It is exceptionally well written, compelling and full of details and insight, that make it impossible to put down. (I finished it in a few hours.) The first person narrator of the story has four men in her life and makes no excuses for her sex-filled life. Her husband, and her three lovers, who she refers to as “the hit man,” “the multi-media artist,” and “the love of her life,” all fill a void–often the same one.

Each chapter is neatly tied to a brief moment in the narrator’s life. These could be a moment from her past, a kiss from a lover, or an explanation on giving great head: “There are fine points to master–tongue rolling, flicking, when to be gentle, imperceptible, and when to apply pressure, and–the bottom line–how to swallow with grace.” There is a freshness to the prose that makes it interesting to read. I would call it literature without pretensions.

As a man, I found the honest female perspective compelling, but scary. I found myself thinking repeatedly, “Do women really think and feel this way?” That is the serious side of the story–the narrator likes something about each of her men, but at the same time, does not really want any by himself. She needs a composite and cannot find it. This is something I suspect happens to many women and men.

Kirshenbaum is a serious author and I intend on reading more of her current and future work. She is thought provoking, and funny – an enigmatic writer. Here is a funny quote from the narrator’s childhood: “If I couldn’t have my very own penis, I did, at least, get the better half of that bargain. I got to touch the penises, pet them, wiggle them, waggle them, pinch their heads, kiss their noses. Whereas when I lowered my underpants, all the boys could do was look and note, ‘There’s nothing there.’”

Buy this excellent book, read and enjoy it, and then share it with someone. It is great!