Beyond the inarguably cool cover is revolutionary book that takes women's desire seriously. In the Three Women, Taddeo writes about the lives of three American women through the prism of their desires: What they want desperately, and what they never got. Taddeo never makes judgements when writing about Lina (a homemaker stuck in a loveless marriage), Sloan (a confident woman in a non-monogamous marriage), and Maggie (who, at 17, has a relationship with her teacher). Instead, she presents their stories for us to consider and color in with our own experiences with sex and longing. The book, an experiment in voyeurism and empathy, has charmed critics and readers alike.

ADVERTISEMENT