I haven't read Power's previous book but from what I gather, the main concept revolves around self-experimentation, and in "Love Me!" it's focused around romantic love and sex.

And as I might have rolled my eyes and scoffed at the author's perspectives and lack of maturity in certain areas, I also appreciate her vulnerability, trying to understand her attitudes around love and sex, and how her upbringing might have impacted them. It was an interesting exploration of what happens to a person who decides to challenge her status quo and take steps to see what else is out there.

The only thing I'm cautious about reading self-experimentation endeavours, is author's attitude towards other people who she met alongside her journey - because the line between treating them as supporting characters vs individuals with their own agency and experiences may become quite blurry.

This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I found it to be a well written and reflective memoir which raised lots of interesting insights for me. Power looks at her own upbringing and how this has impacted her experience of love and sex and she reflects on what it’s like to be a single woman without children. As someone who is married with children I found it hard to relate to Love Me! but still found it a thought provoking read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
3.5 stars

Absolutely loved it. It seemed to start as a fun experiment to experience more sex and connection but I felt like it went so much deeper than what I was expecting. Marianne tackles her upbringing and beliefs around sex which I found really interesting coming from a similar background. Through various workshops and events she comes to meet new people and have strong and meaningful connections with them. She's also very honest about what she found uncomfortable or awkward during these encounters and tackles why she felt that way. The book spoke to me a lot about the importance of connection both sexual and platonic - I loved hearing about the connections she made during covid. I've thought a lot about since I finished the final page - the sign of a great book!

Honest, funny and frustrating. But does hit some nerves. In non-sexual ways.

I've not heard of Power, never read her work before, it was the title that had me downloading this. And it did entertain as well as enlighten.

Though I was squirming away at some of Power's encounters and conclusions. She does lay her life and history bare for us, as well as other things sometimes. I have no problem with this. I just felt sorry that her own self-worth was so low after her Catholic upbringing and her own family's expectations and attitudes.

It really did show how your own childhood has such far-reaching implications, as Marianne relays how she tries to please men but can't actually stomach being around a partner for very long.

Throwing herself head-first into retreats and sessions, meditation and naked dancing, exploring her own sexual feelings and meeting as many new people as possible, I felt her discomfort as well as her revelations. Though it did feel repetitive in one way - new experience, holding back, revelation and moving forward, back step with feelings of self-loathing and back to friends for morale boosting before repeat.

Explores fairly thoroughly the different aspects of being single, and through Marianne's friends, other perspectives she slowly realises of 'happy coupledown', 'blissful families' and what we actually should learn about different ways there are of being content or fulfilled in various relationships.

My feelings about Marianne vacillated through the book, but I did appreciate her laying it all bare for us and the humour at the heart of it all. May we all find peace and fulfilment in whatever way we choose.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

'Love me!' by Marianne Power completely blew my mind. I loved everything about the book; the candor, the humor, the inspiring insights and the courage of Power to expose herself - almost literally - to her readers. Just like her earlier book 'Help me!', it’s a book that I wish I could have written myself, but for which I am extremely grateful that Marianne Power did.

Anyone who has been following my blog missdeadline.nl for a while knows that I am a big fan of the journalist and writer Marianne Power. I loved her first book - Help me! - and I also attended many sessions of her 'Writing for Fun & Sanity workshops' via Zoom, which I enjoyed a lot and found inspirational.

Her second book comes out on August 22, but I already read a review copy via NetGalley.

Her second book seemed to be subject to the dreaded second-book curse. In her writing workshops and on Instagram, she spoke openly about how difficult writing was and how much she struggled with herself.

Not surprising because the subject of book two is quite something. Marianne Power conducted in-depth self-examination into her 'status' as an eternal single and the question: can you live a life filled with love without a partner and/or children? What does it say about herself that at the age of 40 she has never had a long-term relationship and does not feel the need. What assumptions, beliefs and prejudices play a role in this, within herself and from society (where getting married and having children still seems to be the gold standard for a successful and happy life). Is singleness really what she deeply desires and what suits her best or is that thought just an illusion with which she avoids to face her fear of intimacy, sex and commitment?

Writing 'Love me!' may have been a curse, but I found the end result enchantingly beautiful. She candidly talks about her insecurities, shares her reflections and describes her experiments with tantra, Skype sex, women's circles and self-love.

Her search does not take her in a straight line from question to answer; her path is erratic and more than once she doubts previous insights or feels the need to revise former conclusions. Maybe not everyone will appreciate that, but it’s exactly what I found so beautiful and real about her story. Because who doesn't know that inner turmoil where your thoughts bounce back and forth from one extreme to the other?

Hilarious, inspiring, comforting, but also: uncomfortably honest and recognizable.

So uncomfortable that I read some chapters with bated breath of vicarious shame. For example, she talks in considerable detail about her experiences at a tantra retreat where she confronts her feelings of shame about sex and her own body. I deeply admire how she not only faces her fears, but also shares this experience with the world!

Or as I wrote in a response to Marianne on Instagram:

It was like reading what is inside my head, my heart, my body. Only I didn't realize it was inside me until this book.

And I think I won't be the only one reading 'Love me!' who will experience it that way.

As soon as I finished it, I pre-ordered three physical copies of the book; a hardcover to show off on my bookshelf, a paperback to read again and a second paperback to take notes in, because I'm sure I will want to read the book many more times. And there will probably be more copies to give away to friends.

'Love me' is an absolute must-read for those who, like Marianne and like me, have insecurities and/or socially critical questions about (romantic) love, relationships, having children and sex.

Triple 5 stars

I was excited to dive into Love Me! by Marianne Power, having very much enjoyed her previous book, Help Me!. I'm delighted to say that this latest offering did not disappoint in the slightest.

Marianne Power's writing style is truly a cut above many memoirs. Her ability to blend dry humour with poignant insights elevates the narrative, often leaving me laughing out loud at the end of a paragraph or deeply moved by an added layer of depth.

While Help Me! was an adventurous dive into the realm of general personal development, Love Me! shifts focus to Power's quest to better understand herself and her desires as a single woman in her 40s without children. This theme resonated with me deeply. As someone who similarly questions the traditional path of seeking a partner and having children, the author's experiences gave me solace as well as more insight into my own choices and experiences.

I very much enjoyed her descriptions of attending Tantra Workshops. It's something I'd never be brave enough to try myself, so reading about it was fascinating. However, what excited me even more was her account of treating herself to a night alone in a lovely hotel – that’s definitely something I could be inspired to do!

Unlike Help Me!, which followed a structured 'book a month' format, Love Me! weaves its insights more fluidly, yet it is peppered with references to numerous books about sex, love, and the single life. This not only enriched my reading experience but also expanded my wishlist of titles to explore next.

Ultimately, Love Me! is an absorbing read for anyone questioning the societal norms of marriage and children, just as the author does. It also serves as a fascinating exploration of identity for anyone grappling with these significant life questions. Marianne Power has crafted a memoir that is both entertaining and deeply reflective, ensuring its place as a must-read for anyone navigating the complexities of modern life.

Thank you to NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.

I quite enjoyed Ms Power’s previous book, but I found this one to be quite the slog. Slow and rather dull, I was willing it to end, and it took until the last ten pages for her to discover feminism!?

Excited to have received a digital ARC to the follow-up I’ve been waiting for to Marianne Power’s previous book Help Me!; It was worth the wait!

This one is an account of her exploration of love: romantic, platonic, sexual, familial and self. It’s funny, raw, and warmly engaging, and it made me hit the “highlight” button on my Kindle more often than I usually do so that I can revisit some of the bits that struck a chord with me whenever I need to. Loved it!

I love the idea of not following society norms on love and relationships and forging your own path.
I am so excited to read and share my thoughts on Marianne’s journey.