The Pleasures of the Other

Can three women of a certain age get the sex they want without blowing up their lives?

Lila, a therapist with a long-buried secret, is about to join a sex club with her husband.

Her friend Catherine, a divorced housewife who has never understood the point of sex, is dating for the first time in decades, never thinking that a girlfriend might be in her future.

And Miriam, a medical actor fed up with her philandering husband, has decided to have an affair with Kevin, a much younger waiter at the three friends' favorite restaurant.

Every week, the friends confide their fears, missteps, and triumphs, sharing french fries and shoulders to cry on. But when Lila's past comes back to haunt her, all their lives are set adrift, putting their futures and their friendship at risk, and the women learn that sexual satisfaction and happiness are not for the faint of heart.

The Pleasures of the Other is a funny, soulful depiction of "life after midlife," a portrait of three women who still hunger for love and sexual satisfaction. Debut novelist Sasha Arden delivers a frank - and frankly explicit - tale of sex, love and friendship that readers will find amusing, arousing, and affecting in equal measure.

"A bold novel about three women who refuse to believe their lives and desires are behind them... Married, divorced, contentedly settled, or silently starving, their friendship is tested as they slowly share their secrets, explore their sexuality, surprise themselves, and reinvent their lives. Fans of Miranda July's All Fours will appreciate this book's encouragement of older women still discovering who they are meant to be and how they wish to live." -- Jamie Beck, WSJ and USA Today bestselling author

"Explores the sexual journeys of three women of a certain age -- an age at which many in our culture believe that journey is long over. Sasha Arden proves in this novel that the road not only remains open but there are plenty of options along the way. Buckle up for this trip, dear reader." -- Elissa Bass, author of HAPPY HOUR and PLEASE WAIT TO CROSS

"A refreshing and fun romance that proves love, friendship, and new beginnings don't come with an expiration date. I loved the uniqueness of the later-in-life theme and the way it brought a fresh perspective to the genre while still delivering everything I wanted from a romance. The female friendships were a highlight and full of heart. This is an enjoyable read that celebrates women, friendship, and finding love in every season of life." -- Kitty Berry, Contemporary Romance Author/Host of RomantiConn

"Most women, especially older women, have been taught their sexual needs aren't important at best, or that sex is a thing of the past at worst. Sasha Arden takes on this falsehood through an engaging story of three adult women friends exploring diverse avenues to sexual fulfillment. The Pleasures of the Other is a fun, compelling read-and a great way to get yourself in the mood!" - Laurie Mintz, author of A Tired Woman's Guide to Passionate Sex (2009), Becoming Cliterate (2017), and Pursue Your Pleasure (2027)

"...[A]bsolutely brilliant....You'll love this if you enjoy books with raw emotion, unapologetically sexual women, and real, messy relationships between people." - Eva N.

"This book read like Sex and the City and The Golden Girls." - Kristyn N.

"I ended up *binging* this book within the day...This would be a FANTASTIC pick for a book club." - Aster C.