Secrets, Love & Lust — A Book I Couldn’t Put Down
Review of ‘In My Secret Life’ by Amy Bleu
TW: Mentions of drugs, sex work, fetishes.
A life veering out of control
“Take your pill, and everything will be all right.” So starts Amelia’s story from In My Secret Life by Amy Bleu. And while Amelia needs to swallow a hard pill to get on the plane ride that opens the book, the reader will not — this novel is a masterful tale that takes a deep dive into the darker side of adult modeling and sex work, as well as the redemptive quality of love.
One thing that stands out in this novel compared to many others I’ve read in the genre is that female sexuality is seen as empowering rather than shameful. Today, there is still often a stigma attached to a woman accepting and exploring her sexuality, but while this book acknowledges that some women aren’t comfortable with their own desires, it’s not the main focus of Amelia’s journey.
The book speaks frankly about female bodies, sexuality, fetishes, and relationships through Amelia’s candid gaze, containing shared camaraderie with many of the women she works with and/or has relationships with. She is the one who chooses what encounters she would like to have, whether it’s with a man or woman or just herself. And she is in control…
