I read The Roommate last year and I really enjoyed it, however I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. While it can be read as a standalone, I felt a deeper appreciation for Naomi's character, because I got to know her in the first book. The Intimacy Experiment was excellent and a must read. It tackles self worth, religion, and what intimacy looks like for different people. I was completely blown away.
Naomi, a former adult film entertainer, is now CEO of Shameless, but trying reinvent herself further as she tries to become an educator. When she meets Rabbi Ethan Cohen at a conference, he reluctantly convinces her to start a modern intimacy lecture series at his struggling synagogue. Becoming a rabbi after his father's death, Ethan is seeking to appeal to a younger audience and to show that that Judaism and their lifestyles are complementary, rather than at odds. He hopes Naomi can help him make religion relevant to gain more membership. As the unlikely pair set out to prove the ultra conservative board wrong about their intentions, the more time they spend together, they start to realize that their relationship might give each the "more" in life they are looking for.
The Intimacy Experiment is an entertaining and captivating read. It is a love story that is so sweet and tender and completely unexpected. I loved every minute of it. The book explores religion, not in a preachy way, but shows joy in the faith that it can bring. It explores how religion and intimacy go hand in hand and the neither are topics you should be ashamed of. I am not Jewish, but I loved getting a glimpse into the tradition of the religion and how the words of the Torah could be made relevant and relatable today.
I loved Naomi in The Roommate, but her character knocked it out of the park for me in this book. Naomi has made a career out of being an outlier and an outcast. She gives zero F's and I love how she is confident to a fault, but underneath it all, that confidence masks her true self. Naomi is beautifully broken, scarred from her past, but is willing to learn and reflect in order to grow. She allows Ethan to see through her tough armor in order to chip away to her heart.
I don't think I could have chosen a better match for Naomi than Ethan. Wow. He might be my new book boyfriend. Wearing his emotions on his sleeves, Ethan is strong in his convictions and stand up for what he feels is important. He wants to change with the times and not be stuck in the past. He selflessly wants to help others find their own way to God. With Naomi, he knows exactly what to say to calm her fears and perceptively can comfort her just when she needs it most. Always putting her before himself, he shows her he can be a man of God, but still be her lover at the same time. And man, the chemistry between the two is explosive and HOT.
I cannot recommend The Intimacy Experiment enough! I loved it, I'm obsessed with it and I want to read it again! Bravo, Rosie Danan. This book was a masterpiece.
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