Not quite what I was hoping for, but that is on me. It felt more abrasive than funny, making it difficult for me to get into.

I remember enjoying this while I listened to it, very much falling into the young woman explores her Sexuality and is a bit messy genre, but honestly I can't remember much now a couple months after. A worthwhile read, but not a particularly memorable one unfortunately.

𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞: feminism, bdsm, millennial fiction, journalism, fierce friendships

I loved this. I audiobooked it (thanks Netgalley) but finished it in two days!
The book follows a slightly troubled MC who finds worth in their relationship with men but slowly learns whats important and how to ask life for what they want from it.

The friendships were fierce and desirable, but also messy at times. The plot explores feminist journalism in an imperfect form. The pacing and ending are satisfying and I loved being in the world of Good Girl.

Not for the faint-hearted, there are triggers of abusive relationships and the content gets spicyyy (but not always in an enjoyable way).

Overall I just really loved this read and I know others will do too.

This book was compared to a show I've never seen and a story I've never read (I have read SOME Gaitskill, so I give myself at least a small bit of credit)- So I went in blind. All I needed was a messy main character and a little bit of spice, and this book delivered.

Lucy is a "good girl", but she wants to earn the title, preferably by taking spankings, being tied up, and being hurt in various ways by her objects of desire. The book follows her through her sexual fantasies as well as her exploration of kink on the side as she tries to balance friendships and a budding career as a writer. Lucy struggles to keep business and pleasure separate, however, and lacks perspective one can only gain through some rather tense situations and interactions.

I enjoyed Lucy as a character. I really believed that she was growing throughout the book, or at least by the end, and her ignorance felt wholly as if it was due to her age, so I was able to forgive her that. She reminded me of myself before life experience taught me how to be a member of society and relationships. Her journey to find what she truly likes and separate what makes her "good" as opposed to what is good for her was relatable.

I also found the subplot uncovering the goings on at a defunct magazine from decades in the past really interesting. It gave a really great contrast to Lucy's internal battle to be a good feminist in the present. Overall, I really enjoyed this audiobook, and in fact it's encouraged me to watch Fleabag immediately.

Thanks so much to Bespeak Audio Productions as well as NetGalley for an opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was funny, relatable, and verryy steamy!! Definitely something you don't want to listen to with company around hahaha! I really enjoyed the fact that it was set in Toronto, I love visiting that city and it's always fun to read a book set there. Also, as a bookseller, I found so many of her work experiences to be so relatable 🤣

This was not really a book for me. While it was pretty funny, I just felt like it started off really good and strong, but the narrative towards the end withered a bit.

2.5⭐️ (rounded up)

Where to start... at first I disliked this book. I was so close to DNFing but I stuck with it and ended up enjoying the ending.

I found Lucy to be problematic and I hoped she would have more growth throughout the book. Her views on feminism and sex made me cringe. At first I found that Lucy’s exploration of BDSM felt real, definitely more real than other BDSM books I’ve read. Henry’s patience to discuss what their rules were, and how their relationship was going to work was well done. Usually you would have the protagonist rushing through those steps to get to the good stuff but it wasn’t rushed at all. This was until later in the book where things became uncomfortable. While I was cringing during the later portions of Lucy’s relationships I do know that those things can happen, the lines between consent and non-consent can become blurred in BDSM. You don’t know if you actually want what’s happening. I wish there was more discussion about what was happening and that Lucy would have some inner reflection of that, especially from a readers standpoint. Theres parts of me that relate to Lucy, she’s in her twenties trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life, wanting a partner but also trying to survive her anxieties, stress, and shame. Even though Lucy went through a large emotional journey throughout this book, I wish there was more of a change to Lucy’s insights.

I originally picked this up because it was described as a comic-erotic book that was like Fleabag. Now I love Fleabag, but I wouldn’t say this is Fleabag like. Yes Lucy likes sex like Fleabag, Lucy has some mixed emotions and reactions regarding sex and her self-image is wrapped around her sex life and partners but that’s where the comparison ends. Throughout the book Lucy says she’s a feminist and that her wants in the bedroom are okay because she is a feminist but there is no real conversation about feminism, BDSM, and sexual submission. If felt like she was using feminism more as a shield to protect her for resolving her own self-image and confidence issues that have lead her to enjoy sexual submission and go beyond her limits to please her partners. Just some additional insight would have been fantastic.

The additional story line of the article felt out of place and separate from the first half of the book. I think I would have enjoyed it more if that portion was more interlaced with the story. I actually really enjoyed the article storyline, especially when Lucy went to LA, it just felt so different and out of place compared to the exploration of BDSM. A lot happens in this book but then nothing happens? If that makes sense? We have the storyline about Lucy’s kinks, the article, her friendships and work life. This book did want me to pick up a copy of Secretary though.

Thank you NetGalley and Bespeak Audio Editions for an advanced audio copy for an honest review.

Lucy was focused on being a "good girl" while looking for her self worth in a world of change. She often finds herself struggling to focus. Lucy often becomes aroused with intimation and seems to struggle with her sexual desires always looking for approval of a Dom.
This was a good quirky book that will have you chuckle from time to time.

Amusing contemporary erotic/work/friendship story that doesn't feel finished.

3.5 stars.

I liked it, yes. But I was also frustrated at the end at how the main character DIDN'T grow in the way the story seemed to set out for her.

This is rather 'sexy' in the sense of Lucy having multiple sexual encounters, seeking out domineering men. It's also a story about her friendship with another woman, a history of her family and why she 'is how she is', and there's a subplot about her attempting to push her career as a writer by researching a retro magazine and its authors.

I read this as an audiobook, which suited the genre, narration style and protagonist, talking to us in letters sent to her recent bedroom partner (married of course). Lucy likes being punished, likes pleasing - or does she? We do get to see her childhood, her parents, her adolescence and college experiences. I didn't feel it really explained everything though, though it did bring us a relatable relationship with her best friend from college, with whom she now has a quite needy bond.

We watch Lucy hook up with less-than-palatable men, though she seems either happy or refuses to accept faults.

The storyline about magazine contributors and models from decades ago felt like it might go somewhere, but in the end felt rather unconnected, unfinished and didn't seem to give Lucy impetus to change, strive or help anyone. It could have the been the plot in itself.

I finished listening with a bit of a frown, I remember, not happy with how the author chooses to leave Lucy. Yes, some lessons were learned about being an adult, but there was something underlying everything that she just didn't seem to have been allowed to grasp. But was this the point? I may have to think about that.

Titillating if you like pain/women being domineered (not really my thing), it does at least encapsulate the confused and hectic lives of contemporary women.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.

Lucy is a 23 year old bookseller and writer who is dabbling in online dating and BDSM, whilst working out what she wants out of life.

Written as a first-person view from Lucy’s perspective, we get to know her every feeling, whim and desire. She gives an intermingling of feeling of youth and uncertainty, but also the joy of sexual exploration. I love the character of Nora, who is the most believable character and really keeps Lucy grounded with has some great advice and insights.

Overall Good Girl is a fun, entertaining and charming read, but I kind of felt like the second half slowed down and then didn’t really seem to go anywhere. I didn't really like the character of Lucy very much overall - I wanted to love this book, but I can’t really say that I did.

The narrator is great, totally believable as Lucy and conveys the mood of the book well.

This book was great! So relatable, in the best ways, and it gave me exactly what I needed when I finished watching Fleabag (for the third time). It was so fun listening to a book that was based in Toronto, as a 'torontonian' myself. I just loved it, and have already recommended it to several friends!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to get this advanced copy of Good Girl, it was an incredibly enjoyable book!

GOOD GIRL appealed to me for a couple of reasons, namely, that it seemed to fit nicely into the category of "sad girl book recs" I read. I'm thinking Sally Rooney, Raven Lelani, Imogen Crimp, etc. Much of the synopsis of this novel reminded me, specifically, of A VERY NICE GIRL by Imogen Crimp. When I first started listening, I felt like it was repetitive, in tone and plot, of something I'd already read. But somewhere in the middle, I found myself really enjoying it. The voice is unique, sharply observant, and cringingly honest. While this does fit within a category of books that I read and enjoy, it surprised me in ways I didn't expect.

I recommend it if you like character-driven stories in the vein of the sad girl book club members mentioned above.

“I have once again tangled myself up in expectations I’ve invented for myself, a test I’ve failed with nobody keeping score.” Anna Fitzpatrick GETS IT. This book is phenomenal but also don’t read it…because I’ll feel too seen. (jk…kinda)

Comp titles that come to mind are both of Melissa Broder’s novels and Just By Looking At Him by Ryan O’Connell. Messy messy main characters stumbling their way through life as they sort through their issues, try and mostly fail to fill the void with sex/work/alcohol, and attempt to find some greater meaning amongst it all. Chef’s kiss.

I tried, man. I tried. I listened to this book looking for something to like. It had a lot. Too much, really. This book was all over the place. Occasionally, I would think there was the hint of something interesting. It never went anywhere. It was just left there, flat. This one just couldn't find itself. I kept hoping for a payoff that just didn't come. This character never grew. She never learned. She never really even tried.

Lucy made the same mistakes over and over. She continued this until the very end. And then she...danced? I was hoping for some growth. I didn't get it. My main problem was her complete lack of self-reflection. How can you keep a journal and never look within? Just read here. Between the surprisingly boring "kinky" sex and the complete misuse of fairly simple terms, Lucy doesn't have time, I guess.

Lucy is possibly a product of her time. She misuses common phrases, like "feminist" while she pretends to consider social issues when she makes decisions...that completely ignore social issues. She's a walking social media post. She pretends to be socially conscious with buzz words, but doesn't actually do anything more than throw out buzz words. She defines everyone else with these terms she just doesn't understand. She could have learned a lot about the feminism of the past and how change has been made. Instead, she throws out platitudes and is confused by the fact that people aren't sitting around complaining about their triggers. She couldn't find a way to get her head out of her own butt.

If you liked 50 shades then you should like this book. Based around a young girls who does not really know what she wants from life and where she is going. Didn't finish it so not for me, narration was American. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

Good Girl works so well as an audiobook. The narration is spot on with just the right amount of emphasis and emotion. It feels like listening to a friend tell a really long story. And that story itself so worth listening to. Fitzpatrick does an amazing job creating a very specific character who also manages to feel very universal and relatable. Good girl dives into all the messy parts of Lucy's life as she tries to to find her place and direction in the world. Fitzpatrick captures the range of emotions and frustrations that going along with growing up as a women who desires to please those around her, in Lucy's case to an extreme amount, and what happens when we try to live for ourselves instead.

I adored this messy sometimes chaotic story and found Lucy to be a perfect stand in for so many women feeling a little lost after college. We may not all want to be dominated in the bedroom and work in media but we have all felt so many of the emotions Lucy feels and Fitzpatrick created a character we can all relate to.

I picked this up on a whim and I'm so glad I did. I can definitely see where people get the Fleabag meets Secretary vibes...but it wasn't quite that and it was also more than that. Sub kink = Secretary and humorous slightly self deprecating inner monologue = Fleabag - but the book is ultimately a book about growing up and navigating life. I did appreciate the portrayal of what a healthy kink boundaries look like (and there are some not so good boundaries as well so CW for that a little). I also loved the painfully awkward and relatable struggles - like how she wonders if she's a bad feminist for being a sub lol. Mich Anger is a great narrator and had me laughing along at several parts.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bespeak Audio Editions for the audiobook ARC!

Good Girl is definitely quite an ambitious debut novel. And maybe it wouldn't work if the author didn't have the literary skills to pull it off. But she does, and it does. Definitely not for the timid or faint of heart, Good Girl will take you places you've (probably) never been before.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book. The Narrator did a really good job. This books main characters are in Canada. The narrator might possibly be Canadian themselves. I could hear the authenticity of the Canadian accent. If they aren’t, I was fully convinced.
This book is about the adventures of Lucy. Her career, sexual encounters, relationships, and deep inner thoughts. I found the book entertaining but felt unorganized. There are several stories within the story. These could have been broken apart and made into a series.
Book 1.- College, discovery of BDSM, current sex life and career.
Book 2- Wanting to become a writer. Discovery of the magazine and her interviews.
Book 3 The wedding and happily ever after for Lucy and her friends. Or she could press charges on her ex because he went too far.
Loads of possibilities. Because this story has so many story potential it gave the feeling it was mashed together. I don’t feel like the whole story was told.
I received this audiobook free for my honest review.

In the blurb it says "The Secretary meets Fleabag" and I think that is disrespectful to Fleabag, honestly. I really wanted to like this but I unfortunately, did not. That seems to be an unpopular opinion but yikes. Full disclosure, I DNF'd at about 70%. I tried to get through this, I did. Feminism and BDSM? This had so much potential but I literally hated all the characters with a passion. There was zero depth and a lack of development that made it hard for me to sitck this one out. It had several different plot lines that could of been interesting but not much in the way of follow through. Reading about Lucy's sexual encounters made BDSM seem wholly unnapealing and made me so very happy that I am not single in this world of lame guys. All I could think the whole time was that this felt like a bad attempt at being relevant. I listened to this as an audiobook, and while I can't imagine enjoying this as a physical read, the narrator didn't do the book any favors.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.