Eve’s memoir offers a fascinating look at her 20 years in the adult industry, from brothels to online work to life as a dominatrix, and she certainly has compelling stories to tell. She covers both the highs and the harsh realities, shedding light on the broken systems that make survival difficult for those with limited options. However, the book struggles to balance personal storytelling with broader commentary, often feeling more like a forceful argument than an organic narrative. While it has eye-opening moments, the heavy-handed delivery made it hard to fully connect, leaving me feeling indifferent by the end.

A really important read and one that I felt taught me a lot! Will definitely be recommending this book!

How Was It for You? is basically Eve's story of her 20 years in the adult industry, covering everything from brothels to online work to being a dominatrix. The concept was super interesting, and there's no doubt Eve has some wild stories to tell.

She takes us through the whole spectrum of her experiences - living it up with rich clients in the Caribbean, dealing with court drama, spending time in cells, and even becoming a mom along the way. Plus, she dives into all the broken parts of the system that make it tough for people with limited options to get ahead.

The thing is, while her insights are definitely valuable (I mean, who better to talk about this stuff?), it felt like she was really pushing her viewpoint pretty hard. Like, instead of letting readers draw their own conclusions, it sometimes felt like being hit over the head with her message (and her anger too). The book kind of gets stuck between being a personal story and a call to action, not quite nailing either one.

Don't get me wrong - Eve's experiences and perspective are super important, and there are some really eye-opening moments. But the way she hammers her points home made it harder to just sink into the story. By the end, I was kind of just... meh about the whole thing. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.

An interesting book - with an excellent cover - but unfortunately Smith’s internalised misogyny meant I didn’t enjoy the book quite as much as I hoped I would. It raised some incredibly valid and thought-through points and demonstrated the importance of decriminalisation, however I think Smith came across as more judgemental towards other woman than I would expect.

This book offers a powerful look into the lives of sex workers, revealing their real experiences - not the sensationalised portrayals we often see on TV or in the media, which tend to demonise them. Sex workers deserve rights and protection like any other workers!

Eve’s storytelling style really worked for me - she weaves bits of her past into her present in a way that mirrors the dual timelines you’d expect in a well-crafted fiction novel.

There are some truly heartbreaking and difficult moments in Eve’s story, but there are also moments of humor. And then there are the shocking, anger-inducing parts - particularly when it comes to how sex workers are treated by both society as a whole and the men that visit them.

If you’re not a fan of crude language or explicit descriptions, this book probably isn’t for you. Eve does demonstrate some internalised misogyny, especially in how she views other women and sex workers who make choices she doesn’t agree with. It’s something she could probably benefit from unpacking.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Picador for the E-ARC. I listened to this as an audiobook and really recommend as the narrator is brilliant.

A really interesting insight to the life of a sex worker. Occasionally shocking in honesty it was truly fascinating.

The nonlinear timeline confused me at times, however overall I found this incredibly insightful and often a difficult read. Eve doesn't shy away from showing all aspects of being a sex worker and the harsh realities that come from this lifestyle. However I did find Eve to be very defensive, coming across as quite angry and resentful, leading me to not fully warm to them. She's also pretty hostile toward other sex workers, in one breathe refusing to compare herself to them yet also trying to the reader to rally behind better working conditions and protected rights. It was confusing and uncomfortable.

I'd love to read more books that centre sex work in this unflinching way, however I feel the writer needs to be more sympathetic, instead of putting up a barrier like this instance.

A very open and frank story of a woman’s life as a sex worker. This is a no holds barred honest tale of why some people turn to sex work and how this lady made choices that worked for her in her carer and still had a husband and a family. This book is unapologetic which I loved and do make me think differently about sex workers and how unfair the system treats them.

This is a frank and sometimes brutal recount of the life of a sex worker. Eve doesn't mince her words - and her views - on working in the sex industry and the way that sex workers are treated: by clients, the police, other sex workers and society in general.

It is not always an easy read - Eve is angry about the prejudices that are held against sex workers and about how her work is considered immoral by many, even by those who employ sex workers themselves.

Such a different story from what I’ve ever read before (very much the point of this book). It argues so many common place prejudices that are held by many against sex workers. Although anonymous, Eve Smith acts to humanise those who have been dehumanised for too long.

Told in ‘snapshots’ this book tells of the experiences of Eve Smith, a sex worker. It looks at what lead to Eve starting sex work; her experiences of sex work and the people she has met and also the impact her job has on her as an expectant mother.

I found the first half of the book difficult to follow as there is a lot of ‘jumping around’ in terms of the timeline. Also the author, by her own admission, comes across as a very angry person. At times it was hard to pinpoint her views, the anger clouded the issues and it felt contradictory in places.

For me the book found its stride towards the end when Eve talked about her arrest and subsequent conviction. I totally took on board how the legal system fails to protect women who are sex workers and how our justice system, in trying to deter women from sex work actually leaves them with little option but to return to it.

It definitely opened my eyes on certain issues regarding the laws governing sex work. I agree with the author that this is not a black and white issue; the ramifications are widespread.

How Was It for You? by Eve Smith is a candid and thought-provoking exploration of relationships, intimacy, and the complexities of human connection. Smith delves into the raw and often humorous aspects of love and desire, capturing the nuances of personal experiences with authenticity and grace. The narrative is both relatable and reflective, inviting readers to examine their own emotions and expectations. With its mix of humor, honesty, and heartfelt moments, How Was It for You? is a refreshing and insightful read that speaks to the realities of navigating love in all its forms.

Book review 📚
How Was It For You? By Eve Smith
⭐⭐⭐.5

This book is marmite, you will either love it or you will hate it. Me? I adored it! I actually devoured it in less then 2 days. Eve Smith (obviously not her real name) shares her story into the life of a sex worker.
To have this deep dive into what sex workers are subjected too and the insights into “behind the scenes” as we are often mislead thanks to TV programmes and films. Eve Smith manages to make you laugh along the way and the use of her own personal experiences opens the book hugely.
One thing I can say, Eve Smith is not a victim by any means. She is strong, and influential and intelligent. It was so easy to get through, with short chapters making you read so much more in such a short amount of time.
Now, I am only giving 4 stars for the simple reason that the narrative is aggressive! Not only that but I very much get the impression that she thinks she’s better than any other women out there? If it wasn’t for that, it would have been 5 star

This is an intriguing look at the sex industry from 'Eve' (not her real name) who has worked as a sex worker and then - more specialist - as a dominatrix in a variety of settings, including a brothel, a strip club and in luxurious places as an escort.

It's an interesting topic, especially when Eve presents issues around the decriminalisation of sex work and the fact that what feminists want isn't necessarily what would really help these front-line sex workers (she is very scathing about feminists). The legal aspects are also fascinating, such as when Eve gets arrested for running a brothel when her activities are actually far short of that - there is definitely the sense that the women are charged with whatever the police can get to stick and corruption in the treatment of sex workers is rife.

While I did find the book engaging, I did find that Eve was quite bitter and sharp, even as she was defending the choices she had made. I really wanted to side with Eve, but there were some real anomalies in her story. For example, she talked about wanting to refute the stereotype that sex workers come from abusive or difficult backgrounds by talking about her happy childhood; however, in the next breath, she then describes her own past traumas which seem to play into the stereotype she is denying. A lot of the narrative is - quite justly - angry, which makes for quite a challenging reading experience as the narrative sometimes veers off into rants. I think I wanted to understand more about why someone would choose to do this type of work (if it isn't just about money), but I was no clearer after I read Eve's depressing stories of misogyny and having sex with a series of old men.

I was glad that Eve was moving on with her life, firstly by taking up dominatrix work which isn't quite so 'hands on' (so to speak!) and also by meeting someone and having a child. However, the book left me with lots of unanswered questions and a feeling that I'd been shouted at! It didn't dispel any of the preconceptions I had about being a sex worker and I felt really sorry for Eve, although I also felt that she would hate me for my pity. A really challenging book to read and review.

3.5 rounded to 4 stars.

This book was really interesting and Eve Smith shares a great insight into the life of a sex worker.

The chapters are super short so it is quite a fast-paced read. At times, I felt the back and forwards of the timeline was a little confusing and disjointed.

The book was a really interesting and insightful read. However, the general tone of the author seemed to be anger, which put me off at times. I understand Eve is trying to tackle misconceptions about the profession and attitudes towards sex workers, but felt like I was being told off for views I didn't necessarily ever have!

I gave the book 3.5 stars and feel this is pretty fair as despite the angry tone and slightly disjointed feel, I did enjoy the book and kept picking it up to continue reading.

This had a very bold and strong tone throughout and it was an interesting look at the life of a sex worker. At times though, the disjointed narrative made it quite difficult to focus on the timeline and what was happening.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

3.75✨

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this read, I thought it was incredibly eye opening to what the workers are subject to and the ignorance some people can have to it based on movies and tv shows. I think the insight into the job was so interesting and I could listen to the author talk and raise awareness for hours.

The only things that I think let it down, for me personally, is that I couldn’t grasp the timelines sometimes and the entire book felt full of hatred. I mean… rightly so with the way the author has been treated by others but as a reader I’m a supporter and i feel like I’ve been told off. I want the author to know we are on her side.

I struggled with this book. I did switch to the audio version which I found slightly easier to take in. There is some interesting information and it covers important topics. It explains well why sex work needs to be decriminalised. Unfortunately, I ended up DNF'ing at 38%. I found the tone extremely angry and bitter. It's also packed with internalised misogyny. I couldn't understand how she could look down on other sex workers and she has a huge issue with women working in minimum wage and retail jobs. She is hugely judgemental about any other women she works with or comes into contact with and makes out she is better at everything than all of them. It's quite disjointed and the writing jumps around a lot.

This book should be an obligatory reading for everyone getting into adulthood. A lot of our current problems would be solved.

We all have, even once in our lives, been in the debate of "sex work, yes or no", as if we have any right to decide. Any right of saying our elitist opinion from our very accommodated position. I understand how any young woman can position herself during her teen years in the abolitionism side, specially if she only listens to what the politicians say, but this is over now. We need, as a society, to listen to the sex workers and understand their demands. We need to listen, and this book makes you listen.

Eve Smith knows perfectly how to play with making you laugh and making you think at the same time, and she uses very well her own experiences to justify why she's right. Because she is. This is not a book for the morbidity and the arousal, this is a description of a reality we usually forbid to listen.

Thank you very much Picador and NetGalley for allowing me to read this amazing book. One of my favs this year for sure.

Thank you to the publisher to providing me with a copy to review :)

“There is nothing more dangerous than a liberal, middle-class white woman with a moralistic agenda.”

I’ll admit I went into this fairly blind. I found the disjointed narrative hard to follow at times hence the 4 stars. However, what a ride.

This book provides a real glance into the life of a sex worker. NOT an oversexualised fantasy where the protagonist is portrayed as a victim. Our author is not a victim and instead comes across as a powerful, intelligent and creative individual.

The book touches on interesting themes that I think most women can relate to. When Eve said “But now that I’m having a baby it’s as if this act of reproduction is the only work a woman’s body can do that’s worthy of their approval.” I felt that in my soul.

Of course there’s the hilarity you would expect from this kind of book dotted throughout. It’s written in easy to digest chunks that make it great for a quick grab and go kind of book.

I only hope that these real life experiences help to shape a better future for sex workers. A triumph from the “Queen of Watersports”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️