analyzes relevant parts of the Nabokov text. I really appreciated this section and felt that it gave me new insights and considerations to think about while reading "Lolita". I just read that novel last month, so it is fresh in my mind. Overall, at times this book was hard to read due to the content, but it is handled with care and I believe that this is a vital, powerful story to hear and share. I am looking forward to whatever Alisson Wood puts out next!

"Nothing I thought about what happened to me was true. Nothing about what happened to me, or about Lolita at all, was about love. Much less true love. I had known this, but reading it in my own handwriting on lined paper was painful in a new way. When I wrote those lines in my journal, I wasn't some powerful, sexy grown-up. I was a child being manipulated, being preyed upon." - Being Lolita

SYNOPSIS: “Have you ever read Lolita?” So begins seventeen-year-old Alisson’s metamorphosis from student to lover and then victim. A lonely and vulnerable high school senior, Alisson finds solace only in her writing—and in a young, charismatic English teacher, Mr. North.

Mr. North gives Alisson a copy of Lolita to read, telling her it is a beautiful story about love. The book soon becomes the backdrop to a connection that blooms from a simple crush into a forbidden romance. But as Mr. North’s hold on her tightens, Alisson is forced to evaluate how much of their narrative is actually a disturbing fiction.

In the wake of what becomes a deeply abusive relationship, Alisson is faced again and again with the story of her past, from rereading Lolita in college to working with teenage girls to becoming a professor of creative writing. It is only with that distance and perspective that she understands the ultimate power language has had on her—and how to harness that power to tell her own true story.

RELEASE DATE: August 4, 2020

Many thanks to Flatiron books for giving me this copy to read. First thought upon reading this was “this was like DARK VANESSA” I have been reading that book first because it was the library’s book of the month. In this book, we can also see the thoughts of the author and how her life is in comparison with Dolores a.k.a Lolita. I like how the author touches how sexist our society can be, patriarchy and how we have to change our last name just because of our marital status which is, I think, we, as women, can now choose to go against (Lucy Stoner, anyone?) and how double standard some chauvinistic people are. I know quite a few couples with that age gap of ten years or more and I could not say that I am not for it, because age is just a number. What was just wrong in this case is that the relationship between Allison and Nick is an abusive kind of relationship. If you like dark romances and student-teacher romantic relationships I’d say pick up this book and read more.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Alisson Wood for the privilege to read her memoir. 5 stars for a beautifully written book that should be required reading for so many people - men, young women, teachers, parents.

Alisson is a lonely teenager who has struggled with depression and self-harm. After spending part of her junior year at a more-nurturing school for troubled teenagers, she goes back to her high school for her senior year. Desperate to be seen and understood, she is paired with Mr. North, an English teacher 10 years her senior, for special tutoring in her writing. He gives her his copy of the book Lolita and grooms her to believe that it is about a special love. Tutoring turns into meeting at a diner in the evenings with the promise of a complete relationship once she turns 18 and graduates.

Only with reflection as she eventually moves away from the abusive relationship and gains the wisdom of hindsight does she see how much power Mr. North had over her. But instead of defining herself negatively by this experience, she chose to use it for good. She now teaches young women of the power of words and how they impact the reader.

This was an immensely powerful, beautifully written memoir. It read like a gripping novel - I couldn't put it down. Ms Wood puts you back in the teenage mindset of wanting to belong and feel that you are loved and understood. You want to scream at parents and teachers for not seeing what was happening, but we all know from our own experiences that teenagers are masters of manipulation. I especially loved how the author took power away from Mr North by referring to him as "the teacher." This emphasized the relationship they should have had and the very abusive nature he changed it to be.

The author stated in this book that her deepest desire was "to create something beautiful from something so terrible." Bravo for a job well done! My highest recommendation - this book needs to be read!

Review of BEING LOLITA by Alisson Wood: 🚨major content warning for many kinds of abuse. 🚨part 1 is her abusive non-physical relationship w/ her high school English teacher. she’s 17 & he’s 27. part 2 is their abusive physical/exclusive relationship after she turns 18, graduates & starts college. part 3 is her life after the relationship bc she’s a survivor. toward the beginning of part 2, two pages in particular stopped me in my tracks bc they were exactly what I experienced w/ someone 7yr older from summer camp when I was a teenager: consensual, 2 legal adults, & still took years to stop blaming myself for the physical pain. I suspect that parts of this book will strike readers powerfully. strong writing is an understatement. I didn’t realize that BEING LOLITA was nonfiction till I was 70% done w/ the book! this memoir reads like gripping — albeit disturbing — fiction. I’ve noticed bookstagrammers comparing BEING LOLITA to MY DARK VANESSA, which is understandable considering the content overlap. I’d like to write something longer comparing/contrasting them at some point. fiction versus nonfiction; statutory rape versus legal age to consent; sad versus uplifting endings; 30yr versus 10yr age difference; time jumps versus strictly chronological. I can’t help wondering what societal influences besides #metoo led these 2 books to be published in the same year. But I encourage readers to consider BEING LOLITA on its own terms. many thanks to the author for sharing this brave, raw story, & thank you Netgalley for my galley copy

I like Alisson Woods' writing style. It's straightforward and sincere. She is able to make you understand how she felt and thought while these things happened and after. I have never read Lolita but it is clear the title "Being Lolita" is the right one. This book affected my dreams while reading it. The manipulation, antics, and controlling nature from the teacher was disturbing. I can see why Alisson wouldn't like talking about it but with this book maybe she can help other young women in similar circumstances. It would be great if men would read this too because I think a lot of people could stand to learn from this story.

Being Lolita by Alisson Wood. Thank you to the author Alisson Wood, FLatiron Books, and Netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After recovering from depression via ECT and therapy, Alisson begins a relationship with her high-school English teacher. Using the book Lolita as a guide to their relationship, he grooms and seduces her. Young Alisson is lonely; longing for companionship and to be understood. The memoir is Alisson’s experience, as well as her gradual recognition and understanding of the abuse that occurred.

Now THAT was a memoir. You may notice that I don’t read/review many memoirs. I don’t usually find them enthralling, but I knew I had to read this book based on the synopsis and the reviews. There was not a single moment that I was not enthralled. This is such a beautifully told, poignant story. The language just flows from the beginning to the end. The author has really dived deep and come to us with complete open-hearted honesty. The book shows us exactly how a teenage girl can be swept into an unhealthy and abusive relationship by the guise of romance. Alisson’s path really hit close to home. I’m sure it will for many young women reading this and remembering those days. I loved being able to view the relationship from teenage Alisson’s eyes, and then again reflecting the same situation years later, with a completely different understanding of what really occurred. This is a must read for any teenage girl learning about relationships and power dynamics.

“How can you understand what love is supposed to be if Lolita is the greatest love story of our century? If that is your first romance.”

“I was voracious in my longing, in my loneliness. I asked for it, for him. I begged. I wanted to learn. But even still, I was sincere in my budding grief from my child body.”

Being Lolita comes out 8/4

I could not put this book down. It was a mix of drama, love, and all the feelings. I flew through this book, I just wanted to keep reading!

Did you have a cute teacher in high school that you used to dream about?

So did Alisson. And when her English teacher handed her a copy of Lolita to read, her relationship turns from teacher-student to that of a romantic relationship. Looking back, now a college professor of creative writing, she realizes how dangerous the situation was. How easily she was pulled into his manipulative ways and the effect words have over us.

This was a disturbingly applicable read for today's world. It's hard to look back over our lives and see the truth, but that is exactly what Alisson has done. Her writing is powerful and her warning should be heeded.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and FlatIron Books for this advance reader's copy of Being Lolita by Alisson Wood.

I am a sucker for memoirs. I will read just about any memoir, especially if they are written by a person who has come out on the other side of a bad situation having learned something fundamental about themselves and/or other people. Being Lolita was an amazing read, written by a woman who tells the story of a love affair between herself and one of her high school teachers. This memoir uses the original Lolita as a source of comparison and inspiration throughout. Having never read the original it was interesting to learn so much about the characters and plot in the original Lolita as the author works through how it relates to her relationship and understanding of love.

For memoir lovers, this is a big winner. Enjoy, readers!

Wow, it’s hard to say I enjoyed this book given its content but it was incredibly well written and I definitely recommend it.

Alisson is a senior in high school when she meets Mr North, her English teacher. A manipulative, dark & inappropriate relationship begins between them when he introduced Lolita to her. Throughout this memoir, Alisson takes us through their relationship and how it came to be.

I loved how this book was written, it was like you were reading her diary. While disturbing to read at times I love the way Alisson pulled everything together at the end. Part 3 was really inspiring to see how she is used her experience for good.

Being Lolita releases August 4th & I highly recommend picking up a copy! Thank you so much to Alisson for sending me a copy to review☺️