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Lovers XXX by Allie Rowbottom review

A young woman begins a career in the adult industry while, 30 years later, her friend tries to find out what happened to her, in an addictive, twist-filled story

Lovers XXX by Allie Rowbottom review

TL;DR

  • The novel "Lovers XXX" by Allie Rowbottom depicts the 1980s Los Angeles porn industry.
  • It follows two teenage runaways, Jude and Winnie, and their experiences within the industry.
  • The story is structured with the first half focusing on Jude's journey and the second half on Winnie's search for Jude.
  • Rowbottom was inspired by real figures like Traci Lords, portraying both empowerment and exploitation.
  • The book explores themes of youthful longing, hedonism, addiction, and the complexities of women's roles in a patriarchal society.
  • The prose is described as sensory and kinetic, shifting between dreamlike lyricism and stark realism.
  • The novel contrasts characters' perceptions of control within the industry against the industry's control over them.