While I really appreciate the representation of other kinds of sexuality, I was unable to finish this book. I really tried but I just could not connect with the characters. Again, I appreciate the representation over the spectrum of sexuality and I hope others can find themselves feeling connected to the characters in this book!

This book lost me pretty quickly with the amount of times "hen" was used in the first chapter. The relationship between Beth and Serena is underdeveloped and their dynamic does not seem believable.

I’m not sure what to write about this book honestly because I’m not sure what to feel about it. I never really developed any connection to either of these characters. It might be hard to tell them apart aside from ‘the one who has sex and the one who doesn’t’ or ‘the nepo baby and the non nepo baby’. Aside from that I don’t know that we genuinely got to know either of them on a deeper level than that.

I think this book would make a cute funny movie. I would also like to add that I think I just might not have been the perfect audience for this.

I received an e-arc of this book through netgalley and I’m very appreciative for that.

Okay, I really wanted to love this book. And I did, in a way. The witty humour and the demisexual and the bisexual reps are amazing! But, unfortunately, I cannot bond with the characters, especially Beth. I’m feeling really sad about it. It’s a shame, because the plot is interesting, even if it felt a little be rushed at the end.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I enjoyed this book’s representation of demisexuality and there were some slightly amusing bits. But it was not really my personal sense of humour and I felt like I wanted more depth from the relationship between Beth and Serena. It felt a little rushed and amateurish in parts which was a shame because I felt the premise was great and there was so much potential for exploration of the intricacies of living as a demisexual in today’s society.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the representation in this book, both of demisexuality and female friendships (especially in your 20s). The blurb and plot were not what I had expected and I found myself not connecting with the story like I expected I would. Despite the strong representation, I found myself uninvested in the characters. I believe this to be more of a "me" issue and would encourage interested people to read this book.

That's What She Said is one of the first books I've read that included a focus on ace's (asexuals) and their sexual experiences. And it's definitely the first I've read that focused primarily on demisexuality. I thought the approach to sexuality was mostly done well and respectfully throughout the book, which means a lot as a member of the LGBTQ community. There's bisexual representation in this story also!
Now, back to the story itself. Beth is on a quest to lose her virginity. (Don't get me started on the whole concept of virginity. It's such a BS concept in and of itself). She's tired of not feeling like she has the experience for dating and is missing out on important parts of life. Her best friend Serena has no such issues and has a new sexual partner on a regular basis. And from there, things build. I really struggled to connect with the characters in this story. I think that for me, I'm just in such a different stage of life. I'm much older and have established friends and I'm just in a very different space. The characters are nice, they're age appropriate, they are fairly well developed. Much like I wouldn't care for hanging out with young 20 somethings for fun, I wasn't crazy about the characters. I felt like Beth was putting too much pressure on herself and her sexuality and if she explained demisexuality to me one more time I would want to scream. And Serena! Aww. She needs a good hug and to learn how to be a good friend.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read. It hits to the heart of friendship and growth and being true to ones self. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for sharing an ARC of this book!

fun read that mixes humor and complex relationships really well. less a book about sex, but about the love of friendships and the difficult experience of setting new boundaries in old friendships. great coming of age novel for girlies in their 20s, a must read

Beth, a 28 year old demisexual virgin, becomes more interested in her sexuality and enlists the help of her sex positive best friend Serena to complete “Beth’s Sexual Odyssey List”.

I picked this book on netgalley because I have the humor of a 12 year old and loved the title. For a book all about sex and sexuality there wasn’t any spice to be found. While Beth explores her sexuality through the “list”, like speed dating, a sex therapist, and a tantra workshop, she also explores the nuances of her friendship with Serena. A book all about sex on the surface was more about women friendship and growing up. It was humorous and fun, while also having depth.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

before you read this review i want you to know that im incredibly stressed/angry right now which may in fact color the opinions im expressing here. doesnt entirely mean any of what im saying is wrong per se, just that everything i dislike about this novel is amplified tenfold lol

i want to begin this review by saying i love dialogue, okay. i think dialogue is a good way to convey multiple things at once: characterization, plot movement, etc. but to use an excessive amount of dialogue at the very beginning of the novel before anything else betrays the possibility that the author may be inept with exposition skills. this possibility is supported by the fact that exposition throughout this entire novel is restrained to characters' internal monologues more than anything else. i would like to add a note here as well to say that i like internal monologues, as long as he prose is not drowned in it.

i would say "i don't like this prose style" if there were any style involved here at all, let alone prose. might be a little too harsh/cruel so im dialling it back a little to say maybe it's really just a pacing issue. or maybe the way this novel is written is really just not for me.

i still like the themes talked about here though, which is the main reasons why i picked it up in the first place., and now a reason why it's not gonna get a 1* on netgalley for me.

that said i'd still like to thank netgalley for the eARC!

This was a really interesting exploration of sexuality, sexual identity, and the layers and growth of friendship. The relationship between Serena and Beth felt real from page one, and their shifting dynamic as opposites was interesting to read. Beth especially felt like a fully realized, relatable character, and a strong narrative voice. The writing was simple yet poignant, making it a quick, engrossing read.

An absolute delight! I loved not only the pacing of the story, but the telling of it as well. From start to end, I was given an adventure!

demisexual virgin representation in your late 20s????? teh call is coming from inside the house. i had seen things about this being too YA/reading younger than their age, but do all of us really have it figured out by now?! i thought this perfectly captured this era especially as a queer young adult trying to navigate the intricacies of not only romantic relationships but platonic as well!!

I was gifted this ARC by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was excited to read about Serena and Beth because I feel like we’re all Serena and Beth in one way or another and it was validating and comforting to see those experiences between the pages of a book. But disappointingly, I wasn’t invested in either of them. I really enjoyed the topics being explored and the way that they were explored. So many people are afraid to dive into the parts of the sexuality spectrum that involve aromanticism and asexualism, but Pitcher doesn’t shy away. There was something really validating about hearing about being aromantic hot just from Beth, but about what it’s not and what people assume it is and the relief she felt when someone like a therapist actually truly understood. I also appreciated the casualness of Serena’s sexuality. She just so happens to be queer and it’s just one of her many facets. Where I get stuck and disappointed is in rooting for the characters and seeing where the novel goes, or fails to go. I love the candor and vulnerability, but it’s missing a driving force. I need something else to keep me invested with these being topics on the side. I could put the book down and forget about it if I wasn’t reviewing an ARC. I’m looking for something that I’m eager to put up or hate that I have to put down and I couldn’t find that here. I wished I could root for these characters more. They’re not unlikable, I just wasn’t invested but I did find them relatable and funny and appreciated the honesty and wit.

As a person on the Ace Spectrum, Beth was one of the first characters that I really felt seen. Her journey was something that was so truly special and beautiful and relatable for me. Serena and Beth’s journey as friends was amazing and so fleshed out. A beautiful beautiful novel about discovering yourself.

Eleanor Pilcher is electric in her witty, funny, and heartfelt women’s fiction debut, following polar opposite best friends Beth and Serena. When demisexual Beth decides she’s done with being a virgin and enlists Serena’s help, her new personal journey just might be the thing to end their friendship for good.

This was a fun read overall, but I did feel that the pacing was a little off at times. The character driven storyline was enjoyable overall, and I liked seeing how the characters develop as the story progressed.

Just finished That's What She Said by Eleanor Pilcher, and I couldn’t put it down! This book is a refreshing, witty, and empowering read that had me laughing, nodding in agreement, and even reflecting on so many relatable moments.

Eleanor Pilcher’s sharp sense of humor and clever storytelling make this book an absolute standout. The characters are bold, the dialogue is spot-on, and the themes of confidence, self-discovery, and finding your voice are woven beautifully throughout.

If you’re looking for a book that’s equal parts entertaining and inspiring, this one’s for you. It’s smart, funny, and leaves you feeling ready to take on the world. Highly recommend!

This was a really fun, sometimes silly, dual POV romcom! I had a good time with it, and it was a really quick read. I enjoyed how the author created a demisexual character and how that was a main plot point, but it wasn’t some big deep, heavy thing. The book was mostly light-hearted and even a couple times over the top goofy. That being said, it was in no way disrespectful of the topic. Sometimes I found both of the main characters to be rather cringey, but overall I liked the book!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

A story about self discovery that everyone should read in their 20s! This is a great character driven read about friendship, however I did find this quite slow, and lost interest at times.