As someone in their 40s, I do remember how it was like in my 20s. With friends, loves and with family. Who knew what the heck you were doing and what would come of it but you would figure it out somehow. The humor was peak, though, Had a fun time.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for an arc!

🌞That’s What She Said by Eleanor Pilcher🌞

Ideally, the premise sucked me in to request this one. I just didn’t get around to reading it until now. But it fits because it’s #pridemonth

We follow two best friends in life, Beth and Serena, who are polar opposites. Beth is a demisexual and a virgin. Serena is a fluid lesbian who does not lack in the sex department. When Beth decides she wants to be deflowered and have more sexual experiences, she enlists Serena’s help. In this humorous yet witty and sentimental story, we follow the ladies as they both embark on emotional rollercoasters in life. Both together and apart.

Real talk: this book was refreshing. I haven’t heard of many books that dive into the topics this one does. Where Serena is finally falling for someone but won’t admit it and Beth is openly figuring her sexuality out as a demisexual gal. They’re women so of course there’s a partial falling out but it’s a good thing in the end (don’t worry it’s a moderately happy ending). I saw a lot of myself in Beth. I’m in the spectrum of being demi and pan but not really actively looking to be in any relationships. I feel Beth goes through that too. But in a different way. Afterall, everyone’s experiences are never the same. I found the aspect of Serena being a journalist and asking Beth to come along on different trips; one to the Gyno, another to a tantric group therapy session, truly made this a very real life conversation. I would say that I felt very 90’s-esque nostalgia when I finished it. Which is a good thing, btw.

Thank you to @netgalley @eleanorpilcherauthor and @avonbooks for the arc! Apologies for the severely delayed review

This wasn't the book for me. It was well-written and the characters were well-developed, but the story just didn't resonate with me. I think it is directed at a much younger demographic than I am. I believe their are readers who will enjoy this story. I won't be reviewing it so my opinions don't scare others away from it.

This book was not for me. The story follows two young women who are very, very different but have been best friends and room mates for 10 years. Serena is the life of the party and the party often involves sex. She doesn't do relationships but she lives a life that appears, from the outside, to be full and super fun. Beth, however, feels down on her luck. She has just ventured out into the world of freelance and is having trouble finding her stride. She also has realized that she is demisexual but is finding herself with a new and surprising interest in sex. Serena ends up trying to help not only Beth but also herself because, as a journalist, she suggests documenting Beth's exploration of her own sexuality. The theory here is good. I like the idea of demisexual representation tremendously. I like the idea of confronting a few things that might push some boundaries but also promote learning and exploration. However, this felt coercive, manipulative and like every confused thought or feeling I've ever heard anyone express about demisexuality just put on the page then affirmed in a weird way and then, finally, dismantled but did we have to go through all of that first?? It left a very odd taste in my mouth and I feel like I was scrunching up my eyebrows the whole time reading trying to find the positives in this book but just having to look really hard. I don't think I've read a book with solid demisexual representation that I could recommend in place of this one but, if I am honest, I think it would be better to have no representation than this representation. At least for me. Not one I'd recommend.

This was a refreshingly honest and often hilarious look at friendship, identity, and embracing your sexuality—awkward moments, growing pains, and all. That’s What She Said centers around the deeply relatable bond between Beth and Serena, two best friends with polar-opposite approaches to love and sex, whose dynamic is the true heart of the book.

Beth’s journey to better understand and own her sexuality as a demisexual woman felt especially meaningful. The story gives space for her hesitations, insecurities, and growth without ever making her feel like a punchline. And while Serena could’ve easily been reduced to the “wild best friend” trope, Pilcher adds enough depth to show how much care and vulnerability exists beneath all the confidence.

That said, some parts of the book did feel a bit scattered. The pacing wobbled here and there, especially with the various sexual escapades, and I occasionally wished for more emotional development between scenes. But overall, I loved the way it celebrated female friendship, sex-positivity, and queer identity without trying to be too polished or perfect.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This was fun, frank, and full of heart — a messy little gem about figuring yourself out, one uncomfortable experience at a time.

Cute, funny, witty, and oddly heart-warming. I liked the representation of demi-sexuality in this story! This was a fun, quick read. Already ordered copies for my bookstore shelves!

I enjoyed this a decent bit, but about half way through it kind of lost me. There were a couple good laughs, and it was good to see demisexual and queer representation.

Beth is on a journey to explore her sexuality and enlists the help of her best friend Serena to help! Beth is a 20 something year old virgin who has never shown much interest in sex, while Serena is very sex positive! Being a top journalist has its perks, and after pitching the idea of a sexual Odyssey to her boss Serena pushes Beth to try things outside of her comfort zone. These include speed dating, sex therapy, an escort and even a tantric retreat. When things become more about getting a good article and less about Beth’s journey it takes it toll on their friendship which leads them both to confront their feelings.

There were times I struggled to connect with the characters, and had to really push through to read the last half. Both Serena and Beth are in their late 20s but read teenagers sometimes. The ending was cute-sy for both characters.

That's What She Said is a laugh-out-loud novel about friendship and love. The character dynamics were amazing, and it was fantastic to see the ups and downs of a long-term friendship. This is the perfect novel for anyone feeling stuck in life. Beth and Serena are proof that everything will work out.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I wasn’t a big fan of the writing style here, it leaned on cringey. But I love a story about female friendship and appreciated the queer rep!

another dnf from me, i fear.

around the 15% mark the following two things occured:

an ob-gyn does a pap smear on our virgin mc and says "at least you have a tight vagina, i bet porn stars wish they had that" which felt... wtf? and then:

a remark goes unchallenged that "demisexuals aren't really demisexuals, they're just not turned on enough".

beyond that, there was also an excessive amount of shit jokes. not funny, not okay, and not my kind of humor.

The story focuses on Beth, a demisexual woman, and her bold best friend Serena, the story follows their journey through love and identity. This was an exploration of female friendship, sexuality, and modern dating. The characters did feel immature, it was hard to believe they were in their late 20s. I enjoyed seeing the LGBTQ representation & portrayals of the queer experience.

I had so much fun with this! I love that while there is romance, the friendship is front and center. The exploration of sexuality and intimacy was both ridiculous and relatable. From the discomfort of speculums to the fear of being 'abnormal and needing to be fixed, I could see myself in Beth. Some of their escapades had me cackling and the resolution, while a bit swift, was really sweet. Beth and Evan were so freaking adorable! I love how her journey led her to honesty with hope instead of pessimism. The resolution was a little swift, and I would have liked to spend more time with Zoey and Serena to see why they liked each other so much besides the sex. Serena's storyline felt a bit like an after thought, and I would have liked to see her go to therapy or confront her issues more than just in her head. Thanks to Avon for this advanced reader copy.

Beth is a 28 year old demisexual virgin. Sex has never been appealing to her since she needs a deep emotional connection with someone before she can feel attraction. She is always worried that men won't find her worth the effort if they aren't having sex, so she rarely even tries to build relationships. Her best friend and housemate, Serena, couldn't be more different. Serena wears her sexually like a coat and considers it a defining part of who she is. However lately Serena is feeling drawn to just one person, Zoey, and is terrified about trying monogamy. When Beth decides she wants to find a relationship Serena is eager to help to avoid her growing romantic feelings towards Zoe. Together they embark on a sex odyssey which includes dilation, sex therapy, a male escort, and a tantric workshop. Tension builds between the two friends as Serena uses Beth's journey as a subject for an article she is writing and a way to avoid her own issues, instead of truly considering her friend's feelings and what she needs. Soon it become clear that while Beth's feelings about sex do not need to be fixed, their friendship might be beyond repair.

I have never read a book that was so sexual but not at all spicy. This was downright educational! I loved learning more about demisexuality, that representation was so enlightening and well presented. Beth was so vulnerable and relatable, I wanted to be her friend. Serena was a lot to handle sometimes but she is so multifaceted. It's easy to categorize her as just sexual or privileged, but we see enough of her backstory to know it's not that simple. The true love story in this is between the 2 FMCs. Even though they dabble in toxic codependency, they are each others rock and family and help the other believe in their worth.

That’s What She Said is both a solid exploration of female friendship and a refreshingly candid exploration of demisexuality. Beth and Serena are both strong, multifaceted characters, and even when they are intentionally unlikeable, we still root for them in their struggles to be better for themselves and each other. Serena is the epitome of the well-intentioned ally, pushing Beth to explore her demisexuality without really understanding what she’s asking for. Beth is a bit of a mess who has a lot of work to do both personally and professionally, but she is never annoying and her journey is a satisfying one.

The romantic elements take second place to the friendship plot, but both reach a satisfying(though far from cliche) happy ending. I would add a light content warning for Serena’s absentee “money over love” parents, but this is handles in a way that is realistic and ends with a healthy decision.while not exactly page turning in its pacing, this is a well-written, insightful read.

5/5 stars, would buy & recommend to others

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.

Serena and Beth are best friends who couldn’t be more different—Beth is an avowed demisexual, who lacks confidence in her career and in her chances at a happy relationship due to her sexual orientation. Serena is a free spirit who oozes with confidence, both in her job and her sexual proclivities. And yet, since the moment they met, they knew they were platonic soulmates.

So, when Beth decides that she officially wants to take charge of her sex life and explore the things that scare her the most, Serena is more than happy to help. Speed-dating, sex therapy, tantra, a perplexed but ultimately very nice escort—it’s all on Beth’s Sexual Odyssey List.

But when Beth’s crush from her old job comes back and Serena’s favorite friend-with-benefits pushes for more than just sex, it throws their whole world into a tailspin. And suddenly, this sexual odyssey is more than a fun gag. It’ll set them down a course that’ll make them so much closer—or end their friendship for good.

I've never read anything like this, and I ended up loving it!! Such an interesting premise, and the friendship between the two main characters was so so amazing.

.The story itself was entertaining, but ultimately not for me. I didn’t realize the sexual aspects would be so in depth. That is simply a me preference and doesn’t take away from the joy I’m sure others will find in this book. There are some parts that had me chuckling and others that made my heart swell. I loved how accepting the girls were of each other despite their major differences. I really resonated with Beth during the beginning with her extreme need to people-please and avoid conflict or awkward situations.

What happens when your bestie and you are in a totally codependent relationship that neither of you want to be in, but there also seems like there is no way out? This sweet, surprisingly accurate and earnest novel addresses that incredibly unique, largely female, problem with great banter, comedy, and kindness. Plus, it has really wonderful demisexual and bisexual representation (maybe some of the most honest demi- rep I have ever read!)

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon/Harper Collins for this e-arc. I did, in fact, run out an buy a physical copy because I liked it so much!

#thatswhatshesaid #arcreview #demisexualrep #birep #femalefriendship #codependent #bookreview #womensfic #eleanorpilcher #avonharpervoyager

Meet Beth and Serena – the ultimate best friend duo who are TOTAL opposites! Beth's a shy demisexual who's super awkward about dating and keeps second-guessing her career moves. Meanwhile, Serena is this confidence QUEEN who knows exactly what she wants in the bedroom and the boardroom! But somehow, these two clicked from day one – total platonic soulmate vibes! 🤩

When Beth decides it's TIME to spice up her non-existent sex life and face her fears, Serena is 100% DOWN to help her best friend! Their wild plan includes speed-dating disasters, awkward sex therapy sessions, tantra experiments, and even hiring this adorably confused (but super sweet) escort. Beth's Sexual Odyssey List is officially GO!

But then – PLOT TWIST! – Beth's old work crush pops back into her life, and Serena's no-strings hookup suddenly wants to take things a little further! Their fun little sex experiment turns into MAJOR life drama that could either make their friendship unbreakable or completely wreck it forever! 😱

This book is delightfully British, perfectly cheesy, and just the right amount of over-the-top fun! The demisexuality rep is chef's kiss, and it's so refreshing that despite all the romantic drama, the real love story is between these ride-or-die besties with their totally different approaches to life. The humour had me literally laughing out loud! Definitely grab this if you want a fun, light read about female friendship that actually gets demisexuality right!

**That's What She Said**

Massive shoutout to Avon, Harper, and Voyage for providing my ARC copy of *That's What She Said*!

From the moment I dove into this book, I was captivated by its premise and the fantastic representation of demisexuality and queer identities. Serena and Beth are wonderfully complex characters—ones you can’t help but love, even when you’re tempted to give them a little shake! I was initially anxious about how Beth's sexuality would unfold, but Pilcher approached it with such sensitivity and thoughtfulness.

Both characters have personal hurdles to navigate, making their journeys feel genuine and relatable. And let’s talk about their friendship—what a beautifully chaotic mess! The humor? Absolutely delightful! The representation? A+ for portraying demisexuality with candor while keeping the tone fun and uplifting. It’s like witnessing emotional growth through the lens of a feel-good sitcom!

#ThatsWhatSheSaid #ARC #BookReview #LGBTQRepresentation #Demisexuality #CharacterDevelopment #FriendshipDrama #HumorInBooks #EmotionalJourney #BookCommunity

This slow burn best-friend-platonic-romance was... not really to my taste. Perhaps it was a cultural mismatch? There's a lot of Britishisms that don't necessarily translate cleanly, including slang like "hen parties" etc. but it was more the attitudes that I had an issue with. In many ways the cultural attitudes of the leads around issues of sexuality and queerness feel a bit regressive, shallow, and even self-shaming (Beth's demisexuality gets a bow put on it that feels very convenient for what seemed like a more complex issue, and Serena's issues seem much more deep seated than they're given the space for) but I'm not sure if that's the characters or the culture, or both.

With a title like "That's What She Said", I was really expecting something along the lines of Bottoms or Booksmart in terms of being insouciant to cultural expectations around female sexuality. This is a book that will absolutely have it's readers, but it didn't manage to be either comically transgressive enough, or genuinely introspective enough, to really catch my attention.