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The Pleasures of the Other
Not yet published
Expected 9 Nov 26Can three women of a certain age get the sex they want without blowing up their lives?
Lila, a therapist with a long-buried secret, is about to join a sex club with her husband.
Her friend Catherine, a divorced housewife who has never understood the point of sex, is dating for the first time in decades, never thinking that a girlfriend might be in her future.
And Miriam, a medical actor fed up with her philandering husband, has decided to have an affair with Kevin, a much younger waiter at the three friends' favorite restaurant.
Every week, the friends confide their fears, missteps, and triumphs, sharing french fries and shoulders to cry on. But when Lila's past comes back to haunt her, all their lives are set adrift, putting their futures and their friendship at risk, and the women learn that sexual satisfaction and happiness are not for the faint of heart.
The Pleasures of the Other is a funny, soulful depiction of "life after midlife," a portrait of three women who still hunger for love and sexual satisfaction. Debut novelist Sasha Arden delivers a frank (and frankly explicit) tale of sex, love, and friendship among older women that readers will find amusing, arousing, and affecting in equal measure.
"A bold novel about three women who refuse to believe their lives and desires are behind them... Married, divorced, contentedly settled, or silently starving, their friendship is tested as they slowly share their secrets, explore their sexuality, surprise themselves, and reinvent their lives. Fans of Miranda July's All Fours will appreciate this book's encouragement of older women still discovering who they are meant to be and how they wish to live." -- Jamie Beck, WSJ and USA Today bestselling author
"Explores the sexual journeys of three women of a certain age -- an age at which many in our culture believe that journey is long over. Sasha Arden proves in this novel that the road not only remains open but there are plenty of options along the way. Buckle up for this trip, dear reader." -- Elissa Bass, author of HAPPY HOUR and PLEASE WAIT TO CROSS
"A refreshing and fun romance that proves love, friendship, and new beginnings don't come with an expiration date. I loved the uniqueness of the later-in-life theme and the way it brought a fresh perspective to the genre while still delivering everything I wanted from a romance. The female friendships were a highlight and full of heart. This is an enjoyable read that celebrates women, friendship, and finding love in every season of life." -- Kitty Berry, Contemporary Romance Author/Host of RomantiConn
Lila, a therapist with a long-buried secret, is about to join a sex club with her husband.
Her friend Catherine, a divorced housewife who has never understood the point of sex, is dating for the first time in decades, never thinking that a girlfriend might be in her future.
And Miriam, a medical actor fed up with her philandering husband, has decided to have an affair with Kevin, a much younger waiter at the three friends' favorite restaurant.
Every week, the friends confide their fears, missteps, and triumphs, sharing french fries and shoulders to cry on. But when Lila's past comes back to haunt her, all their lives are set adrift, putting their futures and their friendship at risk, and the women learn that sexual satisfaction and happiness are not for the faint of heart.
The Pleasures of the Other is a funny, soulful depiction of "life after midlife," a portrait of three women who still hunger for love and sexual satisfaction. Debut novelist Sasha Arden delivers a frank (and frankly explicit) tale of sex, love, and friendship among older women that readers will find amusing, arousing, and affecting in equal measure.
"A bold novel about three women who refuse to believe their lives and desires are behind them... Married, divorced, contentedly settled, or silently starving, their friendship is tested as they slowly share their secrets, explore their sexuality, surprise themselves, and reinvent their lives. Fans of Miranda July's All Fours will appreciate this book's encouragement of older women still discovering who they are meant to be and how they wish to live." -- Jamie Beck, WSJ and USA Today bestselling author
"Explores the sexual journeys of three women of a certain age -- an age at which many in our culture believe that journey is long over. Sasha Arden proves in this novel that the road not only remains open but there are plenty of options along the way. Buckle up for this trip, dear reader." -- Elissa Bass, author of HAPPY HOUR and PLEASE WAIT TO CROSS
"A refreshing and fun romance that proves love, friendship, and new beginnings don't come with an expiration date. I loved the uniqueness of the later-in-life theme and the way it brought a fresh perspective to the genre while still delivering everything I wanted from a romance. The female friendships were a highlight and full of heart. This is an enjoyable read that celebrates women, friendship, and finding love in every season of life." -- Kitty Berry, Contemporary Romance Author/Host of RomantiConn
- GenresAudiobook
278 pages, Paperback
Expected publication November 9, 2026
About the author
Sasha Arden
1 book3 followersSasha Arden finds pleasure in the unexpected. She was an acquisitions editor for a Big Five publisher back when men were allowed to tell their female employees to smile more. Now she lives in the suburbs with her book-nerd husband, where she spends her free time reading, gardening, and calling her senators. Her 2020 sourdough starter is still thriving, though she doesn't like to brag about it. She may or may not have written under a pen name.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 🌟
Such a fun reminder that life, love and pleasure doesn't end...
Full rtc
Such a fun reminder that life, love and pleasure doesn't end...
Full rtc
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. 3.5⭐️ rounded up. Susan Bennett did an excellent job with the narration of this novel!
A book about a group of women married to, dating, and divorced from mediocre men. Packed full of drama but also tidbits of self discovery – this book was hard to put down and I adored Lila, Catherine, and Miriam’s characters!
However, when it came to some of the describing words like ‘love knob’ and ‘lady button’ it took me out of the story a bit. Aside from that, this was an entertaining read!
A book about a group of women married to, dating, and divorced from mediocre men. Packed full of drama but also tidbits of self discovery – this book was hard to put down and I adored Lila, Catherine, and Miriam’s characters!
However, when it came to some of the describing words like ‘love knob’ and ‘lady button’ it took me out of the story a bit. Aside from that, this was an entertaining read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher Taag & Rohg for this 4-star, thoughtfully explicit listen!
The narrator is what truly made this story for me. She handles each character and scene with a grace that easily switches between the funny lunch scenes and the heavier midlife moments these three women navigate. The highly explicit scenes were delivered so naturally that it didn't feel like a spicy romance—and rightfully so, because it isn't. Ultimately, the book is about how three women discover their true sexual selves in midlife, each at a very different point in her life.
The narrator is what truly made this story for me. She handles each character and scene with a grace that easily switches between the funny lunch scenes and the heavier midlife moments these three women navigate. The highly explicit scenes were delivered so naturally that it didn't feel like a spicy romance—and rightfully so, because it isn't. Ultimately, the book is about how three women discover their true sexual selves in midlife, each at a very different point in her life.
October 1, 2026
If you love a spicy read, this is definitely the book for you! It starts out bold and ends boldly. I absolutely love stories featuring women later in life, older characters who have truly lived and are still living out loud, rather than shrinking or disappearing with age. I highly recommend this not just to older readers, but to younger ones too. This is the perfect reminder that life doesn't stop just because of a number on a clock! 🌶️✨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The characters in this book, Lila, Catherine and Miriam, I really warmed to.
These women all over 50 really added to the interest as they navigate their love lives - and the lives are spicy.
The book is quite a quick and enjoyable read and the narrator did a great job with the audio book.
A must read for ladies over that age and it was very refreshing that that age group is covered in this book.
These women all over 50 really added to the interest as they navigate their love lives - and the lives are spicy.
The book is quite a quick and enjoyable read and the narrator did a great job with the audio book.
A must read for ladies over that age and it was very refreshing that that age group is covered in this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the chance to listen to this audio book in advance.
This was a really bold novel, very spicy with some very relatable characters and their stories outside of the bedroom.
However I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 as it left me with a few unanswered questions. Would still recommend as its definitely worth a read or a listen.
This was a really bold novel, very spicy with some very relatable characters and their stories outside of the bedroom.
However I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 as it left me with a few unanswered questions. Would still recommend as its definitely worth a read or a listen.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What did I just listen to with this spicy unexpected storyline! I loved it from start to finish. Navigating the years that come after 50 could be complicated for woman, with long term marriages, divorces, choices, friendship and sexuality. This novel was perfectly written and narrated, full of thoughtfully raw, real life issues with a sexy sultry vibe that you can't look away from. This is a must read, especially for older women.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved the book showed women in their 60s+ (70s?) could find sexual fulfillment without shame. Each woman's story could have been a novel or a spicy novella. I found the plain language around sex to be both refreshing but occasionally could have tried a little harder to be sexy. A fun quick read that would have been stronger as an intersecting trilogy that seems to be popular these days.
September 25, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I loved these horny old broads. Their friendships, their inner monologues. Gave me hope for that season of life.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bold.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This isn’t a book I would typically gravitate toward, but it happened to cross my screen and caught my attention—and I’m so glad it did. I truly enjoyed reading it.
Lila, Miriam, and Catherine were characters I found incredibly easy to warm to. Although I’m not quite in the same age range as these women, their experiences and stories felt remarkably relatable and, above all, real. I particularly appreciate books that normalize aspects of life that can otherwise feel vulnerable or difficult to talk about, and this one does that beautifully.
While sexuality is certainly a central theme, there is so much more depth to the story. At its heart, it is also a thoughtful exploration of self-discovery, identity, and figuring out what you truly want from life. I loved the friendship between these three women—their genuine affection for one another, their willingness to support each other, and the encouragement they so freely offered.
It was refreshing to read about women over 50 who are still actively discovering themselves, reassessing what they want, and, most importantly, taking the steps to make it happen. Their journey felt honest, empowering, and wonderfully human.
This was a great, engaging short read, and I’m very glad I gave it a chance.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lila, Miriam, and Catherine were characters I found incredibly easy to warm to. Although I’m not quite in the same age range as these women, their experiences and stories felt remarkably relatable and, above all, real. I particularly appreciate books that normalize aspects of life that can otherwise feel vulnerable or difficult to talk about, and this one does that beautifully.
While sexuality is certainly a central theme, there is so much more depth to the story. At its heart, it is also a thoughtful exploration of self-discovery, identity, and figuring out what you truly want from life. I loved the friendship between these three women—their genuine affection for one another, their willingness to support each other, and the encouragement they so freely offered.
It was refreshing to read about women over 50 who are still actively discovering themselves, reassessing what they want, and, most importantly, taking the steps to make it happen. Their journey felt honest, empowering, and wonderfully human.
This was a great, engaging short read, and I’m very glad I gave it a chance.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this one. Lila, Catherine, and Miriam were such easy characters to warm to, and I loved seeing women over 50 at the center of a story about friendship, relationships, desire, and figuring out what they want at this stage of their lives.
It is spicy, and definitely more explicit than I expected, but there is more going on here than just the spice. Each woman is navigating something different, and I really appreciated seeing older women portrayed as still wanting love, connection, excitement, and sexual fulfillment without the story treating their age like a limitation.
It is a quick, entertaining read, and the audiobook narrator did an excellent job bringing each woman to life. There were a few places where I wanted a little more depth and a few questions I would have liked answered, which kept it from being a full five stars for me.
Overall, this felt refreshing, bold, and different from so many books that seem to forget women still have full, complicated lives after 50.
It is spicy, and definitely more explicit than I expected, but there is more going on here than just the spice. Each woman is navigating something different, and I really appreciated seeing older women portrayed as still wanting love, connection, excitement, and sexual fulfillment without the story treating their age like a limitation.
It is a quick, entertaining read, and the audiobook narrator did an excellent job bringing each woman to life. There were a few places where I wanted a little more depth and a few questions I would have liked answered, which kept it from being a full five stars for me.
Overall, this felt refreshing, bold, and different from so many books that seem to forget women still have full, complicated lives after 50.
October 7, 2026
I assume this book is meant to be empowering. Three women in their 60s, one single, one unhappily married, and one in a strong marriage, each explore their sexuality, only to emerge stronger and more confident in the end. Perhaps the intended audience is women who have limited sexual experience who need to know there are different paths to pleasure? All of this is fine except the book is inconsistent in its terminology. Sometimes it’s clinical, using “clitoris” while other times it’s “lady bump.” Sex scenes are alternately described as if I were reading a how-to manual or a hot romance novel. I found this distracting and wished the author picked one approach and used that throughout. A couple of too-convenient coincidences made me roll my eyes at the contrived storylines. In the end, if it helps people more effectively communicate their desires without thinking they are weird, then it’s a win for women (and couples) everywhere.
My thanks to the author, @Taag&Rohg, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #ThePleasuresoftheOthers for review purposes. Publication date: 9 November 2026.
My thanks to the author, @Taag&Rohg, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #ThePleasuresoftheOthers for review purposes. Publication date: 9 November 2026.
October 8, 2026
Disclaimer: I received a review copy in audiobook format for free on NetGalley, and I’m leaving this honest review voluntarily. This book has a release date on November 9th 2026. A huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Taag & Rohg.
This book was really funny in audiobook format. The narrator, Susan Bennett, does a brilliant job on balancing and giving life to the different characters.
The plot is simple, but also contains funny twists and turns. The characters Lila, Catherine and Miriam are all over 50, and they are trying to navigate life, including their sex life. This involves trying new things to spice up their life. In the discovery there are dates, affairs, and joining a sex club that’s on the menu. If you’re looking for a spicy read with an interesting plot twist towards the end, then this book is for you.
This book was really funny in audiobook format. The narrator, Susan Bennett, does a brilliant job on balancing and giving life to the different characters.
The plot is simple, but also contains funny twists and turns. The characters Lila, Catherine and Miriam are all over 50, and they are trying to navigate life, including their sex life. This involves trying new things to spice up their life. In the discovery there are dates, affairs, and joining a sex club that’s on the menu. If you’re looking for a spicy read with an interesting plot twist towards the end, then this book is for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was definitely outside my normal wheelhouse of content 😂, but I ended up really enjoying this story of self-discovery, pleasure, and what it means to figure out what you truly want—regardless of age or where you are in life.
The Pleasures of the Other follows three women navigating relationships, sexuality, aging, and the parts of themselves they may have ignored or kept hidden. Beneath the steamier subject matter, there’s a lot here about identity, vulnerability, friendship, and the idea that desire and self-discovery don’t have an expiration date.
I listened to the audiobook and thought Susan Bennett did a fantastic job with the narration. Her character work made the different personalities easy to follow, and I definitely recommend the audio version.
Overall, an unexpected but enjoyable read that had more heart and depth than I initially anticipated.
Thank you to NetGalley and Taag & Rong for the advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Pleasures of the Other follows three women navigating relationships, sexuality, aging, and the parts of themselves they may have ignored or kept hidden. Beneath the steamier subject matter, there’s a lot here about identity, vulnerability, friendship, and the idea that desire and self-discovery don’t have an expiration date.
I listened to the audiobook and thought Susan Bennett did a fantastic job with the narration. Her character work made the different personalities easy to follow, and I definitely recommend the audio version.
Overall, an unexpected but enjoyable read that had more heart and depth than I initially anticipated.
Thank you to NetGalley and Taag & Rong for the advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the most fun and fearless book I've read this year. Sure, it's filthy, but it's sexy and fast-moving and the women are well-drawn (so are the men!). I loved every page.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews