Eighteen-year-old Jane Cullen’s journalism assignment was Write a report about Paradise Cove. The catch? It’s a nudist resort. And somehow, that turns out to be the least surprising part of her story.
Under the guidance of Bill, the resort’s irrepressibly optimistic owner, and a colorful community of free spirits, philosophers, and found family, Jane begins to question everything she thought she knew about herself. As she navigates from nervous reporter to unlikely art director, she learns that true liberation isn’t about taking your clothes off – it’s about deciding who you want to become.
Set on a whimsical tropical island where dress codes are nonexistent but life lessons are abundant, The Naked Truth is a wholesome, warm, and witty celebration of self-creation. Through Jane’s journey, we discover that maybe we’re all just one leap of faith away from becoming who we’re meant to be – even if that leap happens to be from a rooftop, wearing nothing but a smile and a safety harness.
“A delightfully profound comedy that strips away pretense to reveal universal truths about identity, courage, and the art of creating yourself.”
I enjoyed reading the book for the most part. I’m a naturist and agree with the positive message included in this story (I read most of it while on the Big Nude Boat cruise). There is a one star review of it on Amazon that is rather harsh but does highlight the lack of conflict in the book. That’s a dilemma for naturist fiction writers who have found nudism to be such a positive experience: how to write a compelling story with high stakes conflict while also depicting how wonderful nudism is. The conflicts in this book were all resolved rather quickly almost as soon as they were introduced. That’s the only criticism I have, but it is a big one. Otherwise, the author is skilled at writing with good descriptions and sentences that flow nicely together.
It was really enjoyable reading this book. How this 18 year old finds her way into the nude living life style via an inquisitive open mind can serve as an example for many youngsters. Her 1-month managerial rise might be a tad over the top but that doesn't subtract anything from the good feeling you get from this book.
It does contain one or two internal contradictions which interrupt the smooth flow of the story. A little more grit in the tale would have made it an even better read. There were a loose ends, but as we are promised a sequel, I'll leave that to see if it sorts itself out.
Jane gets a high school journalism assignment to profile a nudist resort. While there she meets a bevy of interesting characters. The visit turns into a life changing opportunity. I love the interplay between the complex characters. The story is so good that I didn't want it to end. Then, to my delight, I discovered it is the first book of a series.
The gorgeous AI cover is what attracted me to this book in the first place. However, to quote the author, this “is not erotica and contains only mild adult language.“ What remains is a well-written tale about likable nudists – not enough to hold my attention.