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Girl Trade
An erotic novel by bestselling erotic novelist Chloe Thurlow
Emily feels wicked, liberated, daring. And bored. But her adventure begins on holiday in La Gomera, when a rugged beachcomber removes the leather thong from his neck and binds her hands behind her. Crossing oceans and continents in a nether world of smugglers, arms dealers, and pirates, she becomes the adored but captive jewel of the tough inflexible men who make a living in inhospitable landscapes. On hot afternoons on long days without number, she dedicates herself to the pleasures of sex in all its shapes and forms. She learns subservience. She becomes the perfect concubine. The perfect lover. She becomes Chengi – Girl.
Emily feels wicked, liberated, daring. And bored. But her adventure begins on holiday in La Gomera, when a rugged beachcomber removes the leather thong from his neck and binds her hands behind her. Crossing oceans and continents in a nether world of smugglers, arms dealers, and pirates, she becomes the adored but captive jewel of the tough inflexible men who make a living in inhospitable landscapes. On hot afternoons on long days without number, she dedicates herself to the pleasures of sex in all its shapes and forms. She learns subservience. She becomes the perfect concubine. The perfect lover. She becomes Chengi – Girl.
236 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2010
14 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
Chloe Thurlow
29 books234 followersAfter uni, I started working in PR and got bored to tears. It was more fun being a waitress and writing in the dark silent hours from 2am to 6. I managed to complete a novel I called "Being A Girl" and fell over in the street after Nexus published it and the editor gave me a bottle of champagne I drank too quickly. Now, here we are, penning away night and day, five novels and three naughty-shorties on the shelf with a study of EL James called "The Fifty Shades of Grey Phenomena" just out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 21, 2013
It is safe to say that nobody writes erotica like Chloe Thurlow. I wish that I could!
This story is so far-fetched that it could not possibly be true: not one part of it. It is pure fantasy. And that is what it is meant to be. It is superb erotic fiction. I am convinced that it contains many of the deepest fantasies of the author herself. If you read some of her other books, you may come to a similar conclusion. Whether that is true or not, and I like to think that it is, this makes for some damned good, and hot, reading.
Imagine that you are an office girl, or boy, and that you find the freedom to lie, naked, on a beach on La Gomera, the remotest of the Canary Islands. You see a small island in the distance that you have never noticed before. You swim, free and naked, over to the island and start to explore. This is when your freedom comes to an abrupt end.
You are captured, humiliated and abused. But, to your surprise, you find that you enjoy it. In fact, you do much more than enjoy it!
This is exactly what happens to the heroine of this book. She is beaten, whipped, sodomised, screwed, forced into oral sex, tied up, urinated upon, treated as a slave, transported to, well, many unexpected places. The Arab pirates, and particularly the sheik whose slave she becomes, Shamir, bring her sexual excitement and thrills beyond her wildest dreams. Her juices flow continuously, and her climaxes cum across page after orgasmic page.
She often wonders how she came to this new life from her completely contra-life as a London PR agent. Actually, the number of times that she wonders this began to grate on me a little. Perhaps she should just stop wondering and get on with her new, wonderful, incredibly horny, life.
It gets even better when she ends up in a Saharan village, and becomes friends, and a little more, with the beautiful belly-dancer, Maysoon. She learns the art of sensual, erotic dancing for herself, and a lot more besides. Sex with her "sister" is unexpectedly arousing for her, and for this reader too!
Well done to Chloe Thurlow, a true leader of the genre.
This story is so far-fetched that it could not possibly be true: not one part of it. It is pure fantasy. And that is what it is meant to be. It is superb erotic fiction. I am convinced that it contains many of the deepest fantasies of the author herself. If you read some of her other books, you may come to a similar conclusion. Whether that is true or not, and I like to think that it is, this makes for some damned good, and hot, reading.
Imagine that you are an office girl, or boy, and that you find the freedom to lie, naked, on a beach on La Gomera, the remotest of the Canary Islands. You see a small island in the distance that you have never noticed before. You swim, free and naked, over to the island and start to explore. This is when your freedom comes to an abrupt end.
You are captured, humiliated and abused. But, to your surprise, you find that you enjoy it. In fact, you do much more than enjoy it!
This is exactly what happens to the heroine of this book. She is beaten, whipped, sodomised, screwed, forced into oral sex, tied up, urinated upon, treated as a slave, transported to, well, many unexpected places. The Arab pirates, and particularly the sheik whose slave she becomes, Shamir, bring her sexual excitement and thrills beyond her wildest dreams. Her juices flow continuously, and her climaxes cum across page after orgasmic page.
She often wonders how she came to this new life from her completely contra-life as a London PR agent. Actually, the number of times that she wonders this began to grate on me a little. Perhaps she should just stop wondering and get on with her new, wonderful, incredibly horny, life.
It gets even better when she ends up in a Saharan village, and becomes friends, and a little more, with the beautiful belly-dancer, Maysoon. She learns the art of sensual, erotic dancing for herself, and a lot more besides. Sex with her "sister" is unexpectedly arousing for her, and for this reader too!
Well done to Chloe Thurlow, a true leader of the genre.
January 5, 2011
A journey of self discovery and letting go of inhibitions- not for the faint hearted, this book leaves you questioning everything you once considered to be sexy. Can being urinated on, slapped and sodomised really be a turn on? Read this with an open mind and I think you'll find the answer is yes!
January 25, 2013
Girl Trade is an erotic novel by Chloe Thurlow - and it's definitely not for the faint hearted. If you like a lot of romance with your erotica, then this book probably isn't for you. If, however, you like hard erotica with dark themes such as kidnap, almost-forced sex, slavery, then you'll enjoy it.
It tells the story of a girl whose real name we never discover, as the book is told in first person. It starts in La Gomera, the Canary Islands, where the protagonist leaves her swimsuit and belongings on the beach and swims out to an even smaller island in the distance. Once there, her life is changed forever. She's quickly thrust into a dangerous adventure, surrounded by men who use her for their own needs, until she's claimed by a sheikh. Then a whole new journey begins, which is full of excitement, danger and subservience. The woman, far from being terrified and desperate to go home, embraces her new life, finds it a wonderful escape from her old life. But will she think that way forever?
This is one of the most unusual erotic novels I've ever read, with it's hardcore themes and semi non-consensual scenes. But if you can read a book and totally suspend your disbelief, then this is a hot, unique book.
It tells the story of a girl whose real name we never discover, as the book is told in first person. It starts in La Gomera, the Canary Islands, where the protagonist leaves her swimsuit and belongings on the beach and swims out to an even smaller island in the distance. Once there, her life is changed forever. She's quickly thrust into a dangerous adventure, surrounded by men who use her for their own needs, until she's claimed by a sheikh. Then a whole new journey begins, which is full of excitement, danger and subservience. The woman, far from being terrified and desperate to go home, embraces her new life, finds it a wonderful escape from her old life. But will she think that way forever?
This is one of the most unusual erotic novels I've ever read, with it's hardcore themes and semi non-consensual scenes. But if you can read a book and totally suspend your disbelief, then this is a hot, unique book.
November 17, 2010
The end of this novel was so emotional and consuming. I read the last 15% in one sitting!
I don't know whether to hate this book or to love it. Chengi was very lucky by being found by someone who could love her, in Africa. Normally it's immediately into the slave trade for girls there.
There were times when I felt longing for her freedom and fulfilment of desires, but that doesn't mean that I will go off on such an adventure myself. This book touched something within me, and although it's an erotic novel, the focus is really more on the joy and flexibilty of being a woman rather than sex in every position. I think every mature woman ought to read this book; since we cannot all take the actual journey ourselves, at least we can find some truth amongst these pages. Perhaps many readers would find all the "as a woman, reality is like this" admonssions annoying, but I found most of them truthful for me. Who doesn't harbor secret fantasies or wear skimpy clothing in our western worlds to attract men?
I just dislike the end, but it fits to the overall storyline, so I won't say anymore to that. This novel ought to have a six star rating, it was that amazing.
I don't know whether to hate this book or to love it. Chengi was very lucky by being found by someone who could love her, in Africa. Normally it's immediately into the slave trade for girls there.
There were times when I felt longing for her freedom and fulfilment of desires, but that doesn't mean that I will go off on such an adventure myself. This book touched something within me, and although it's an erotic novel, the focus is really more on the joy and flexibilty of being a woman rather than sex in every position. I think every mature woman ought to read this book; since we cannot all take the actual journey ourselves, at least we can find some truth amongst these pages. Perhaps many readers would find all the "as a woman, reality is like this" admonssions annoying, but I found most of them truthful for me. Who doesn't harbor secret fantasies or wear skimpy clothing in our western worlds to attract men?
I just dislike the end, but it fits to the overall storyline, so I won't say anymore to that. This novel ought to have a six star rating, it was that amazing.
November 24, 2012
I always try to find something good about a book. I don't really have much to say about this one. I have a wide range of book types that I like. From regular romance, paranormal romance, historical, sci-fi, horror, humorous and young adult. Books with sex I must admit I like a the best. But his book just way flat.
I can handle books told in the first person. But I am half way threw chapter 5 in a book with 12 chapters. It has taken me all day to get this far. I have extensively cleaned house and almost finished the laundry (I hate doing laundry). I have to force myself to go back to my e-reader. This isn't so much a story as it is a young women's wondering mind. I still don't know the name of the girl who is the main person in this book. Though I do know the names of the 3 men on the boat she is on with right now. The worst thing is that I paid for this book. And being that I paid for it I won't delete it out of my library. Maybe I will get back to it later but for now I am closing the book and going on to something else.
I hate starting a book and not finishing it. But right now I just can't do it. Sorry.
I can handle books told in the first person. But I am half way threw chapter 5 in a book with 12 chapters. It has taken me all day to get this far. I have extensively cleaned house and almost finished the laundry (I hate doing laundry). I have to force myself to go back to my e-reader. This isn't so much a story as it is a young women's wondering mind. I still don't know the name of the girl who is the main person in this book. Though I do know the names of the 3 men on the boat she is on with right now. The worst thing is that I paid for this book. And being that I paid for it I won't delete it out of my library. Maybe I will get back to it later but for now I am closing the book and going on to something else.
I hate starting a book and not finishing it. But right now I just can't do it. Sorry.
January 21, 2013
Wow that was different, in a good way!
Girl Trade describes a thought provoking, alien journey. The story is told from a girl's perspective who's in her early 20s and from a privileged background. She can't quite put her finger on why, but she's not content. On the surface, she has everything she needs; a good job, a boyfriend, plenty of material things. But actually it's all fake and not very satisfying.
It all starts when she does something completely crazy and out of character; after sunbathing naked on a beach in the Canary Islands, she takes a swim to a tiny island in the distance. From then onwards she is at the mercy of others. This beginning is shocking, raw and certainly not be to everyone's taste. But that's the whole point; through the quite horrible situations that she finds herself in initially, she learns to adjust and reinvent herself. And amazingly, she discovers herself in this foreign land, surrounded by people she can't even communicate with properly. And she also finds strong intimate connections in the most unlikely places.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind adult themes. It's very well written, and the author does a brilliant job of giving you a glimpse into another person's mind, as well as wonderful descriptions of foreign lands most of us might not get to see. I found it quite effortless to imagine myself there, taking in the same sights and smells. Expect plenty of inner monologue, something which I quite enjoy reading. I'll be honest and say that I never understood the appeal of for example spanking but managed to gain some insights from reading this book that I didn't have before.
This isn't your ordinary erotica story, it is so much more (though it will absolutely get your blood pumping!). The author deals with serious themes and you often get the sense that although things don't turn out all that badly for the main character, it could've easily gone much worse. We're reminded that life is short and precious and we should seize every opportunity to live it before it's too late. Loved it!
Girl Trade describes a thought provoking, alien journey. The story is told from a girl's perspective who's in her early 20s and from a privileged background. She can't quite put her finger on why, but she's not content. On the surface, she has everything she needs; a good job, a boyfriend, plenty of material things. But actually it's all fake and not very satisfying.
It all starts when she does something completely crazy and out of character; after sunbathing naked on a beach in the Canary Islands, she takes a swim to a tiny island in the distance. From then onwards she is at the mercy of others. This beginning is shocking, raw and certainly not be to everyone's taste. But that's the whole point; through the quite horrible situations that she finds herself in initially, she learns to adjust and reinvent herself. And amazingly, she discovers herself in this foreign land, surrounded by people she can't even communicate with properly. And she also finds strong intimate connections in the most unlikely places.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind adult themes. It's very well written, and the author does a brilliant job of giving you a glimpse into another person's mind, as well as wonderful descriptions of foreign lands most of us might not get to see. I found it quite effortless to imagine myself there, taking in the same sights and smells. Expect plenty of inner monologue, something which I quite enjoy reading. I'll be honest and say that I never understood the appeal of for example spanking but managed to gain some insights from reading this book that I didn't have before.
This isn't your ordinary erotica story, it is so much more (though it will absolutely get your blood pumping!). The author deals with serious themes and you often get the sense that although things don't turn out all that badly for the main character, it could've easily gone much worse. We're reminded that life is short and precious and we should seize every opportunity to live it before it's too late. Loved it!
March 22, 2011
Who needs viagra when you have a chloe thurlow book. Once again, Chloe delivers a beautifully written, highly erotic story that quite literally keeps you up all night. Highly recommended reading, for both men and women, which is rare in this genre.
April 26, 2012
Literally repulsed in the beginning. Did not know this was an erotica book until the end. Oops! But it was deliciously naughty and left me blushing page after page.
October 10, 2013
As the protagonist leaves her mundane life of conformity, her publishing house job, and confining office outfits, she yearns for an adventure. She wants to feel awake and alive, not “like a clone among clones” stuck with her London job, predictable friends, and an unimaginative boyfriend. Her senses are dulled, and her emotions are flat. Her life has no pleasure nor pain. She feels nothing and is ready to trade that kind of stifling existence for anything different. Any sensation, even the physical pain or sexual humiliation, would be a vast improvement over the nothingness that she feels in her civilized life. As she sheds her clothes and her inhibitions, she develops a new identity and learns to feel again, both pain and pleasure, and myriad of sensations that come in-between. To me, the need to escape the mundane, at any cost, was one of the most powerful ideas in the book. If you have never experienced life that was so confining that it left you feeling emotionally, mentally, and physically dead, you are lucky, and this idea might not hit home with you. But for those of us who were at some point in life stuck neck-deep in infinite boredom, her yearning to escape that life, at any cost, doesn’t seem that far-fetched.
The book is extremely well-written, with vivid settings, sensual descriptions of exotic belly-dancers, flavorful foods and drinks, the smells, the sounds, and the tastes of distant oceans, uninhabited islands, and the mesmerizing Sahara desert. All the different cultures described and the foreign languages spoken in the book add to the excitement and the suspense. The way the protagonist adjusts her Western identity to these foreign and exotic circumstances is fascinating to read about.
And just a reminder to those readers who wonder whether what the men do to the girl in the book is legal, whether the book promotes sex trade, sends the message to men that women want to be raped and abused, etc., etc., please remember that this is fiction, erotica, and fantasy, not a political or a social statement. The ultimate loss of control and sexual surrender that this book portrays is appealing to women who are busy, on schedule, and very much in control in their real lives. It’s a wild escape from reality and a fun reminder that there’s a sensual side to life that is often forgotten among errands. And you don’t have to travel to an exotic island to have these experiences. But it wouldn’t hurt. Or maybe, it would, judging by what happened in the novel, but the experience might still be worth it.
The book is extremely well-written, with vivid settings, sensual descriptions of exotic belly-dancers, flavorful foods and drinks, the smells, the sounds, and the tastes of distant oceans, uninhabited islands, and the mesmerizing Sahara desert. All the different cultures described and the foreign languages spoken in the book add to the excitement and the suspense. The way the protagonist adjusts her Western identity to these foreign and exotic circumstances is fascinating to read about.
And just a reminder to those readers who wonder whether what the men do to the girl in the book is legal, whether the book promotes sex trade, sends the message to men that women want to be raped and abused, etc., etc., please remember that this is fiction, erotica, and fantasy, not a political or a social statement. The ultimate loss of control and sexual surrender that this book portrays is appealing to women who are busy, on schedule, and very much in control in their real lives. It’s a wild escape from reality and a fun reminder that there’s a sensual side to life that is often forgotten among errands. And you don’t have to travel to an exotic island to have these experiences. But it wouldn’t hurt. Or maybe, it would, judging by what happened in the novel, but the experience might still be worth it.
January 11, 2013
I found the first chapter of Girl Trade both shocking and highly erotic. I was hooked, even as a few times I was appalled. I couldn’t stop reading and found this book to be a naughty, naughty delight. The author paints a vivid picture of exotic lands as the heroine, a young girl from London, sets off on an erotic adventure like no other. Emily has it all on the surface – a good job, good friends, and good social standing. But she’s bored to tears with her life, and she doesn’t feel like she knows herself. So she does something impulsive and swims through the ocean to a tiny island where she meets the beachcomber who strips away her freedom.
As the book continued on, I became mesmerized by Emily and her path to personal discovery as she becomes “Chengi” and grows to care for a sheikh. I hung on every word and kept turning the pages, so enthralled was I by her compelling internal voice, and all the thoughts going through her head as she attempts to rationalize and come to terms with her behavior in a new world of pleasure, pain, and service. Girl Trade, without a doubt, has the potential to become a cult book. It’s a book I’ll keep to read again and again. I look forward to reading more works by Chloe Thurlow and would love to see a sequel to Girl Trade.
As the book continued on, I became mesmerized by Emily and her path to personal discovery as she becomes “Chengi” and grows to care for a sheikh. I hung on every word and kept turning the pages, so enthralled was I by her compelling internal voice, and all the thoughts going through her head as she attempts to rationalize and come to terms with her behavior in a new world of pleasure, pain, and service. Girl Trade, without a doubt, has the potential to become a cult book. It’s a book I’ll keep to read again and again. I look forward to reading more works by Chloe Thurlow and would love to see a sequel to Girl Trade.
January 11, 2013
I have to say this is the most inappropriate bookcover imaginable, given the content of the book. This is indeed a somewhat strange one - beginning with a London girl on vacation in the Med deciding to do a bit of skinny dipping - and winding up being abducted... and bared of all her past concerns. There's a rather strange swerving from the frivolous to the serious - what with the heroine's delight in submissiveness and love for her Samir, and then bleak glimpses of modern day slavery and it's very real cogs. I almost felt like the book had been written by more than one author, as these various parts seemed so disjointed.
On the whole, quite an interesting read.
On the whole, quite an interesting read.
January 2, 2011
Although the craft of this book is well done, the material was not to my taste. I found the heroine to be somewhat vapid and the first person she encounters to be so distasteful that I had to quit reading for fear that the book would be nothing but a series of encounters with the same stereotype. I read the entire Kindle sample before deciding not to buy.
May 28, 2013
This is a stunningly riveting book. The heroine, a bored London girl who has discarded her boyfriend, goes on holiday to La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands, where she learns to discard all inhibitions as she is initiated into a much greater self-awareness and sense of reality through a string of brilliantly-described and at times quite brutal sexual encounters. Through swimming out naked to a small island she leaves behind her old self and values and, like Columbus, embarks on a voyage of self-discovery into the unknown. Captured by a gang of Arab smugglers (whose main occupation is smuggling Africans into Europe) she finds pleasure in being abused and taken against her will by a succession of swarthy, muscular, turbaned Arabs. She becomes stripped of her past and thus her own identity, and in effect becomes a nothing at the mercy and indulgence of the men she is in thrall to. She ends up with a sheikh, Samir, every Western girl's wet dream, and becomes freed from all barriers and restraints. She lives a reality that in her western decadence she could only have dreamed of; she becomes her sheikh's willing concubine, glorifying in her subjugation and abuse. There are a succession of love-making scenes, graphically and expertly described, often violent, always fulfilling, and not just with her beloved sheikh, but others too, including Maysoon, a beautiful belly-dancer. She joins the harem, initiated into it with her body being branded by being given the clan markings, and described in gruesome, brutal detail. In the end she does leave North Africa and returns to her chic London life, but it is not only her body which has been given something of a violent sheikh, but, in fact, her whole awareness of her sexual and inner self. Breath-taking!
June 8, 2013
Absolutely fascinating and very well written
Written in first person this is an intriguing and hard edged story of a young woman who becomes Chengi. We never find out her real name. She’s taken by people smugglers after swimming out to an island, and so begins an adventure of self-discovery, sex, and subservience. Chengi’s story is a darkly erotic one where she enjoys being the object of desire and willingly gives in to the many sexual encounters. The book does have a fairy story quality about it despite being, gritty and hardcore, because there is a young Sheik who falls in love with Chengi, and of course a further adventure awaits her in the harem.
Excellently written, frequent sex scenes, and an intriguing story lift this book out of fairy tale into a blend of erotica that is surprising. It is dark, it is hard, and touches on the reality of the sex slave trade we all know exists, with an ending that is extremely poignant.
Written in first person this is an intriguing and hard edged story of a young woman who becomes Chengi. We never find out her real name. She’s taken by people smugglers after swimming out to an island, and so begins an adventure of self-discovery, sex, and subservience. Chengi’s story is a darkly erotic one where she enjoys being the object of desire and willingly gives in to the many sexual encounters. The book does have a fairy story quality about it despite being, gritty and hardcore, because there is a young Sheik who falls in love with Chengi, and of course a further adventure awaits her in the harem.
Excellently written, frequent sex scenes, and an intriguing story lift this book out of fairy tale into a blend of erotica that is surprising. It is dark, it is hard, and touches on the reality of the sex slave trade we all know exists, with an ending that is extremely poignant.
November 4, 2013
Chloe Thurlow is the master of erotica, or should I say mistress? This is the second book I have read by this author and she is adept at mixing an engaging plot with erotica which is not repetitive or dull by any means.
This story of a girl who decides to take a swim in the nude whilst on holiday, draws the reader in as she experiences a whole world of sex and punishment which she never knew existed. The writer creates a vivid picture as Chengi experiences thrills and adventure of which she couldn't ever have dreamed were possible.
Falling in love with a sheik and becoming part of his harem, Chengi is introduced to a foreign and mysterious world in which a woman is subservient and kept for one purpose. She discovers new joys for her body as she becomes a willing sex slave, sold as a slab of meat for male gratification.
Yet this is not a novel which subverts the female. It enriches the female experience and opens up new avenues of pleasure in a world only dreamt about by so many.
This story of a girl who decides to take a swim in the nude whilst on holiday, draws the reader in as she experiences a whole world of sex and punishment which she never knew existed. The writer creates a vivid picture as Chengi experiences thrills and adventure of which she couldn't ever have dreamed were possible.
Falling in love with a sheik and becoming part of his harem, Chengi is introduced to a foreign and mysterious world in which a woman is subservient and kept for one purpose. She discovers new joys for her body as she becomes a willing sex slave, sold as a slab of meat for male gratification.
Yet this is not a novel which subverts the female. It enriches the female experience and opens up new avenues of pleasure in a world only dreamt about by so many.
March 12, 2014
This is brilliant book. I was so surprised and astonished reading it. It combines wild adventure, magic and exquisite erotica. I read page after page in true disbelief. It’s not the common erotic ebook. There is more. It’s fascinating and entertaining. I appreciated all the settings and the beautiful descriptions. The characters are awesome. Chengi is superb. And all the events are so exciting. I wanted more and more after each page. Girl Trade is an amazing book and I think that all the readers who like erotic stories should enjoy it.
March 22, 2011
Chloe Thurlow does it again! She is fast becoming my favourite writer. No-one seems to write erotica as if its a 'proper' book, except for Chloe. There is an excellent story as well as the well written, beautifully steamy interludes as our heroine gets up to her naughty tricks. More please Chloe! xxx
July 1, 2013
This was definitely a different kind of story for me. I liked it and I didn't. I can't make up my mind.
September 15, 2013
3.5 stars
February 9, 2016
Would have given it a better star rating if the ending had been better. I really didn't like the ending.
May 16, 2011
A most devine read.
September 5, 2020
This promising story needs maturing. This author will probably offer in the future quite interesting books.
May 18, 2013
Erotica for Smart Women
I don't normally go for this brand of erotica. The kind of erotica I read is fun, carefree, and often fantastical. Girl Trade took me on a vivid, realistic journey of what it is to be broken like a horse, branded like cattle, and sold like a slave.
The setting itself is worth the price. This is travel erotica. The descriptions of the Sahara desert - the rise and fall of the dunes, the sand in your teeth, the carnal smell of the camels, the fire at night, the movement in the saddle - lend to a wonderful, sensual experience and you feel as though you are truly there.
What makes Ms. Thurlow's story unique is how a woman brought up with Western ideas of what's right and what's wrong discovers how rewarding it is to be a woman in the midst of a different culture with different ideas of what's moral and proper. The main character Chengi discovers the pleasure of having a man who cares when she has done wrong and shows it with a firm spanking. She discovers the delight in wearing a symbol of belonging to one man, and the thrill of being wanted by other men at auction.
I applaud Ms. Thurlow's courage in presenting us with a woman like Chengi who changes her belief system so much that Chengi finds it natural to be the sexual vessel for a group of men who take her with them on a caravan and use her for their sexual release. Girl Trade is more a reflection on what it means to be a woman in Western society and asks the question, "Considering the forbidden delights women experience in other cultures, might the Western treatment of women be wrong?"
Girl Trade was not the most pleasurable erotica I've read, but it's one of the most important books I've read. Ever. If scenes of caning and sexual encounters of dubious consent make you uncomfortable, I recommend reading Girl Trade for its philosophical content, and not for its erotic content. And for those of you who enjoy a good spanking and scenes of dub con sex, Girl Trade is perfect for your fantasies of Arabian nights.
I don't normally go for this brand of erotica. The kind of erotica I read is fun, carefree, and often fantastical. Girl Trade took me on a vivid, realistic journey of what it is to be broken like a horse, branded like cattle, and sold like a slave.
The setting itself is worth the price. This is travel erotica. The descriptions of the Sahara desert - the rise and fall of the dunes, the sand in your teeth, the carnal smell of the camels, the fire at night, the movement in the saddle - lend to a wonderful, sensual experience and you feel as though you are truly there.
What makes Ms. Thurlow's story unique is how a woman brought up with Western ideas of what's right and what's wrong discovers how rewarding it is to be a woman in the midst of a different culture with different ideas of what's moral and proper. The main character Chengi discovers the pleasure of having a man who cares when she has done wrong and shows it with a firm spanking. She discovers the delight in wearing a symbol of belonging to one man, and the thrill of being wanted by other men at auction.
I applaud Ms. Thurlow's courage in presenting us with a woman like Chengi who changes her belief system so much that Chengi finds it natural to be the sexual vessel for a group of men who take her with them on a caravan and use her for their sexual release. Girl Trade is more a reflection on what it means to be a woman in Western society and asks the question, "Considering the forbidden delights women experience in other cultures, might the Western treatment of women be wrong?"
Girl Trade was not the most pleasurable erotica I've read, but it's one of the most important books I've read. Ever. If scenes of caning and sexual encounters of dubious consent make you uncomfortable, I recommend reading Girl Trade for its philosophical content, and not for its erotic content. And for those of you who enjoy a good spanking and scenes of dub con sex, Girl Trade is perfect for your fantasies of Arabian nights.
February 14, 2016
I had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book. The first chapter gripped me in a whirlwind of feelings: interest, suspense, disgust, and anger. I have zero tolerance for someone forcing their will on others unless the other party gives her permission to do so. However, the main character in Girl Trade is surprised and a bit horrified to discover how sexually responsive her body is to the abuse of a heavy-handed Arab.
At the beginning of the tale, the main character has a great job in London and loads of friends. Now single she decides to go on holiday to figure out what she wants out of life. While on the beach, sunning in the nude, on an impulse she swims to another island where she’s captured and forced by Arabs to do degrading things right there. What the Arab does to her is appalling, but the brilliance of Chloe’s writing and her crafty way of allowing us as readers to be inside the main character’s head dulled the hatred I felt toward this man.
Girl Trade is about self-discovery in a horrid situation. I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone because of the obscene, sadomasochistic scenes that play out in the story. However, the deep psychology that bleeds through each page is raw and unyielding, only a person with a deep insight into humanity can write such a tale. The story is well-written, poetic, and stitched together by a rare artist of our time, who not only knows how to weave a compelling story but is insightful—a thinker, like Ralph Waldo Emerson. Her books should be mandatory to read in college—especially if you’re majoring in psychology or something along those lines. Students should have to write a report on it and group discussions should follow. Chloe is that good. If you’re not a bubble-head, you’ll appreciate her style. You’ll get the metaphors, the underlining meanings, and the unapologetic truths regarding our human nature, to where you’ll be driven to read her other books and become a fan for life.
At the beginning of the tale, the main character has a great job in London and loads of friends. Now single she decides to go on holiday to figure out what she wants out of life. While on the beach, sunning in the nude, on an impulse she swims to another island where she’s captured and forced by Arabs to do degrading things right there. What the Arab does to her is appalling, but the brilliance of Chloe’s writing and her crafty way of allowing us as readers to be inside the main character’s head dulled the hatred I felt toward this man.
Girl Trade is about self-discovery in a horrid situation. I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone because of the obscene, sadomasochistic scenes that play out in the story. However, the deep psychology that bleeds through each page is raw and unyielding, only a person with a deep insight into humanity can write such a tale. The story is well-written, poetic, and stitched together by a rare artist of our time, who not only knows how to weave a compelling story but is insightful—a thinker, like Ralph Waldo Emerson. Her books should be mandatory to read in college—especially if you’re majoring in psychology or something along those lines. Students should have to write a report on it and group discussions should follow. Chloe is that good. If you’re not a bubble-head, you’ll appreciate her style. You’ll get the metaphors, the underlining meanings, and the unapologetic truths regarding our human nature, to where you’ll be driven to read her other books and become a fan for life.
September 12, 2015
If you haven’t read any of Chloe Thurlow’s work yet, you really are missing out. The Anais Nin of our time, her work is provocative. Girl Trade is no exception.
Dark and beautiful, taboo and erotic at once, Girl Trade starts in the privileged world of our heroine as she fancies herself owed somehow. Young and intelligent, but also quite unlikable at first, she is thrust into a world of sexual depravity that can only be described as an awakening. Her culture, spoiled upbringing and social norms are stripped away from her both literally and metaphorically as she discovers that her life “had always been a lukewarm bath of mediocrity.”
Through her journey, she finds her most authentic self, albeit at times humiliating, as if all truth had been suppressed before, adhering to civilized society’s view of behavior and expectations. She states, “Once you know who you are you can let go of the things you crave and just be yourself.”
Exhilarating to read, but certainly not a beach book, the darkness found in the heroine’s new world of dominance and submission finds its light through Thurlow’s writing. The story resonated with me strongly, even as I cringed at some of the scenes. I connected with the themes on a deep level. Thurlow’s writing is that poignant. “People live their lives without ever knowing who they really are…” I pray that is not my truth too.
Dark and beautiful, taboo and erotic at once, Girl Trade starts in the privileged world of our heroine as she fancies herself owed somehow. Young and intelligent, but also quite unlikable at first, she is thrust into a world of sexual depravity that can only be described as an awakening. Her culture, spoiled upbringing and social norms are stripped away from her both literally and metaphorically as she discovers that her life “had always been a lukewarm bath of mediocrity.”
Through her journey, she finds her most authentic self, albeit at times humiliating, as if all truth had been suppressed before, adhering to civilized society’s view of behavior and expectations. She states, “Once you know who you are you can let go of the things you crave and just be yourself.”
Exhilarating to read, but certainly not a beach book, the darkness found in the heroine’s new world of dominance and submission finds its light through Thurlow’s writing. The story resonated with me strongly, even as I cringed at some of the scenes. I connected with the themes on a deep level. Thurlow’s writing is that poignant. “People live their lives without ever knowing who they really are…” I pray that is not my truth too.
August 6, 2016
Chloe’s scintillating erotica
A Star in the Literary Heavens I wasn’t surprised to discover that Girl Trade can be heard on audio and has been translated into Spanish and Polish. A French/Spanish production company has acquired film rights and some lucky scriptwriter is now pouring over these glorious pages adapting the book for film.
Coupled with Chloe Thurlow’s usual literary flair, we enter a breathtaking novel that takes Chengi (girl in Arabic) on a hair-raising journey from the beaches of the Canary Islands, along the coast of Africa by sea, across the Sahara by camel (the descriptions are so vivid you can feel the heat and taste the red sand) - and finally into a voodoo ritual where Chengi is the chosen one for a human sacrifice.
Along the way, we are treated to Chloe’s scintillating erotica but here, too, we discover Girl Trade is different from her other books. This is a romance. The girl who has given up her London life to travel falls for a young Arab sheik and, I warn you, you will burn your fingers turning the pages wondering if he will find Chengi in time to save her. So, yes, good, very, very good. This is a young writer who I am sure will be a big star in the literary heavens.
A Star in the Literary Heavens I wasn’t surprised to discover that Girl Trade can be heard on audio and has been translated into Spanish and Polish. A French/Spanish production company has acquired film rights and some lucky scriptwriter is now pouring over these glorious pages adapting the book for film.
Coupled with Chloe Thurlow’s usual literary flair, we enter a breathtaking novel that takes Chengi (girl in Arabic) on a hair-raising journey from the beaches of the Canary Islands, along the coast of Africa by sea, across the Sahara by camel (the descriptions are so vivid you can feel the heat and taste the red sand) - and finally into a voodoo ritual where Chengi is the chosen one for a human sacrifice.
Along the way, we are treated to Chloe’s scintillating erotica but here, too, we discover Girl Trade is different from her other books. This is a romance. The girl who has given up her London life to travel falls for a young Arab sheik and, I warn you, you will burn your fingers turning the pages wondering if he will find Chengi in time to save her. So, yes, good, very, very good. This is a young writer who I am sure will be a big star in the literary heavens.
September 11, 2014
My first impression (starting this book): EMILY IS A MORON. HOW DID SHE EVEN LIVE TO THE AGE OF 22?! She has a chance to swim away and she doesn't even do it?! UGH. I deeply regret opening up this story. I knew I should have stopped at my second Chloe Thurlow read, but my hope for a good erotica find proves to be as elusive and naive as Thurlow's attempts at creating enjoyable heroines...
My second impression (halfway through this book): the writing and prose is awesome! Unfortunately, I have no respect for Emily. For lack of a better word to describe her, I'm going to use a college phrase I've heard from the mouths of many fraternity boys - she's a 'frat rat' a.k.a. a cum dumpster.
My last impression (upon finishing this book): overall, I enjoyed the writing, but found Emily to be annoying and vapid. She has no contributing thoughts except for her next orgasm. She's an under-developed character who I found mentally and emotionally immature. How can you fall in love with someone you can't speak to outside of a couple of basic words?! The story lacked development between characters which made it difficult to connect and empathize with what was happening to them.
My second impression (halfway through this book): the writing and prose is awesome! Unfortunately, I have no respect for Emily. For lack of a better word to describe her, I'm going to use a college phrase I've heard from the mouths of many fraternity boys - she's a 'frat rat' a.k.a. a cum dumpster.
My last impression (upon finishing this book): overall, I enjoyed the writing, but found Emily to be annoying and vapid. She has no contributing thoughts except for her next orgasm. She's an under-developed character who I found mentally and emotionally immature. How can you fall in love with someone you can't speak to outside of a couple of basic words?! The story lacked development between characters which made it difficult to connect and empathize with what was happening to them.
January 16, 2015
WOW! This book was such a shock to the senses! I was horrified at a few of the things in the first couple of chapters, but the beautiful and stunning writing coupled with the raw and powerful meaning that was underneath kept me going. The descriptions, metaphors, and flashbacks did such an amazing job of pulling me into this woman's journey. As I read in some of the other reviews, it is a scenario that would be so unlikely, if not impossible, but that is what pulls you into the fantasy. I LOVED this book, and I absolutely love her writing style! I can't wait to pick up her other books :)
July 3, 2017
What's with the cover picture? And rugged beach comber my arse! That first guy was a rotten toothed nasty mcnasty thing.Other than that a very compelling story and quite a journey.Her tolerance and acceptance of everything really got to me. I don't think I know anyone remotely like that.
Good ending.
Good ending.
July 14, 2013
I believe it had potential , I just wasn't into the over explained situations ,etc. it doesn't take 30 explanations and quotes from books to understand something. Maybe that's just me. Had half of the book been taken away, the story would've been great. Sorry for the negative review, I just have to be honest.
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