Come

by Rita Therese

Rita Therese is a 25-year-old sex worker, artist and writer based in Melbourne, Australia. She entered the sex industry at age 18, and has worked as a stripper, porn and as an escort. She currently works as an escort under the alias Gia James. She has written for magazines like Frankie, Vice and Penthouse Australia, and had a monthly sex and dating column for Sneaky magazine. She had her first solo photographic exhibition "Gemini" in 2016 at Goodspace Gallery in Sydney. The exhibit played on the juxtaposition of light and dark, and was centered around themes of sexuality, kink, femininity and fantasy. She is also the author of 4 self published zines - Zero Vol. 1 + 2, Heartbreaker and Fantasy. The zines focus on short stories about her life as a sex worker and discuss relationships, love, grief, mental health and sex. She distributes the zines through her Instagram and website. Rita is currently undertaking her Bachelor of Philosophy and working towards a career as an academic, specializing in the field of Gender Studies with a focus on sex work.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Feminism, Book Club, Australia, Audiobook, Autobiography

264 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2020

Reviews

[Jasmine Geddes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found that this book was interesting but it jumped around so it was hard to get any sense of timeline. In some places it was well written and flowed well and in other places it was like reading a list of facts. Like a formal statement so it was dry. If I paused at one of these more dry sections then I had to really make myself go back to finish reading it.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rita’s stories (because this is really just a collection of vignettes rather than a memoir) are alternately fascinating, shocking, hilarious and moving - she has experienced a lot for someone so young. However, the book is let down by weak writing and editing. The number of times the tense changed mid-sentence was astounding. I couldn’t follow the chronology or keep track of any of the people in her life. This really removed me from the experiences she recounted. A stronger editorial hand would have allowed the substance of Rita’s stories to shine through much more powerfully. I did enjoy it overall, but I think this could have been something great and it failed to deliver on its promise.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

Geez this was good. I can always tell an audiobook is going to be a highly rated read when I sit in my driveway after arriving home, unable to turn off the ignition before finishing the chapter. This memoir was just so raw and captivating. Rita Therese takes us through the highs and lows of her experience as a sex worker in Melbourne, Australia. But it transcends the glamour and grit of the sex industry... Rita also takes us through an unflinching journey of her personal life and how she dealt with substance and physical abuses, grief and loss.

The book’s only downfall was the scattered nature of the timeline/writing that began about halfway through. At times I felt a little lost as Rita is obviously a big fan of disjointed time sequencing. Perhaps it would have been easier to follow as a physical book, but I am so glad I got to listen to Rita’s narration, which was ethereal and mesmerising.

I absolutely devoured this audiobook. Rita does an amazing job highlighting the truths of a very marginalised community in Australia/around the world. I highly recommend it - although please be conscious of the trigger warnings (self-harm, suicide, suicidal ideation, drug abuse, overdose, death, abortion, domestic abuse, rape).

[Mia Walsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this memoir in a single sitting. It is raw, refreshing, heartbreaking, funny and beautifully written. I though the non-linear framing was very well done and loved the nuanced take on the industry and love and life and death.

[Eve Dangerfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Australian. So fucking interesting. Just really good.

[Akaash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think about the experiences you’ve had in life: those shared with the public, those shared with a select few in private, and the personal shared only with yourself. How comfortable would you be in sharing those experiences? I imagine you have a sense of unease within. Imagine powering through that.

I haven’t read a great many (auto)biographies or memoirs, and those that I have read, I have been thoroughly underwhelmed by. This was a very refreshing change. Having worked in the sex industry for the better part of seven years, Therese’s transparency makes for great storytelling. Whilst the read lacks chronology, and can come across as very distorted at times, Therese details her experiences as a young worker in the sex industry; as a daughter and a sister who struggles with loss; as a friend seeking the love and support of others; her time as a party to toxic relationships; and simply as a woman trying to navigate the world.

I imagine that a great many people have preconceived biases, prejudices, and notions about younger women, particularly those who work in the industry. I can’t imagine that a reader won’t have these challenged by Come. It is very difficult not to empathise and to sympathise with Therese as she takes to these pages to intimately tell her story. I caution all that seek to read what lays within these pages - it tackles some very dark themes. Nevertheless, Come is an illuminating, insightful read, that I can’t recommend highly enough.

[Minna Gilligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this is one sitting today. Couldn't put it down. Fantastic swirling addictive memoir that at times had me choked up and then suddenly so not in the same sentence. Thank you Rita. I was looking forward to reading this and it did not disappoint. Now I'm just sad that I devoured it so quickly! <3

[Amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

One star wasn’t for the graphic sex or language.. and who am I to judge Rita’s experiences but the writing wasn’t great and this was more like a collection of short stories. That was Rita’s path and we were able to catch a glimpse of it

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Super easy and fun read! This was a funny collection of stories but she also got quite deep at times, interesting read overall

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. Raw, gritty and subtlety mysterious, Rita manages to give a complete picture of her lived experiences whilst still keeping something for herself. So refreshing to see memoirs of this genre coming out!

[Tricia Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly anticipated the release of Rita's memoir having followed her for many years on social media, I was intrigued to hear her story. Rita’s memoir was so good I devoured it in a day. Rita writes so eloquently about her life as a sex worker and leaves all cards on the table. This was such a compelling read, one that I highly recommend.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars | COME BY RITA THERESE is the memoir of a 25 year old sex worker, writer and artist who’s based in Melbourne. Entering the sex industry at the age of 18, Therese takes us through her journey since - the good, the bad and everything in between.

The book is split into 3 parts - Sex, Love and Death. Hearing that, you could probably tell the kinds of themes that it tackles. Though the prose largely focuses around Therese’s career as an escort/topless waitress/stripper/porn star, she also opens up about the romantic encounters she’s had in her life, as well as some harrowing events that she’d had to grieve over.

Open, raw and truly honest are some of the ways i’d describe this memoir. Literally nothing is held back - Therese dives into the technicalities of sex work and the details that come with it without batting an eyelid, while fusing her lived experiences throughout. Trauma, domestic abuse, alcohol/drug use and self-harm are all examined through a non-linear timeline. Looking at it more critically, i did find the timeline to be pretty disorienting at times - which wasn’t helped by the author’s seemingly patchy memory. The tone also changes halfway through, taking a turn from no-nonsense, empowering, and even ‘fun’, to something that ended up being much, much more somber than i expected.

In saying that though, there’s no doubt that this is a compelling and engaging read that’s written by a voice that we need to hear more from. If you’d like a candid and human look into an industry that’s not often talked about, then this is one to pick up!

[Madison Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

Come is a disorganised (but telling) glimpse into one woman's experience in the sex work industry.

I found it difficult to put down, often losing time as I plunged into Rita's world, a place she captured viscerally. However, the jumbling of tenses, as well as the way many of the characters - and even Rita herself - lacked context and positionally, stood in its way.

There's some things Rita does beautifully, though: like the way she captures camaraderie and affinity in sex work, as well as the way she describes the misogyny she witnesses in her daily life, in all of its ubiquitousness.

Rita's voice is cheeky, biting and unpretentious. The vignettes, given their lack of structure, felt like they were written on the back of each account, which was an endearing but distracting quality. I imagined the Rita I was introduced to in the book plugging away, her ashtray propped up next to her laptop, divulging all of her vivid encounters.

All in all, Come is an enjoyable and necessary novel.

[Sheree | Keeping Up With The Penguins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Therese has split her story into three broad sections: Sex, Love, and Death (which, in itself, should give you a pretty good indication of the tone of the book). It’s only vaguely linear – more like a series of vignettes cobbled together into a rough timeline, but flitting back and forth as she excavates the agonies and the ecstasies of her life. She is frank and forthright about her experiences of sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll (okay, fine, more the former two than the latter), and she takes a really admirable warts-and-all approach to sharing her story. This is one for fans of Kate Holden’s In My Skin, or Belle de Jour’s Intimate Adventures Of A London Call Girl.

The wonderful team at Allen And Unwin were kind enough to send me a copy of Come for review, and an extended review is available at Keeping Up With The Penguins.

[Millie Baylis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was brilliant and I’m kicking myself for not reading it earlier, but so glad I did. Don’t know what others are talking about in feeling that the timeline was too disjointed or confusing – for me the non-linear stories made the book so much stronger and reflected how traumatic memory works. I didn’t find it distracting at all and felt grounded in each new story beautifully told by Rita. The stories sprawl across sex and sex work, suicide, grief, addiction, abuse, love and more. Thought this was so artfully written with so many beautiful, specific, deftly told details that made me laugh and cry. It hums with pain and love and hooker joy. Heaps of feelings! Proper review to come! Thank you Rita, will definitely be recommending + returning to this.

[Harriet Hudson-Clise · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this <3

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rare kind of book that you finish in a few hours. Rita’s memoir is highly relatable, to not only those in the sex industry, but womxn generally and the ways in which we navigate sexuality, trauma, grief & abuse.
The first novel to make me cry in 5+ years
Addictive, honest and heartbreaking

[Ali Von · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like the word “raw” gets bandied around a lot for books that have content about trauma, but I think that more often, this description just taps into how polished the brutality of the content is.

Unlike a polished boxing up of such themes, Come is genuinely raw in places, in a way that was startling sometimes, disturbing and disorienting. In the same vein, the pleasure and triumph of the authors life thus far is there for us to relish in too.

Come is an intense ride of a read, with moments of burst out laughter and painful tears, punctuated by the feeling of witnessing a full, real, messy, contradictory coming of age unfold on the pages.

[Liv Granneman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very excited to get my copy of Come, after having followed Ritas story on social media for several years. It is extremely well written and a raw look into a line of work that is so often misconceived. It has been written in a way that the themes throughout the book are relatable to everyone; love and loss.

Goosebumps, tears and laughs!

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rita Therese's memoir tells the tale of her exploits in various levels of sex work in Australia, and her relationships throughout this time.
This is an intensly raw, emotional story full of exploration, heartbreak, and hidden strength, and I couldn't put it down. I was drawn into her world, feeling like I experienced every high and low as she did, and hope she's now aware of her inspiring resilience - a true survivor at such a young age.
Not for the faint of heart, I'd recommend this book to those who enjoyed Trauma Cleaner - just save it for a day with no other commitments.

[Amy Polyreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

A deep dive into the life of a young Sex Worker in Australia. Gripping, intense, harrowing, and sad but hopeful. Not for the squeamish, or prude (obviously). I thoroughly enjoyed this, especially her short, comical additions of how-to's and what-to-do's. I look forward to reading more of Therese's work!

[Alyson Hewett · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I’d heard great things about this memoir, but unfortunately the scattered nature of the writing was difficult to follow and confusing. This was its main downfall. Interesting, nonetheless and was very raw, honest writing.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this felt like reading excerpts from someone's diary, a little bit broken up and hard to follow but with a common thread. I would have liked to have understood a little more about her childhood, how she ended up here. But definately an interesting read, witty and sometimes morbid.

[Mell Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We all want to live and then we are all afraid to die. You assign value to these things, they give you purpose, they drive you forward. It's all we have. It's what life is. Lean into it."

Raw, honest & real - The words I would use to describe this addictive memoir.
Come is not like anything that I have read before and I honestly could not put it down devouring it in a night. Rita takes you on a wild ride through her years of being a sex worker in Melbourne as well as her experiences with death, trauma and self discovery.

Rita is an absolutely incredible story teller and an extremely talented writer. She hooks you in with the raw and honest truth and certainly doesn't hold back. Rita writes so eloquently and laces the realities of sex work with humour and eye opening heartbreak - I found myself laughing out loud one minute and in tears the next. This book covers alcohol, drugs, sex, self-harm, love, death and everything in between in such open detail.

Rita's writing style had me engaged in the story until the very last page. Never once was I bored of what I was reading. I understand that the writing style and language used may not be to everyone's taste but I think it is what makes this book so unique and special. It gives a real look into the often glamorised & taboo world of sex work.

Come really made me think, it opened my eyes to a few things and made me think about my own life and some decisions I have made. Thank you Rita for being so open and honest about your life.

[Anna Baillie-Karas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sex worker memoir by a talented, intelligent woman, I read this in one sitting. Lifts the lid on a world that exists behind closed doors. Interesting, upfront and gives insight into what it’s like to be an outsider and find acceptance in the sex industry.

I liked Therese’s street smarts, pragmatism and humour.

The timeline is disjointed so it didn’t feel like a complete story with character arc, and I wondered why she got into the work in the first place. She might have omitted her backstory so the book is more focussed on the most dramatic years. She left school and moved out of home by 17. It makes you realise that school doesn’t suit everyone (Therese has since been diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum) and if a child drops out of the system it can be hard for them to find their place in society.

A strong book.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Come is brilliant. A memoir of love, death, and sex work, Therese navigates through the topics with such grace

I'm not here to judge the quality of Therese's stories—they're her life. But I will say that I enjoyed reading the stories she told, and I enjoyed hearing what she had to say. I particularly liked that Come never involved some crisis about Therese and ethics and sex work. It was always made clear that Therese did not feel guilt for her sex work, whilst the novel explored the myriad other emotions she did feel amidst love and death.

The one thing I struggled with in Come was the timeline. I really wish that the events were more frequently anchored in time, literally just saying what year they happened in. The chapters, especially in the first section on sex work, were often so separate from one another, that it was hard to place where they were all happening in time. That might seem unimportant, but especially for a memoir, understanding the passage of time is vital for understanding how things have progressed, how the memoirist has progressed. It just would have made things smoother.

On the whole, I loved Come. More than an interesting story, Therese had interesting things to say.

[FFRZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are warm, honest, funny and heartrending stories. Rita Therese is a smart and clear writer and it seems her life could be something from classic Australian coming of age fiction but it’s all real and continues.

[Lauren Stones · Rating 5 out of 5]

had to add this as this is my favourite memoir to date!! I laughed, I cried and I am completely in awe!! I have read this three times and every time I feel as though I uncover a new layer, it’s a whirlwind of emotions but truly divine to read. If you’re looking for a quick read with impact, this is it.

[Eleanor Wiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start by saying this book holds such an important place as the lives of sex workers are so often ignored, misrepresented or misunderstood. Rita’s experiences and perspectives are precisely what we need to hear. I simply could not deal with the structure of the book, the timeline jumped around so much!! It completely ruined my interest in the content as I found it difficult to follow.

[Hannah Telfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the experiences of a sex worker in Australia, I really enjoyed hearing the interesting and shocking stories of Rita’s young life. The writing was a little clunky and the stories didn’t feel linear, jumping all around the place - felt more like diary entries. However it was an easy read and I appreciate that there is a memoir like this out there.