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Young Women
Everyone's got that history, I guess. Everyone's got a story. When Emily meets the enigmatic and dazzling actress Tamsin, her life changes. Drawn into Tamsin's world of Soho living, boozy dinners, and cocktails at impossibly expensive bars, Emily's life shifts from black and white to technicolour and the two women become inseparable. Tamsin is the friend Emily has always longed for; beautiful, fun, intelligent and mysterious and soon Emily is neglecting her previous life - her work assisting vulnerable women, her old friend Lucy - to bask in her glow. But when a bombshell news article about a decades-old sexual assault case breaks, Emily realises that Tamsin has been hiding a secret about her own past. Something that threatens to unravel everything . . . Young Women is a razor sharp novel that slices to the heart of our most important relationships, and asks how complicit we all are in this world built for men.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 2022
44 people are currently reading
2162 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Moor
4 books132 followersJessica Moor studied English at Cambridge before completing a Creative Writing MA at Manchester University. Prior to this she spent a year working in the violence against women and girls sector and this experience inspired her first novel, Keeper.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
May 18, 2022
Acclaimed writer Jessica Moor’s second outing is an exceptionally gripping take on the #MeToo era. It’s set in a slightly clichéd version of middle-class London – filled with familiar landmarks from Soho’s cafés to Gordon’s Wine Bar, the Savoy Hotel and the Hampstead Ladies Pond. A young lawyer Emily, now working for a women’s advocacy charity, has a chance encounter with a charismatic, would-be actress Tamsin at a climate change protest. At first their budding friendship plays out like the beginnings of a love story or maybe a potentially dangerous obsession, Emily’s attraction to Tamsin, and Tamsin’s upmarket lifestyle, fuelled by equal parts suppressed desire and envy. But when Tamsin’s past’s linked to a breaking scandal the story takes an unexpected turn. A scandal that revolves around the exposure of a middle-aged, mainstream but arty director. A man who specialises in films that centre women from Billie Holiday to Anaïs Nin, but is now implicated in the sexual coercion and assault of a number of the younger actresses who’ve worked with him.
Viewed from some angles this is a blatantly-manipulative piece reminiscent of novels like Gone Girl. Moor’s central character, the gawky Emily, with her increasingly-disturbing fixation on the glamorous Tamsin, is a recognisable iteration of the unlikeable, vampiric woman who frequently surfaces in the pages of a certain subgenre of literary thriller. But at the same time, it’s an often fascinating, surprisingly fertile and accessible exploration of abusive male power, laced with references to acts of casual and not-so-casual sexual violence perpetrated by entitled, predatory men. Stories that might seem a little too much if they weren’t so horribly, achingly familiar - stories I’ve heard from other women, some I could have told myself. But Moor’s narrative’s less about the men but the women whose lives they’ve blighted, and the complex interactions between them: Emily’s best friend, the women Emily works with, and Emily herself. Women entangled in questions and issues of complicity, trauma, the nature of justice, and the damage they might also inflict on each other.
I was completely caught up in this, at least up until the concluding sections when the pace suddenly faltered and the structure became increasingly uneven. I was less than happy with the rather tokenistic treatment of a "wiser", older, Black, lesbian character; and disappointed that Moor shied away from tackling the intricate, sexual implications of Emily’s fascination with Tamsin. I was also slightly frustrated by the way in which - after a cursory examination of the social and cultural systems that foster damaging manifestations of male power, economic and otherwise - Moor appeared to be backing away from fully confronting wider, underlying political concerns. Instead edging towards, what could be interpreted, as a heavily compromised, not-all-men-are-like-that position. A position that stirred unfavourable comparisons to Eliza Clark’s ferocious, boundary-pushing Boy Parts. Even so, this is a well-crafted, compulsively-readable piece, packed with explicit talking points. A novel I could easily see becoming a summer bestseller, if not a compelling, mini-series.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Manilla Press for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
Viewed from some angles this is a blatantly-manipulative piece reminiscent of novels like Gone Girl. Moor’s central character, the gawky Emily, with her increasingly-disturbing fixation on the glamorous Tamsin, is a recognisable iteration of the unlikeable, vampiric woman who frequently surfaces in the pages of a certain subgenre of literary thriller. But at the same time, it’s an often fascinating, surprisingly fertile and accessible exploration of abusive male power, laced with references to acts of casual and not-so-casual sexual violence perpetrated by entitled, predatory men. Stories that might seem a little too much if they weren’t so horribly, achingly familiar - stories I’ve heard from other women, some I could have told myself. But Moor’s narrative’s less about the men but the women whose lives they’ve blighted, and the complex interactions between them: Emily’s best friend, the women Emily works with, and Emily herself. Women entangled in questions and issues of complicity, trauma, the nature of justice, and the damage they might also inflict on each other.
I was completely caught up in this, at least up until the concluding sections when the pace suddenly faltered and the structure became increasingly uneven. I was less than happy with the rather tokenistic treatment of a "wiser", older, Black, lesbian character; and disappointed that Moor shied away from tackling the intricate, sexual implications of Emily’s fascination with Tamsin. I was also slightly frustrated by the way in which - after a cursory examination of the social and cultural systems that foster damaging manifestations of male power, economic and otherwise - Moor appeared to be backing away from fully confronting wider, underlying political concerns. Instead edging towards, what could be interpreted, as a heavily compromised, not-all-men-are-like-that position. A position that stirred unfavourable comparisons to Eliza Clark’s ferocious, boundary-pushing Boy Parts. Even so, this is a well-crafted, compulsively-readable piece, packed with explicit talking points. A novel I could easily see becoming a summer bestseller, if not a compelling, mini-series.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Manilla Press for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
February 21, 2022
A somewhat messy, shapeless narrative that nevertheless deals with pressing issues of women's suffering under patriarchy, along a spectrum of assault from 'casual' touching on the Underground to rape. The sheer number of stories of sexualised attack can be a bit overwhelming but is probably the most important takeaway here: we all have our stories to tell in this field, and still regress is slow and elusive.
Indeed, as this book shows, there is an institutionalised weighing against women whether that's through a reluctance of the police and legal sector to investigate, the tricky nature of he said/she said and lack of so-called hard evidence, or the pernicious use of legal silencing tactics like NDAs and out of court payoffs (and it's worth noting that the £2m payoff in the book has, allegedly, increased to around £12m in the current case of Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre).
One of the hot issues raised in the story is to what extent women might be complicit in perpetuating rape culture by accepting this silence in return for money: a difficult topic that touches on choice, responsibility, agency, self-care and what individuals might need to do to survive and move forward.
The book falls neatly into two halves: the first feels like it's going to be one of those toxic female friendship tales where one partner has all the glamour, money and excitement - but about halfway through this shifts into a different story altogether and Tamsin all but disappears from the narrative.
The consequences of Emily's behaviour feel underdeveloped and the shift of focus a little unsatisfying. Nevertheless, this is valuable as a 'popular' piece of fiction which raises important questions about power, privilege and patriarchy in an easily readable, page-turning and accessible way. It feels a little thin at times as it doesn't delve into the issues it raises and has an overly neat ending - but the righteous anger that seems to fuel the book made me want to cheer it on anyway: 3.5 stars.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
Indeed, as this book shows, there is an institutionalised weighing against women whether that's through a reluctance of the police and legal sector to investigate, the tricky nature of he said/she said and lack of so-called hard evidence, or the pernicious use of legal silencing tactics like NDAs and out of court payoffs (and it's worth noting that the £2m payoff in the book has, allegedly, increased to around £12m in the current case of Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre).
One of the hot issues raised in the story is to what extent women might be complicit in perpetuating rape culture by accepting this silence in return for money: a difficult topic that touches on choice, responsibility, agency, self-care and what individuals might need to do to survive and move forward.
The book falls neatly into two halves: the first feels like it's going to be one of those toxic female friendship tales where one partner has all the glamour, money and excitement - but about halfway through this shifts into a different story altogether and Tamsin all but disappears from the narrative.
The consequences of Emily's behaviour feel underdeveloped and the shift of focus a little unsatisfying. Nevertheless, this is valuable as a 'popular' piece of fiction which raises important questions about power, privilege and patriarchy in an easily readable, page-turning and accessible way. It feels a little thin at times as it doesn't delve into the issues it raises and has an overly neat ending - but the righteous anger that seems to fuel the book made me want to cheer it on anyway: 3.5 stars.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
April 18, 2022
3.5
set against the backdrop of the #metoo movement, Young Women seeks to explore the complex experience of being a young woman living under the patriarchy. while at first this book seems like a typical slice of life, female friendship story revolving around two twenty-something women in london, the second half digs a little deeper into its #metoo commentary, posing a number of difficult questions centring around notions of female power and choice. can women be complicit in the perpetuation of rape culture by accepting money from men in exchange for their silence? to what extent do these women have a responsibility to other women? of course the book doesn’t provide any answers to these questions (and i don’t think a book ever could due to their complexity), but it still leaves the reader with a lot to reckon with.
the book could’ve had a little more depth and the sudden shift in narrative felt slightly jarring, but overall it’s a fast-paced, relevant book which explores the politics of both female friendship and the intricacies of the #metoo movement.
[thank you Bonnier Books / Manilla Press for the arc! this book comes out on 26th may 2022]
set against the backdrop of the #metoo movement, Young Women seeks to explore the complex experience of being a young woman living under the patriarchy. while at first this book seems like a typical slice of life, female friendship story revolving around two twenty-something women in london, the second half digs a little deeper into its #metoo commentary, posing a number of difficult questions centring around notions of female power and choice. can women be complicit in the perpetuation of rape culture by accepting money from men in exchange for their silence? to what extent do these women have a responsibility to other women? of course the book doesn’t provide any answers to these questions (and i don’t think a book ever could due to their complexity), but it still leaves the reader with a lot to reckon with.
the book could’ve had a little more depth and the sudden shift in narrative felt slightly jarring, but overall it’s a fast-paced, relevant book which explores the politics of both female friendship and the intricacies of the #metoo movement.
[thank you Bonnier Books / Manilla Press for the arc! this book comes out on 26th may 2022]
December 24, 2025
This is a complicated messy novel focusing on the complicated lives of young women.
We follow our main protagonist Emily who works for a women's advocacy centre and through her eyes we drill into the Me Too movement.
Theres a lot of sexual assault squeezed into these pages and while it feels like a lot, having now finished the novel, the characters are swirling around my head. Who is a victim, who gave consent and can those things be one and the same. Are women complicit in rape culture when they accept money for silence. Who gets to narrate whose story and is there a responsibility for women to unify.
This book feels like a tornado with no resolution. It's a very quick read and it moves at a fast pace and while I prefer a deeper novel, I do wonder if the pace reflects how quickly the movement came and went. How nothing really changed for anyone in the aftermath or a decade since.
I'm giving this four stars - the more I sit with it the more it's moving me.
We follow our main protagonist Emily who works for a women's advocacy centre and through her eyes we drill into the Me Too movement.
Theres a lot of sexual assault squeezed into these pages and while it feels like a lot, having now finished the novel, the characters are swirling around my head. Who is a victim, who gave consent and can those things be one and the same. Are women complicit in rape culture when they accept money for silence. Who gets to narrate whose story and is there a responsibility for women to unify.
This book feels like a tornado with no resolution. It's a very quick read and it moves at a fast pace and while I prefer a deeper novel, I do wonder if the pace reflects how quickly the movement came and went. How nothing really changed for anyone in the aftermath or a decade since.
I'm giving this four stars - the more I sit with it the more it's moving me.
August 10, 2022
Review on: https://clife.blog/2022/08/11/__trash...
I enjoyed the plot, I really did but about half way through I started to get bored with the ranting type of article-search that was going on.
The start of the novel was going somewhere but it is as if the author got stuck as to where to take it as it began to ramble on and not really go anywhere.
I enjoyed the plot, I really did but about half way through I started to get bored with the ranting type of article-search that was going on.
The start of the novel was going somewhere but it is as if the author got stuck as to where to take it as it began to ramble on and not really go anywhere.
May 25, 2022
When Emily meets Tamsin her life changes. Tamsin is effervescent, confident, captivating. Emily is drawn to her like a moth to a flame. The two of them become inseparable; expensive bars, cocktails, jazz, conversations deep and meaningful. They understand each other, they’re fighting for the same cause - being a woman in a man’s world.
But when Emily learns of a secret Tamsin has been hiding it blows everything open and threatens to unravel their friendship. Can they recover from this?
Jessica Moor is an original and forceful new author - her books cover incredibly pertinent issues very relevant to society today. In the current age of #metoo this book was such a thought provoking and compelling read. It made me reflect on instances in my own past and worry for the future of today’s young women. Although there are many like Emily and Alice who are a force to be reckoned with, there’s still work to be done in shifting the dynamics of male power.
I liked the characters of Emily and Tamsin, I recognised characteristics of both of the girls and the style of this book meant I raced through it at pace. It’s a book that will really make you think and I would encourage men to read it too - consent and coercion are two huge topics of the day and the more people get thinking about exactly what they mean has got to be a good thing.
And finally, I’m really glad I’m old and not young any more! Navigating the minefields of youth these days sounds far too complicated!
But when Emily learns of a secret Tamsin has been hiding it blows everything open and threatens to unravel their friendship. Can they recover from this?
Jessica Moor is an original and forceful new author - her books cover incredibly pertinent issues very relevant to society today. In the current age of #metoo this book was such a thought provoking and compelling read. It made me reflect on instances in my own past and worry for the future of today’s young women. Although there are many like Emily and Alice who are a force to be reckoned with, there’s still work to be done in shifting the dynamics of male power.
I liked the characters of Emily and Tamsin, I recognised characteristics of both of the girls and the style of this book meant I raced through it at pace. It’s a book that will really make you think and I would encourage men to read it too - consent and coercion are two huge topics of the day and the more people get thinking about exactly what they mean has got to be a good thing.
And finally, I’m really glad I’m old and not young any more! Navigating the minefields of youth these days sounds far too complicated!
July 27, 2022
I think this book is incredibly smart and sensitive about the way that sexual violence is woven into the fabric of our society, and the way that women have learnt a form of acceptance. It’s very apparent in how even a woman like the protagonist, who works for a law firm specialising in cases of violence against women, is able to facilitate this violence, for example when she tells her childhood friend who was groomed by their teacher that she was mature for her age. It’s especially self-aware when it comes to how the main character’s privilege interacts with these narratives, how she dreams of a world in which she is able to expose another friend’s encounter with a rapist film director to the world and receive fame from doing so, whilst actively neglecting the assault case of her desperate Senegalese client. That doesn’t mean the main character doesn’t deserve sympathy - she, after all, also has her own story of sexual violence to tell - but rather, that she is one of many messy young women (hey! that’s the name of the book!) who has a lot to learn (+ unlearn) about how misogyny operates in the world. I think the book is a refreshing take on feminism - one which makes explicit how sorely needed it is, but also rejects the individualistic notions of modern feminism in what it means to be a “strong independent woman,” or a “brave victim.” Loved it.
August 4, 2022
Emily meets the enigmatic, charming actress Tamsin at a climate change protest in London. The two immediately hit it off and end up spending the whole evening and night together, drinking wine at Victoria Embankment Park and going back to Tamsin’s glamorous Soho flat. Emily is smitten with her new friends’ beauty, confidence and mysterious life. Emily quickly entangles herself in Tamsin’s life at the expense of her prior responsibilities and relationships. The friendship between the two women become more complicated when an incident in Tamsin’s past brings up conflicting emotions and responses in both women.
‘ Young Women’ started out strong enough. The narrator Emily, had just come out of a long term relationship with a toxic City Boy (ugh) with her self esteem barely intact. I felt a tenderness towards her character, especially when she explained to her new friend Tamsin why she chose to work at a women’s advocacy centre
‘ …It’s good to go to work everyday and feel like there’s clearly a moral value to what you’re doing. So it’s worth carrying on, even if we don’t win them all. Even if it’s just to keep the idea of justice alive, until a better time comes’
I could see why she was enamoured with Tamsin who had successfully affected a manic pixie girl persona. I was keen to see how they’re relationship developed and how far Emily would neglect her own life to embed herself in Tamsin’s. However, the second half of the book was a bit of a train wreck. It went from a page turning exploration of female friendship and loneliness to an thinly veiled exploration of the Weinstein scandal and the subsequent MeToo movement. The change of pace between part one and part two might have given me whiplash. I think it’s possible to write a book exploring both intense female friendships and the MeToo movement in depth but I felt that Moor was struggling to juggle both. At times I felt like I was reading two different books smashed together. I also felt that there were times that the book was trying to be a thriller and I found that inappropriate and out of place for the subject matter and what the rest of the book was trying to say.
By the end of ‘Young Women’ I was also super frustrated by Emily. I did feel that Emily’s characterisation was inconsistent, she seemed a lot more intelligent and self reflective at the start of the book and I couldn’t quite figure out what had happened to turn her into the irritating person she was midway through the book. It could be that I’m missing something and she’s ‘complex’, but I do fear that it was just poor writing.
I do want to end the review on a positive note though, I think the way London was described was excellent. I think Moor really captured the vibe and excitement of the city well and I really enjoyed the moments Tamsin and Emily ran wild around London.
‘ Young Women’ started out strong enough. The narrator Emily, had just come out of a long term relationship with a toxic City Boy (ugh) with her self esteem barely intact. I felt a tenderness towards her character, especially when she explained to her new friend Tamsin why she chose to work at a women’s advocacy centre
‘ …It’s good to go to work everyday and feel like there’s clearly a moral value to what you’re doing. So it’s worth carrying on, even if we don’t win them all. Even if it’s just to keep the idea of justice alive, until a better time comes’
I could see why she was enamoured with Tamsin who had successfully affected a manic pixie girl persona. I was keen to see how they’re relationship developed and how far Emily would neglect her own life to embed herself in Tamsin’s. However, the second half of the book was a bit of a train wreck. It went from a page turning exploration of female friendship and loneliness to an thinly veiled exploration of the Weinstein scandal and the subsequent MeToo movement. The change of pace between part one and part two might have given me whiplash. I think it’s possible to write a book exploring both intense female friendships and the MeToo movement in depth but I felt that Moor was struggling to juggle both. At times I felt like I was reading two different books smashed together. I also felt that there were times that the book was trying to be a thriller and I found that inappropriate and out of place for the subject matter and what the rest of the book was trying to say.
By the end of ‘Young Women’ I was also super frustrated by Emily. I did feel that Emily’s characterisation was inconsistent, she seemed a lot more intelligent and self reflective at the start of the book and I couldn’t quite figure out what had happened to turn her into the irritating person she was midway through the book. It could be that I’m missing something and she’s ‘complex’, but I do fear that it was just poor writing.
I do want to end the review on a positive note though, I think the way London was described was excellent. I think Moor really captured the vibe and excitement of the city well and I really enjoyed the moments Tamsin and Emily ran wild around London.
May 31, 2022
For the first portion of Young Women I thought I knew exactly where the book was going. Tamsin is the manipulative young woman who wheedles her way into Emily’s life, adjusting her behaviour to be exactly what she thinks Emily needs; a life that’s much more exciting and daring than the one Emily is currently living – a diet of meal deals and a flatmate she hardly ever speaks to. And Tamsin’s an actress so she’ll have no problem putting on a performance and pulling the wool over Emily’s eyes until her true motives are revealed. Except it’s not as simple as that.
Everything changes in the second part of the book when the story becomes much more nuanced, as do the characters. Gradually we learn that Tamsin and Emily, and Emily’s friend Lucy, have experiences in common none of which have resulted in action being taken against the perpetrators. (It may be a concidence but in each case where they’ve reported what they’ve suffered it was to a woman yet no action was taken.) A neat counterpoint to this is Renee, Emily’s boss at the Women’s Advocacy Group, who is relentless in her support of women who have suffered sexual violence.
In a turnaround, it’s Emily who sees herself taking the dominant role in her relationship with Tamsin. Here’s her chance to demonstrate her activism by supporting Tamsin in calling out the actions of a powerful and influential figure in the film industry. Emily pictures the two of them being seen as a ‘force to be reckoned with’ taking part in joint interviews as the story reaches the press. She even fantasises about quitting her job to make time for it all. (Ironically, Emily’s has been careless in her handling of an actual case she’s been assigned at work.) Emily is sure she knows exactly how Tamsin will respond, congratulating herself on ‘getting good at writing her’ so she’s disappointed at Tamsin’s reaction. She’s even more shocked at Tamsin’s subsequent actions, although her own are not exactly laudable. What happens next explores issues of consent and the extent to which there is a responsibility to speak out. Does failing to do so somehow make you complicit?
Although I had some reservations about Emily’s risk-taking behaviour towards the end of the book, Young Women raises some interesting moral questions, bringing to mind cases that have made the headlines in recent years.
Everything changes in the second part of the book when the story becomes much more nuanced, as do the characters. Gradually we learn that Tamsin and Emily, and Emily’s friend Lucy, have experiences in common none of which have resulted in action being taken against the perpetrators. (It may be a concidence but in each case where they’ve reported what they’ve suffered it was to a woman yet no action was taken.) A neat counterpoint to this is Renee, Emily’s boss at the Women’s Advocacy Group, who is relentless in her support of women who have suffered sexual violence.
In a turnaround, it’s Emily who sees herself taking the dominant role in her relationship with Tamsin. Here’s her chance to demonstrate her activism by supporting Tamsin in calling out the actions of a powerful and influential figure in the film industry. Emily pictures the two of them being seen as a ‘force to be reckoned with’ taking part in joint interviews as the story reaches the press. She even fantasises about quitting her job to make time for it all. (Ironically, Emily’s has been careless in her handling of an actual case she’s been assigned at work.) Emily is sure she knows exactly how Tamsin will respond, congratulating herself on ‘getting good at writing her’ so she’s disappointed at Tamsin’s reaction. She’s even more shocked at Tamsin’s subsequent actions, although her own are not exactly laudable. What happens next explores issues of consent and the extent to which there is a responsibility to speak out. Does failing to do so somehow make you complicit?
Although I had some reservations about Emily’s risk-taking behaviour towards the end of the book, Young Women raises some interesting moral questions, bringing to mind cases that have made the headlines in recent years.
July 24, 2022
This book started well, but fell flat with a messy and unsatisfying second half. Moor took on a huge topical theme of the #metoo movement, and then undermined it by throwing in every cliche possible. The main character is a truly irritating sanctimonious bore and modern clichè, who hates Brexit, Tories, and feels it's her moral duty to call out anyone with a differing opinion. She never quite finds her way or has any moral redemption, other than doing the 'bad thing' and briefly checking her privilege with - of course - a lack lesbian. The novel is littered with 'bad men' and paints a hideously blinded version of female existence. Oh and then the main character gets a boyfriend and somehow is a little nicer. Right. The longer I write this the more irritated I am by it - it's only getting 2*s rather than 1 because the writing is so good. But very problematic.
June 23, 2023
4.5/5
a searing novel about young women living in London, dating, working, making new friends + grappling with the never ending cycle of harassment and abuse they face daily and watch on the news.
I absolutely adored this novel for the way I related to it. these characters perfectly captured what it is to be a young professional in your 20s grinding in an expensive city when every time you look at your phone a new news article has broken about a new horror to read about whilst your sat on your way to a tinder date that will inevitably go wrong
loved the London setting, the intoxicating friendship, Tamsin as a magnetic character and the themes that were explored. it all felt so real and vivid to me
a searing novel about young women living in London, dating, working, making new friends + grappling with the never ending cycle of harassment and abuse they face daily and watch on the news.
I absolutely adored this novel for the way I related to it. these characters perfectly captured what it is to be a young professional in your 20s grinding in an expensive city when every time you look at your phone a new news article has broken about a new horror to read about whilst your sat on your way to a tinder date that will inevitably go wrong
loved the London setting, the intoxicating friendship, Tamsin as a magnetic character and the themes that were explored. it all felt so real and vivid to me
August 2, 2024
3.5*
This book covered important issues with the main character Emily working to help women and the #metoo movement and what it stands for being important. Contemporary slice-of-life and while important issues were included it wasn’t a mind blowing experience when reading. I think it was fairly consistent plot wise until the second half where things just shifted and quite quickly shut off previous relationships and moments. I listened to this and I think it was a good decision for me
This book covered important issues with the main character Emily working to help women and the #metoo movement and what it stands for being important. Contemporary slice-of-life and while important issues were included it wasn’t a mind blowing experience when reading. I think it was fairly consistent plot wise until the second half where things just shifted and quite quickly shut off previous relationships and moments. I listened to this and I think it was a good decision for me
April 9, 2022
This started so well and then tailed off for me. Could see what the author was trying to do but it failed to hold my attention to fully appreciate it.
November 11, 2022
Mindblowing
December 31, 2021
How vulnerable are women to men in power and also how complicit are they in keeping them there?
The book commences with the intense new friendship between Emily and Tamsin. They meet at a protest in London, where they both live, and very quickly become entwined with each other. This relationship is heady, intoxicating and there is an undercurrent of darkness lurking that means you will struggle to do much else than read this book.
I had little knowledge of what this book was about but was gripped, maybe because of this, so I won’t ruin it for anyone else with even a clue.
This was absolutely brilliant and I am sure many will be talking about this book and the questions that it provokes.
The book commences with the intense new friendship between Emily and Tamsin. They meet at a protest in London, where they both live, and very quickly become entwined with each other. This relationship is heady, intoxicating and there is an undercurrent of darkness lurking that means you will struggle to do much else than read this book.
I had little knowledge of what this book was about but was gripped, maybe because of this, so I won’t ruin it for anyone else with even a clue.
This was absolutely brilliant and I am sure many will be talking about this book and the questions that it provokes.
March 4, 2024
Three stars but only because I was continuously interested in knowing what next. However... It's a very, very thin plot and extremely underdeveloped characters which is a shame because the foundations existed.
August 30, 2022
At face value I was expecting a relatively light novel about adult female friendship. However, it quickly takes an unexpected turn towards a huge range of feminist issues such as different types of sexual assault, complexity around reporting such crimes, and male-female power dynamics. Despite these grave issues, it feels a little thin at times, with what seems like glaringly obvious themes not being delved into as deep as they could be. Regardless, I enjoyed it. I found Emily deeply unlikeable but also relatable so I think I need to do some self reflection now 😵💫
January 2, 2023
I can honestly say this book has changed my life for the better. The description of setting was gorgeous and dreamy. It discussed sexual violence in such a sensitive but powerful context. I enjoyed everything about this book.
‘But Tasmin caught his eye and gave him an exaggerated smile, waving. He looked away quickly. “If some dudes staring at me I like to remind him that I’m a fucking human being,” she said to me once we’d alighted onto the platform. “It freaks ‘em out”.’
“About men men and the way that they thought their feelings trumped everything else - yet we were supposedly the emotional ones. About moral laziness.”
“We call these guys predators, but that’s too big a compliment. It makes it sound like they’re lions or something.”
‘But Tasmin caught his eye and gave him an exaggerated smile, waving. He looked away quickly. “If some dudes staring at me I like to remind him that I’m a fucking human being,” she said to me once we’d alighted onto the platform. “It freaks ‘em out”.’
“About men men and the way that they thought their feelings trumped everything else - yet we were supposedly the emotional ones. About moral laziness.”
“We call these guys predators, but that’s too big a compliment. It makes it sound like they’re lions or something.”
November 2, 2024
3.5. In my opinion if there is a major plot point on the blurb it should happen sooner than 150 pages in
September 2, 2025
i'm so fucking sad tbh
January 7, 2023
I found the narrator very aggravating.
She was supposed to support these women that she fought for in her job, but instead saw them as concepts and theoretical ideas to be won. Not as humans.
She put her own jealously and emotional baggage onto them, and they ended up accepting her projection as fact.
It was brutally necessary to have a narrator who had this fatal flaw in order for other people to understand the complexities of being a victim/survivor.
But I felt that her character could have had a more profound development, rather than becoming nice because of a decent boyfriend. I hoped for further female friendships and empowerment, and ending for women rather than heterosexual peace. Still, a very thoughtful book and quick paced.
She was supposed to support these women that she fought for in her job, but instead saw them as concepts and theoretical ideas to be won. Not as humans.
She put her own jealously and emotional baggage onto them, and they ended up accepting her projection as fact.
It was brutally necessary to have a narrator who had this fatal flaw in order for other people to understand the complexities of being a victim/survivor.
But I felt that her character could have had a more profound development, rather than becoming nice because of a decent boyfriend. I hoped for further female friendships and empowerment, and ending for women rather than heterosexual peace. Still, a very thoughtful book and quick paced.
February 6, 2023
Boy meets girl. No, scratch that. Directionless, newly single and politically aware Girl meets hot and rich Manic Pixie Girl who loves wine: drama ensues.
I was drawn in by the title and the cover of Young Women, but its intriguing premise ultimately fell flat. I thought I was reading one story until a sudden and confusing change of narrative—from an exploration of female friendship against the backdrop of modern London into a wade into the waters of the #metoo movement (and the dilemma of having your silence bought).
Ultimately, this is the biggest issue with this novel. The author can write, but the novel is all wading and splashing around with no deep deep dive into the other topic. As a reader, I would like to see some seabed.
Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
arc / review to come
I was drawn in by the title and the cover of Young Women, but its intriguing premise ultimately fell flat. I thought I was reading one story until a sudden and confusing change of narrative—from an exploration of female friendship against the backdrop of modern London into a wade into the waters of the #metoo movement (and the dilemma of having your silence bought).
Ultimately, this is the biggest issue with this novel. The author can write, but the novel is all wading and splashing around with no deep deep dive into the other topic. As a reader, I would like to see some seabed.
Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
arc / review to come
December 9, 2022
A well-constructed but (unsurprisingly) heavy novel, Young Women is set in London against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement, which has exposed and continues to expose perpetrators of sexual violence, assault and discrimination against women. Challenging and uncomfortable, yet believable and with an oddly cosy familiarity of the London setting which I really enjoyed, this is a novel that doesn't shy away from how much of a hold the patriarchy still has on our society and how far, despite the great strides of #MeToo, we have to go.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.
May 30, 2022
Emily and Tamsin, both twenty-something women living in London, meet after being arrested at a protest and Emily is captivated by Tamsin’s vibrant personality and affluent lifestyle, quickly becoming enamoured with the young actress. A solicitor working for a women’s advocacy charity, Emily is idealistic and, at times, naïve, characteristics which lead to her making mistakes and undermining her friendships, both with Tamsin and her best friend, Lucy.
There is a shift in the narrative about halfway through, as the plot moves from Emily’s slightly obsessive relationship with Tamsin to a #MeToo commentary, as sexual assault accusations begin to emerge about a famous art film director. Emily soon realises that Tamsin has been keeping a secret about her past that is linked to this current news and struggles to understand the decisions that she makes in the aftermath. There are so many incidents of assault or abuse of power perpetrated against women in this novel as well as the further humiliations and scepticism women are subject to when they report them. It’s utterly depressing how they are dismissed or their stories trivialised by the people who are supposed to help them and highlights systemic prejudices that need to be addressed.
I found Emily to be quite unlikeable at times and struggled to understand some of the decisions she made, particularly towards the end, as people don’t live up to her idealistic view of the world. However, I think she does seem to have some self-awareness about her actions and comes to terms with the fact that people are complicated and can’t always be perfect. The writing is astute and precise and I enjoyed the first person narration from Emily’s perspective.
Young Women is an absorbing novel about the intrinsic complexities of female friendships and an exploration of female autonomy and consent in a patriarchal society. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it as the issues it raises are timely and interesting and Jessica Moor relates the challenges and injustices women face every day within a compelling narrative.
There is a shift in the narrative about halfway through, as the plot moves from Emily’s slightly obsessive relationship with Tamsin to a #MeToo commentary, as sexual assault accusations begin to emerge about a famous art film director. Emily soon realises that Tamsin has been keeping a secret about her past that is linked to this current news and struggles to understand the decisions that she makes in the aftermath. There are so many incidents of assault or abuse of power perpetrated against women in this novel as well as the further humiliations and scepticism women are subject to when they report them. It’s utterly depressing how they are dismissed or their stories trivialised by the people who are supposed to help them and highlights systemic prejudices that need to be addressed.
I found Emily to be quite unlikeable at times and struggled to understand some of the decisions she made, particularly towards the end, as people don’t live up to her idealistic view of the world. However, I think she does seem to have some self-awareness about her actions and comes to terms with the fact that people are complicated and can’t always be perfect. The writing is astute and precise and I enjoyed the first person narration from Emily’s perspective.
Young Women is an absorbing novel about the intrinsic complexities of female friendships and an exploration of female autonomy and consent in a patriarchal society. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it as the issues it raises are timely and interesting and Jessica Moor relates the challenges and injustices women face every day within a compelling narrative.
June 14, 2022
Ease of Reading: 4✨
Characters: 5✨
Plot: 4✨
Writing: 4✨
Overall: 4✨
“YOUNG WOMEN is a searing new novel from a dazzling new voice where a fierce new female friendship will unearth a secret that could change everything . . .”
YOUNG WOMEN is a tale as old as time concerning sexual assault and how we as women choose to react to those circumstances. Would you come forward? How would you support a friend going through this? How would you react to a nice guy who is trying to understand but isn’t in the feminist camp yet?
This book explores all of these questions and many more. With intriguing female friendships and a main character you will both learn to love and hate, YOUNG WOMEN folds modern concepts and a fast paced story into a ride of a book.
Set in a modern London world of bars and wine in the park, this book has a millennial feel that is perfect for any young woman. I was transported to sunny evenings perfect for this time of year, with deep important themes that made this story one to remember. A new take on recurring issues. I won’t go into details of my thoughts as I don’t want to give spoilers, but I’ll leave you with a quote I loved.
“When we’re least like ourselves we reveal the most.”
Will you be picking this one up?
Characters: 5✨
Plot: 4✨
Writing: 4✨
Overall: 4✨
“YOUNG WOMEN is a searing new novel from a dazzling new voice where a fierce new female friendship will unearth a secret that could change everything . . .”
YOUNG WOMEN is a tale as old as time concerning sexual assault and how we as women choose to react to those circumstances. Would you come forward? How would you support a friend going through this? How would you react to a nice guy who is trying to understand but isn’t in the feminist camp yet?
This book explores all of these questions and many more. With intriguing female friendships and a main character you will both learn to love and hate, YOUNG WOMEN folds modern concepts and a fast paced story into a ride of a book.
Set in a modern London world of bars and wine in the park, this book has a millennial feel that is perfect for any young woman. I was transported to sunny evenings perfect for this time of year, with deep important themes that made this story one to remember. A new take on recurring issues. I won’t go into details of my thoughts as I don’t want to give spoilers, but I’ll leave you with a quote I loved.
“When we’re least like ourselves we reveal the most.”
Will you be picking this one up?
July 14, 2022
Beautifully written, compelling and thought provoking, Young Women is a novel that I hope becomes the next one that everyone is talking about. Emily and Tamsin are in their mid-twenties, navigating their way through a world that is pushing back against the patriarchy. This is a post-MeToo story, but it’s not ‘just another’ MeToo story, if that makes sense. It’s more of a story about having agency over your own experiences. Having the right to make a call about what to do with your own story, without feeling the imposed pressure to act within the defined parameters of how others think you should act.
I really liked how the author examined the manner in which women can take ownership over other women’s experiences. A potentially contentious topic, but she handled it beautifully within this novel. It’s such a critical issue, the way in which we cleave to a hashtag, make it our own, judge, and join the cause, even if we have the best of intentions, are we doing more harm than good? Yes, the anger is real, but my anger doesn’t necessarily have to become your anger, and your trauma doesn’t necessarily have to be considered within the same framework as mine. Do our reactions have to be the same, and am I wrong if my reaction differs to yours, and vice versa. I’m not sure if I’m articulating this in the way that does the novel the justice it deserves, but suffice to say, this is a powerful and impactful read that I highly recommend. Incredibly thought provoking, an ideal pick for book clubs.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
I really liked how the author examined the manner in which women can take ownership over other women’s experiences. A potentially contentious topic, but she handled it beautifully within this novel. It’s such a critical issue, the way in which we cleave to a hashtag, make it our own, judge, and join the cause, even if we have the best of intentions, are we doing more harm than good? Yes, the anger is real, but my anger doesn’t necessarily have to become your anger, and your trauma doesn’t necessarily have to be considered within the same framework as mine. Do our reactions have to be the same, and am I wrong if my reaction differs to yours, and vice versa. I’m not sure if I’m articulating this in the way that does the novel the justice it deserves, but suffice to say, this is a powerful and impactful read that I highly recommend. Incredibly thought provoking, an ideal pick for book clubs.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
July 19, 2024
thought provoking AF! Jessica moor laid out the many shapes and forms abuse can take on. the power dynamics at play, the responses they receive, the made up boundary lines that strictly dictate consent vs denial, the perfect victim, the social justice warriors etc. one persons version of abuse is not more valid than another’s. there is no perfect victim- people process and cope in different ways, and if the victim doesn’t want to come forward, no one should force them; it’s their trauma and therefore it’s their right to determine what the best course of action is for their mental health. if they want to be paid for their silence, that’s also their choice. putting yourself in the public eye after what you endured as the face of your abusers takedown is not easy
there are many villains in this story, and emily is absolutely one of them. she is absolutely starstruck by tamsins abuse, unbothered by lucy’s abuse, and bored of amina’s abuse. why is she rattled to her core about tamsins silence but does not give a single fuck if amina stays silent or not?
there are many villains in this story, and emily is absolutely one of them. she is absolutely starstruck by tamsins abuse, unbothered by lucy’s abuse, and bored of amina’s abuse. why is she rattled to her core about tamsins silence but does not give a single fuck if amina stays silent or not?
June 3, 2022
‘Young Women’ instantly grabbed me from the first chapter; Emily meets Tamsin at a climate change protest in London and is like a moth drawn to a flame. Emily is a millennial young woman who is trying to hold onto her freedom as her best friend chooses the path of settling down. Tamsin is a free spirited actress who instantly holds her attention but as the two women spend more time together, Emily begins to understand that there is a darkness beneath Tamsin’s veneer.
This book tackles the topic of assault in a fresh way, almost making the reader question things from all points of view and almost all of the female characters unfortunately have experiences of abuse to varying degrees. The young women that Moor has constructed all have different ways of coping with the events that have happened in their lives and it gives the plot a far more thought-provoking and more complex storyline. I devoured this novel and am really excited to read plenty more from this author.
This book tackles the topic of assault in a fresh way, almost making the reader question things from all points of view and almost all of the female characters unfortunately have experiences of abuse to varying degrees. The young women that Moor has constructed all have different ways of coping with the events that have happened in their lives and it gives the plot a far more thought-provoking and more complex storyline. I devoured this novel and am really excited to read plenty more from this author.
April 17, 2022
Honestly I'm not sure how I feel about Young Women.
It covers some pressing issues about women existing under the patriarchy. At first it revolved around two young women who became friends, both living in London, but then it soon delves into more serious topics. One of the main issues covered in the story is to what extent can women be complicit in perpetuating rape culture by accepting money in exchange for silence. This leads onto female power and choice and what they have to do move forward with their lives.
I felt that the narrative had a sudden shift and I wasn't sure what to make
Of that.
Also felt like the book lacked a little depth however I don't think any book could truly cover the complexity of all there is in this modern world about female rights. However overall its quite a fast paced read that is completely relevant.
Thank you to Netgalley and Manilla Press for the chance to review this book.
It covers some pressing issues about women existing under the patriarchy. At first it revolved around two young women who became friends, both living in London, but then it soon delves into more serious topics. One of the main issues covered in the story is to what extent can women be complicit in perpetuating rape culture by accepting money in exchange for silence. This leads onto female power and choice and what they have to do move forward with their lives.
I felt that the narrative had a sudden shift and I wasn't sure what to make
Of that.
Also felt like the book lacked a little depth however I don't think any book could truly cover the complexity of all there is in this modern world about female rights. However overall its quite a fast paced read that is completely relevant.
Thank you to Netgalley and Manilla Press for the chance to review this book.
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