Lesbian for a Year

by Brooke Hemphill

What happens when a young heterosexual woman wakes up one morning with a splitting hangover and a naked woman wrapped around her? She kisses goodbye to her unfulfilling and messy straight life in search of something more. And so begins Brooke Hemphill's year of dating women. From a lesbian reality show and wild Mardi Gras parties to an illicit affair and a broken heart, Brooke learns more than she bargained for about herself, her sexuality, and the nature of relationships and intimacy.

Genres: Biography, Autobiography, Nonfiction

158 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 20, 2014

About the author

Brooke Hemphill is a Sydney-based writer, producer and author. She has previously edited industry magazines Encore and B&T as well as having been published in The Sydney Morning Herald, Women's Health Magazine and The Hoopla. Brooke has an extensive knowledge of the Australian media, marketing and advertising industries.

Reviews

[Pandora · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here's my alternative title:"My Tedious, Sexist, Somewhat Homophobic, Poorly Written List of the People I have Dated." Strong contender for Worst Non-Fiction, 2014.

[Lucette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vaguely interesting discussion on gender, sexuality, and relationships through Brooke's personal experiences, but it didn't really go anywhere that engaged me enough. However, the writing style is very enjoyable and Brooke's retelling of anecdotes is probably what kept me reading.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Lesbian for a Year: A Memoir" by Australian reality television producer, columnist, author Brooke Hemphill. This is fascinating LGBT story about Hemphill's exciting and busy life, which began in Sydney when she decided as an older teen she didn't want to marry a local young man, completed her university education, then worked for a number of years at a fun exclusive beach resort, and spent a brief time in the U.S. before returning to Australia.

The resort encouraged a huge party scene for employees. To attract attention, and have even more fun and thrills, young women often kissed in public and made out with each other. Hemphill's same sex attraction likely started around that time, though she attributed it to all the alcohol and occasional party drugs she consumed. Hemphill avoided close friendships and true intimacy, so it wasn't surprising she never developed serious relationships that involved commitment with either men or women. However, in her various career moves she seemed highly successful.

Hemphill became an experienced (heterosexual) speed dating host, wrote a great deal about lesbian relationships, and dated women exclusively for about a year, though she wasn't really a lesbian. One of the gay women she dated was very beautiful and glamourous; though as usual, none of her lovers held her attention long. After a night of heavy drinking, waking up with a strange woman in her bed, not knowing her name etc. made her seem like the typical superficial cad most women wish to avoid. Hemphill is a gifted storyteller, love the flashy new e-book cover too!
Many thanks for the e-ARC value for the purpose of review. 3* GOOD.

[Trish · Rating 1 out of 5]

I put off rating/reviewing Lesbian For A Year until after book club. I was hoping that in the discussion I would discover a greater appreciation for the book. It didn't happen. The writing is adequate and it's a light, easy read. While it's obvious that Hemphill's "lesbian year" was a challenging and novel experience for her, I still came away from the book feeling I'd read a tourist guide: The major sights were seen (Mardi Gras! Sex! Moving in!) but there was no cultural engagement. Actually, I think I learned more about Hemphill's journey to being a "dating expert" than that of lesbian. And let's be honest, some of it is just plain offensive. The last page showed promise - hinting at story, insight and respect for others that is absent throughout the book. It suggests that Hemphill does have a story to tell. This just ain't it.

[Juanita Kees · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brooke Hemphill's easy-reading style made this book a winner for me. She broaches the subject of sexuality with the ease of someone comfortable within her own choices, and the skill that comes from being a seasoned feature writer. In a world where same-sex relationships are becoming more acceptable each day, this is a 'must-read' story. Warm, funny and yes, rather naughty at times, Lesbian For a Year was a very entertaining and interesting read. Ms Hemphill gives us great insight from both sides of the fence of this still rather 'touchy' subject.

The line in the book that sums it all up, whatever your preferences may be, is this:

Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all spent twelve months hooking up with people of our own gender? There would definitely be more tolerance if we did.

[Chelsie Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not a good book.

It is described as a woman’s journey about her sexuality, relationships and intimacy.

And to be frank, she does a very piss poor job.

As I am a part of the lgbt+ community, i am so offended by this book, it makes me so angry.

It does not talk about any real Lgbt+ problems a lot of people face in the day to day life.

There are so many more issues are far more pressing than an overly sexualized book about a woman dating another woman for a year, it really promotes the stereotype about people; children and adults, being ‘confused’ or ‘going through a phase’. it doesnt offer advice or any sort of new, profound information..

I really would not recommend this book if you are seeking advice or learning about the lgbt+ community.

[Keiran Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title will put a lot of people off, but get past it and this is an interesting discussion on sex, gender and life as a twenty something in general.

[Samantha Symes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy to read exploration of love and life. It was fast paced which means that it remains interesting. Open minded and witty characters.

[Karin Pearson · Rating 1 out of 5]

First of all - ignore the title because this book is not really about "being a lesbian for a year" at all. Maybe a better title would have been "My years living recklessly getting wasted on booze and drugs and making lots of bad relationship choices." This is one womans account of various relationships over a period of her life with both men and women. Although the author had aways considered herself 'straight', she embarks on a few relationships with women while working on a second job as the producer for a reality show on lesbians which then causes her to question her sexual orientation. She continually asks the question "Am I gay or straight?" But the main problem is really with herself and her inability to make good choices in life and in relationships. As this told her story from high school to her mid thirties I found it hard to feel sorry for her as I thought by that stage in her life she should have known better. I found this book to be very stereotypical and full of cliches - so much so that even though it was meant to be an autobiography it was hard to know what was true and what was made up in her narrow minded brain.
On one of the last pages she asks *again*... "So am I gay, straight, or one of those 'greedy bisexuals'?" Wow. That sounded so ignorant and really bugged me. I suppose I only kept reading because I was hoping it would get better but it didn't. Just 230pp and large print so didn't take too long to read - but a timewaster and insulting to educated straight people, gay and bisexuals. Give it a miss. 👎

[Karen Downes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer: found this book in a display in the library, presumably for "Midsumma" festival connection.
Truly awful. So awful that I found myself wondering how hard it could really be for me to write a book and be published.
Brooked dipped her big toe in LesbianLand for 12 months and then "went back to men". Sigh. More sighing.
Brooke actually has quite a few issues that can't be solved by having sex with women, primary among them the fact that she repeatedly and consistently sleeps with people she is not attracted to and barely even likes.

I can only hope that Brooke's brief foray onto the other side of the fence has made her realise that being a lesbian is not something that you choose because you are bored with the D or curious, and that her queer-safari is insulting, demeaning and dismissive.

Brooke is a twit, don't bother reading her ridiculous book.

[Megs Russell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Homophobic and biphobic garbage! Who let this Straight Girl™ publish a book? Meanwhile, actual, lesbians (for life) are lacking decent representation and media specifically aimed at them.

[Tole · Rating 1 out of 5]

30% in and just a really boring rendition of crappy sexual experiences/relationships with men and other poor life choices, and no signs of getting better soon.

Giving up here bc it doesn't sound like anything good will come from continuing even when i do get up to the parts where she sleeps with women.

[Tay · Rating 2 out of 5]

#10 Interesting anecdotes and an easy to read style. A light read, did not contain the depth I hoped for (I aimed to look past the title).

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really not sure what the author was thinking when she decided to write this but if it was to document all of the sexual exploits and failed relationships that she undertook with people of both genders in a bid to boost her poor self esteem & make herself feel better then she succeeded admirably. But who am I to judge...?! I'm sure there will be some people out there who enjoy it- I'm not one of them.

[Alex Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read into one persons exploration of their sexuality and the fact that we don't always fit into the clean definitions society likes. If you find this topic interesting I can recommend. Though this is more of straight biography of the authors personal experiences rather than an in-depth look at the subject of sexuality.

[Mersini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe this is the book she needed to write, but I don't think it added anything interesting or original to queer discourse. And it's a bit of a shame that she leaves us with the impression that her year of dating women was just a phase.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a very easy read, I think it took me all of 2 hours to get through. I felt as though the book stayed away from exploring any meaningful queer culture but it was still an interesting look at Brooke's experience.

[Steph · Rating 1 out of 5]

Possibly the most self indulgent piece of garbage I have read in a long while.
The girl is a train wreck when it comes to human interactions and can't seem to see past her own feelings to realize what she does to others.
The level of internalized homophobia is also rampant throughout.

[Joe Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written. Held my attention from start to finish.Talks about a world that is foreign to me.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought it might be interesting but I suppose the protagonist was too young for me to identify with. Just sex and not much interest.

[FionaH · Rating 2 out of 5]

s/b titled Bisexual Woman Dates women for a year then goes running back to men.