A seductive drama of art and rivalry unfolds in Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett's latest novel, Female, Nude. The story takes place on an idyllic Greek island in the summer of 2019, where Sophie Evans and her friends Helena, Iris, and Alessia have gathered to celebrate Helena's upcoming marriage.
However, this seemingly idyllic setting is far from peaceful. With tensions simmering beneath the surface, the differences between the women become more pronounced. The wealthy family members, including Alessia, flaunt their luxurious lifestyle, while Sophie struggles to make ends meet as a museum shop worker and aspiring artist.
When Alessia commissions a nude portrait of Sophie from her private studio, the dynamics shift further. Enter Ky, the charming waiter-turned-archaeologist who sets his sights on Sophie, causing the existing rivalries among the group to boil over into toxic animosity.
As the narrative unfolds, Cosslett weaves in meditations on female artists throughout history, using them as a counterpoint to Sophie's own struggle. These interludes add depth and complexity to the story, but sometimes feel jarringly disconnected from the rest of the plot.
Cosslett excels at capturing sensual details like light and food, drawing the reader into the world of her protagonist. The author masterfully conveys Sophie's inner turmoil as she navigates art, relationships, and motherhood – a daunting trade-off that women face in society.
While the character development is somewhat uneven, with some characters feeling underdeveloped or one-dimensional, Cosslett shines with Sophie's creation. Her portrayal of a young artist struggling to find her voice is both relatable and captivating.
Ultimately, Female, Nude is an ambitious novel that balances art, drama, and rivalry in a captivating narrative. With its seductive atmosphere, sharp wit, and thought-provoking themes, this book promises to engage readers from start to finish.
However, this seemingly idyllic setting is far from peaceful. With tensions simmering beneath the surface, the differences between the women become more pronounced. The wealthy family members, including Alessia, flaunt their luxurious lifestyle, while Sophie struggles to make ends meet as a museum shop worker and aspiring artist.
When Alessia commissions a nude portrait of Sophie from her private studio, the dynamics shift further. Enter Ky, the charming waiter-turned-archaeologist who sets his sights on Sophie, causing the existing rivalries among the group to boil over into toxic animosity.
As the narrative unfolds, Cosslett weaves in meditations on female artists throughout history, using them as a counterpoint to Sophie's own struggle. These interludes add depth and complexity to the story, but sometimes feel jarringly disconnected from the rest of the plot.
Cosslett excels at capturing sensual details like light and food, drawing the reader into the world of her protagonist. The author masterfully conveys Sophie's inner turmoil as she navigates art, relationships, and motherhood – a daunting trade-off that women face in society.
While the character development is somewhat uneven, with some characters feeling underdeveloped or one-dimensional, Cosslett shines with Sophie's creation. Her portrayal of a young artist struggling to find her voice is both relatable and captivating.
Ultimately, Female, Nude is an ambitious novel that balances art, drama, and rivalry in a captivating narrative. With its seductive atmosphere, sharp wit, and thought-provoking themes, this book promises to engage readers from start to finish.
I loved how the author wove in historical female artists but sometimes felt like it was just info dump 
. Still, Sophie's struggles as a young artist resonated so much with me 
. The setting of that Greek island sounded so idyllic but really is where the drama unfolds 
. I mean, it's been done before in so many other novels and movies. And don't even get me started on the "wealthy family member commissions a nude portrait of the working-class protagonist" trope - it feels like we've seen that one before too 
. That being said, I do love the author's attention to sensual details and her portrayal of Sophie's struggles as an artist 
. It's definitely a relatable and captivating read... but is it just another iteration of the same "tortured artist" narrative? 
. Okay, so maybe some characters felt a bit flat at times, but overall... mmm, just read it for yourself! 
I'm totally loving the vibe of Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett's latest novel Female, Nude! The way she weaves together art, drama, and rivalry on that idyllic Greek island is just so captivating 
. Cosslett's prose is also giving me major inspo for my own writing, those sensual details about light and food are EVERYTHING 
. Maybe some of the supporting characters could've used a bit more depth, but overall, it's a juicy and thought-provoking read that'll keep you hooked from start to finish 
. Ky's got potential, but his character feels kinda...off. 
Still, overall, I'd give this novel 4 out of 5 stars 
️
. The writing is so vivid, I felt like I was sipping coffee with the characters at the local café 
️. Sure, some characters feel a bit one-dimensional, but overall it's an engaging read that'll keep you hooked from start to finish 
. The way she weaves art, drama, and rivalry together is pure magic 
. And can we talk about Sophie's character for a sec? I'm living for her story of struggling to find her voice as an artist 
). The themes of motherhood, relationships, and societal expectations are so timely and thought-provoking 
. I gotta say, the way she weaves together art, rivalry, and relationships on that Greek island is like a siren's song - it's got you hooked from the start. What really resonated with me was Sophie's struggle to find her place as an artist and a woman in society. I mean, we've all been there, right? 
The way Cosslett captures the sensual details of life on the island is like a feast for the senses - I felt like I was right there with Sophie, sipping ouzo and enjoying the Greek sun. One thing that bugged me a bit was how some characters felt kinda one-dimensional, but overall, it's an amazing novel that'll keep you turning the pages until the very end! 
but also Alessia's family drama is wild 
and ky the waiter-archaeologist tho... anyway Cosslett's writing is like butter for ur eyes, all sensual & vivid u feel like u're there on that greek island 
. Sophie's struggles as an artist and a mom are, like, totally relatable to me - have you ever felt like you're juggling too many things at once? 
. Still, Sophie's story is so compelling and Cosslett's writing is just, wow! The way she describes food and light is, like, mouthwatering 
.
! 
... I mean, I love seeing women's stories on page, but sometimes they feel like they're stuck in a perpetual "tortured artist" phase 
Sophie's journey feels so familiar – the constant juggling of art, relationships, and adulting is totally relatable. But can't we have some complexity with our female characters too? Like, what about their own desires beyond just being the "tortured creative type"? It'd be nice to see more depth in Helena and Iris, you know? And don't even get me started on the romantic plotlines... I mean, Ky's got some major creep vibes going on 
. Still, Cosslett's writing is gorgeous, and I loved how she wove in those historical female artists – it was like a masterclass in feminism 
The setting on that Greek island sounds like a total dream come true – idyllic, luxurious, and full of gorgeous scenery. Sophie's struggles to make ends meet as an artist just makes me want to root for her all the more! 