The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan

The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan – 336 pages 

ARC from Berkley Books and Netgalley for an honest review

Book Blurb:

Naomi Grant has built her life around going against the grain. After the sex-positive start-up she cofounded becomes an international sensation, she wants to extend her educational platform to live lecturing. Unfortunately, despite her long list of qualifications, higher ed won’t hire her.
Ethan Cohen has recently received two honors: LA Mag named him one of the city’s hottest bachelors and he became rabbi of his own synagogue. Taking a gamble in an effort to attract more millennials to the faith, the executive board hired Ethan because of his nontraditional background. Unfortunately, his shul is low on both funds and congregants. The board gives him three months to turn things around or else they’ll close the doors of his synagogue for good. Naomi and Ethan join forces to host a buzzy seminar series on Modern Intimacy, the perfect solution to their problems–until they discover a new one–their growing attraction to each other. They’ve built the syllabus for love’s latest experiment, but neither of them expected they’d be the ones putting it to the test. 

My Review: 4 stars

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The Intimacy Experiment was a book that surprised me and entertained me from start to finish. This book pulls a character from the author’s debut book The Roommate, that I haven’t yet read, so I can attest that the book can be read as a stand-alone. 

First of all, what a joy and shock it was to see Jewish characters represented in a rom-com. Not only Jewish, but the leading man was a Rabbi, a very hot Rabbi. And the leading lady, an ex-porn star, also Jewish, that is now teaching the basics of intimacy and dating for a temple workshop. Of course, many congregants and the board of directors are appalled by his choice of programming and choice of woman running it. From that short premise, you can imagine how the story races forward. 

This book, although quite steamy, would make for a great discussion book. So many life and love issues are brought to light, such as being your true self versus your professional persona, the unfairness of judging others based on their work experience, looks or choices, and of course, the workshop Naomi was running shared a lot of good romantic advice. 

There were enough interesting minor characters that for sure would make for an enjoyable book three. Ethan’s sister, Leah, definitely should be in the running. 

Quotes I liked:

I forgot that love is essential. That even in its absence occupy yourself with the lack of it.”

“Ethan spent so much time listening, sometimes he forgot how much he missed being heard.”

“Love, like faith, asks us to be less selfish. Less greedy. Its asks us to trust. To sit with our doubts. To keep coming back to and proving our commitment. 

“He recalled a concept from The Jewish mystics – rishima- ‘the imprint an experience leaves.’” They believed that if you endured something and let it pass, without memory or refection, if you didn’t change after having gone through it, it was as if the event had never happened. But if an experience left an imprint, if it inspired growth or altered the course of your life, then, according to the mystics, even the most painful and challenging experiences become a blessed teacher.”