In her celebrated debut, journalist Lisa Taddeo spent eight years immersing herself in the lives of three women: Maggie, who’s dealing with the aftermath of an alleged relationship with her high school teacher; Lina, who has an affair after years of her husband refusing to kiss her; and Sloane, who has sex with other people for her husband’s gratification. What emerged are three gripping and unforgettable stories about desire and power. Though the book is written in third person, it’s deeply intimate. I can only imagine the endless conversations Taddeo had with each of the women, going over every smell and sensation so that she – and by extension, we – could feel like we were there, in the car where Lina had her first kiss or the classroom where Maggie’s teacher crossed the line. Three Women is every bit as powerful and addictive as critics said and thoroughly deserves its place on all the best-seller lists. MG

Bloomsbury Publishing