Sleeping Around: Secrets of a Sexual Adventuress by Catherine Townsend

After months of being charmed by English banker Patrick in a whirl-wind romance, Catherine takes the plunge and agrees to move in with him: Not only agrees to move in with him, but, leave her life in New York and move over 3000 miles across the Atlantic to London to be with the man she loves. She had finally found her Prince Charming and was looking forward to the happily ever after that all girls long for. However, 2 days before her move to London, Catherine received the dreaded “I never want to see you again” email from Patrick, who insisted they meet up on her arrival to discuss the break-up. Ironically, choosing the Bleeding Heart restaurant to tell her the reason she has been dumped is her lack of focus in life, making her an “unreliable” partner. Now she has to start a new life in a new city, with no boyfriend, no apartment, no job. Luckily things soon start look to up when she moves in with the bold and brash Victoria, starts writing for a column for a top, national newspaper and her search to find Mr Right turns into finding Mr Right now.

Sleeping Around by Catherine Townsend is a non fictitious book published a couple of years ago. The author is an American, freelance journalist and until recently wrote a weekly sex column for the Independent. The title may lead the reader to have some preconceptions about the book, but Catherine goes beyond writing about just her sexual experiences and discusses the ideas of falling in and out of love to the age old taboo that men can sleep around, but women can’t to men’s fear of the post feminist woman who says and does as she pleases. Having stated that, this book is definitely not for the prudish. I read this book in a day, sitting in Le Jardin de Luxemburg in Paris. I think the Parisians thought I had a mental condition as I lost count at the number of times I laughed out loud while reading this book. From getting over a break up to threesomes, from friendships to marriage of necessity, from an addiction to kinky lingerie to a fantasy about a certain British politician and more. A very funny, modern approach to finding love and having fun for the young, forward thinking woman. I can surely say that all women can relate to at least one of Catherine’s experiences. I certainly did, which made it a more intriguing and enticing read.

 Absolutely Sex and the City meets cool and trendy London. The main character of the book has Samantha’s sexual prowess and adventures, Charlotte’s search for love and that one man who takes her breath away, Miranda’s sternness towards the opposite sex and Carrie’s ideas of love and life as a sex columnist. Not forgetting the love of shopping. Although, Carrie’s love for Monolo’s is substituted for Catherine’s love for Agent Provocateur and Coco de Mer. One of Catherine’s favourite mantras is one I think all women should do. No matter what life throws at you, look in the mirror, wipe the mascara from your cheeks and repeat “you are a rock star, you ARE a rock star and he’s an idiot”. I do believe that the modern, ambitious, career driven woman truly is a rock star.

I am definitely looking forward to reading the second instalment of Catherine’s work which came out earlier this year. I must admit, I do take pleasure in having a sneak peek into another person’s life. Even if it is sitting in a café getting lost in a book for an afternoon.

You can purhase the book from Amazon.com here or Amazon.co.uk here. Please let us know what you thought of the book in the comments below!