Body for Rent

by Anna Hendriks, Olivia Smit

Growing up in a quiet, middle-class suburb outside of Amsterdam, childhood best friends Anna and Olivia had their whole lives ahead of them. But every parent's worst nightmare came true when the teenagers fell in with the wrong crowd. Eleven years their senior, Ricardo was charming and good-looking - and Anna and Oliva easy prey. Blind to his grooming, the girls were soon trapped in a terrifying cycle of sexual and physical abuse. But their nightmare was only just beginning.Trafficked to the neon-lit windows of Amsterdam's Red Light District, Anna and Oliva were forced to work as prostitutes, servicing countless men night after night against their will. Body for Rent reveals the disturbing truth behind Amsterdam's Red Light District, and the shocking ease with which ordinary girls can be exploited. But despite the unimaginable horrors they endured, the damage done to their bodies and their minds, their friendship remained as strong as ever, giving them hope that one day, they would escape...

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 2019

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was ok. What the girls went through was horrific and I felt awful for them. I just didn’t like the writing style. They were constantly defending themselves and it just got a bit annoying in the end. I’ve read loads of real life stories and I just think this fell flat.

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

The terribly sad story of two girls who fall under the spell of a violent pimp, who takes them to the Red Light District in Amsterdam and works them there relentlessly for years, pocketing half of their money and beating them up. I've never read an account of work in the RLD before so this was amazingly eye-opening and really rather upsetting.

[Kattrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible story, yet hard to read. Anna and Olivia are strong women who as just out of childhood (before really) were made to become prostitutes and this is their story.

[Samantha Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A harrowing true story of two of the many victims of the Red Light District in Amsterdam and Holland. It's told by two alternate P.OV and showcases how much legalised prostitution doesn't necessarily protect or reduce victims of sex trafficking. These two courageous women fought for 5-7 years to escape their own physical, psychological and emotional prison and were often ignored and rejected by a society that should have protected them.

Furthermore, Olivia and Anna's story shows how much a negative home life can be instrumental in a "lover boy" persona to groom them in entering into prostitution without consent.

Their story angered me profusely at the people who should have protected them the most: their parents, family, schools and the police. The questions they raise in this book are valid. Why didn't anyone protect them? Why did the school system not wonder why the former academic students grades rapidly declined? They were children. In my opinion the abuse (emotional & physical) began in the care of their respective parents and more than partial blame should lay permanently on their doorsteps.

I am thankful they were able to escape but realise the toll their forced lifestyle will have on their future. I read the court transcripts after finishing this book and am shocked the maximum sentence for the accused was only six years. I feel he should have received at least a minimum of twelve years or more. Or better yet, receive a little taste of what they received daily during the seven years whilst he serves his sentence in jail.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very disturbing account of two young girls who just lost their way. I found my self angered and frustrated at their decisions although I have never been in their shoes so I can't judge.
I just truly hope they are living a life as close to normal as possible.
My heart goes out to them for all of their suffering. I think one of their main objectives was to give a true account and insight of how the red light district operates and debunk a lot of the 'everyone is happy, they chose this' notion which I believe they succeeded in.

I have only taken one star off due to some of the lines feeling repetitive. They may have done this as a way to defend themselves for their actions but I think it wasn't necessary, anyone reading would have understood that they were not in the wrong at any point.

[Amanda-Kate]

Pretty sure this is another fake 'true story' - pg 102, it's the month following Olivia's 18th birthday and she realises she is 7 weeks pregnant, she's not sure how as she does take the pill. She considers maybe the antibiotics from the chlamydia infection caused the pill to fail. That would be the chlamydia infection on pg 56....where she details she was 15, so her parents HAD to be told. So either Olivia is an absolute moron who thinks 2+ yrs after taking antibiotics they will impact the effectiveness of her contraception....or this is another faker.

It's less than 220 pgs and written by 2 women, who worked in the Amsterdam red light for 7 + 5 yrs, but they don't start working there till page 88-96... this isn't as obviously fake and heavy on the agenda as Anna Ruston's 'secret slave' ...but the author was so uninterested in their own storyline (despite the fairly short length of the book) they've tangled their own timeline.

[Donna Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pfft.. woww.. **felt implored to leave review** MUST READ!!

I’ve never left a review in my life.. but I just felt I had to, if only to encourage a potential reader, but mostly just incase the brave women who wrote the heart breaking tale of their stolen lives, innocence, personality .. I could go on.. just incase they read this-that they know their loved and mostly BELIEVED!
My heart physically hurt for these two young girls. I read this book with eyes wide, a shocked expression on my face the whole way through. I wish I could give them the strength they needed whilst going through their ordeal.. but they gave one another it. Their courage is inspiring and their love for each other undeniable. You did it girls! You beat that insidious b*stard! Together!

[Grace Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a true account of the red lights district in Amsterdam. Not everyone’s story of growing up in a broken home will be the same. Not everyone’s story of being sex trafficked will the same. Not everyone’s story of selling ones body will the same. But this story belongs to two best friends, and some of the victims who had to work for a pimp named Ricardo.

This story is so intense, and yet well told, it’s hard to escape it and put it down. I listened to it on Audible in one sitting.

This story is meant to read or listened to with an entirely open mind. If you judge it, the details can change.

[Donna Dube · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s a hard life

A true story about two women who were forced into prostitution in Amsterdam. It is legal but it doesn’t mean that everyone who works in prostitution wants to be there.
It is sad how easily women fall prey to predators and how hard it is to get away.
I skipped many of the chapters because it makes me angry that people stay in bad situations because they don’t know what else to do.
It is a very informative story for anyone who wants to know what the life of prostitution is like.

[tasha ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an eye-opening read!

I wasn't really sure what I was expecting from this book but I've come away with a completely different outlook on prostitution and everything that comes along with it. A well written book that flowed well between the two girls' accounts. It was all so brutally honest, which was refreshing, and obviously uncomfortable to read in some parts, but I definitely recommend.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This story is heart-breaking. I found it to be credible and realistic. My heart aches for anyone that has been personally affected by stories like this. Sexual slavery is no joke and I can imagine that it would have lasting, lifetime effects as these young ladies have shown. My only grievance is that the man in the story deserved a way tougher sentence than he got and those two young ladies deserved to be compensated way more than they actually got..

[M Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disturbing

I give this rating in the hope that more will read
So given today's BLM movement we need to realise that this is also slavery practised. Allowed. Tolerated. And wrong. I am of the opinion that if a person chooses to sell their body for sex that is their right. But to be forced should no longer be tolerated

[Georgie Haddad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most raw and jaw dropping book I have ever read, I throughly enjoyed it and could not put it down.
A lot of chapters were very sad and real and really described the true horror that takes place in the red light district. My heart goes out to the girls I hope they are enjoying life now free

[Seren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really devastating and interesting account of two girls trafficked to the Red Light District. One thing that did bother me about this book was how overly defensive the two authors were about their actions. It was sad how much they expected judgement for things they did as children or when they were trying to cope with their surroundings.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart breaking and harrowing.

I read this book in a day (via audible) and could not put it down.

Really gives the reader a lot to consider about legalized sex work and how to regulate it and protect women (while still also protecting women in illegal sex work too).

Definitely an impactful read.

[Lauren Gertners · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting enough book however I felt like it really just skimmed along the surface and never really went into great depth about their story. The way they kept defending themselves got a bit annoying in the end.

[Milly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very gripping story, I couldn't stop reading.

Each page was more shocking then the one before. I have heard about the red district and some stories about illegal activities, but never to this extent! A book worth reading

[Fernando · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess the book is ok for a first timer learning about this topic and that is not my case. I didn’t like how the story was told.

[Albert Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Dave B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harrowing tale of young girls forced into prostitution. Great read but seems to rush to a conclusion at the end.

[Patricia Coloma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really hard to read: the violence, the horrific experiences these two women went through. It does offer a real testimony about legalized prostitution reality.

[Elias · Rating 1 out of 5]

What stupid women they were. I don't believe everything I've read.

[Jessica Maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://jessjustreads.com

Body for Rent by Anna Hendriks and Olivia Smit is a harrowing and shocking memoir from two women who were forced into prostitution in Amsterdam’s Red Light District as teenagers.

Anna and Olivia are childhood best friends who both grew up in unstable homes — Anna’s father left the family when she was young, and when Anna had the option of choosing which parent to live with, her mother said “If you go to live with him, I shall hang myself.” Anna’s relationship with her mother was forever strained, and her father’s attention was thereafter focused on his new girlfriend.

Olivia’s father was violent and abusive towards their mother and Olivia never felt she could form the right bond with her parents after the childhood she endured. When she met Anna, the two bonded over their dysfunctional home lives and found family in each other.

“It was Olivia who came up with the idea to write notes to the school, faking our parents’ signatures and saying that we were too ill to come to class. Although I was more than ready and very willing to play truant, she was the one with the guts to actually say it out loud that we should do it.”

Whilst Olivia and Anna desperately needed each other, their friendship was toxic. They skipped school, stole, and became heavily reliant on drugs and alcohol. And then they met Ricardo, an older man who slowly began grooming them for prostitution.

It would be easy for a reader to learn about this story and fail to understand how the girls became entrapped in this situation, but Anna and Olivia use their voices to educate readers on grooming, manipulation, control, and how easily young girls can find themselves in a similar situation.

At its core, Body for Rent is about friendship and the strength that it can give individuals — Anna and Olivia were able to get through their years of prostitution because they had each other for support. There were incredibly terrifying moments for each of them — abuse, violence, abortion, rape — but the girls always had each other to help pull through.

“Over. It was over. My first customer as a full-time window prostitute. I reached for the whisky, the Red Bull, cigarettes — and my phone. As much as I craved my numbing shot of alcohol and the soothing pull of nicotine into my lungs, my most urgent need was Olivia; I had to hear her voice, and feel the warmth of her love for me as I told her that it was done and I was safe.”

Highly recommended. At times, it’s hard to read. What happened to these girls is horrifying and just very upsetting, but Olivia and Anna wouldn’t be the only girls to have gone through this and I’m sure there are young girls currently going through this situation right now. It’s important to read these kinds of stories to understand how they happen so they can be recognised in the future.

Will the Red Light District change because of this book? Probably not, it’s a huge business and very popular. But will people who are naive about the workings of the Red Light District — like me — come to understand more about this world? Yes, they will. This book is important for educating society.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Bill Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Keeps you gripped from the beginning well worth reading and a good price for a good read you won't be disappointed

[Sammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different side to the red light district

When i think of the red light district i naturally assumed women who chose to sell their bodies and in most cases id assume not through a love of the job but because of a dodgey background, never occured to be these women were forced into it my pimps eyes opened for me anyway

[Bekha Youmans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. As you can tell it only took me a couple of days to read it. But it’s so heartbroken to see how two you d teenage girls can get so easily lost within there family and become so forgotten that they become groomed by an older male in such a way! It’s horrendous to see that it’s happening all to offer. Great way the story of their lives are told from the perspective of both of the girls and very happy they managed to get justice at the end of the book.

[Nellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scumbags and creeps who do this

What I can't understand is how do the people,come from eastern Europe,
turkey,and many more move into Holland and be a pimp earning thousands of euros,and everybody turns a blind eye,to what goes on do these men not realise,how would they like it if it were their sister,mother,auntie,but no they wouldn't bother money coming in takes over everything,including family somebody they know maybe somebody in their family,knows what is going on and turns a BLIND EYE.GOD'S WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS THEY WILL GET REPAID IN FULL SOMEHOW

[Jodi Wray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating true story of 2 young girls who are forced and coerced into the Amsterdam sex trade from a young age. Following the journey from the upbringing they had to the first time they were sold for sex, this tracks the lives of the girls at there most vulnerable who were clearly taken advance of thousands of times. Can they build a better life for themselves away from the seedy sex trade of Amsterdam and all that comes with it?

[Grace Gonsalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this insight into the life of two workers on Amsterdam’s Right Light District.

As someone who regularly visits Amsterdam, you never really look this deeply into the RLD and I’ll never look at it the same way.

Rating a 4 stars because it was an amazing book but it’s hard to say ‘I enjoyed it’ purely because of how upset it made me for the poor girls.

5 stars for being eye opening and poignant, but 4 stars overall because it’s difficult to ‘enjoy’ a book that’s so traumatising.

[Kerrie-Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

What brave young ladies these 2 are. Not the sort of book I normally read, it was passed to me by a friend. But I am so glad I read it.

Although sometimes graphic, it was necessary to tell their story.

I have never visited the 'red light district' anywhere and am so glad for it.

Thank you for your honest and touching story.