Review - Losing It by Emma Rathbone

After reading quite a few psychological thrillers in a row I thought that it was time for something a little bit different so decided to pick up Losing It by Emma Rathbone. Despite the fact that I'd seen a few mixed reviews about the book I approached it with a completely open mind and am pleased to say that I enjoyed it quite a lot more than I thought I would. I'd recommend it to anyone who may be looking for a relatively quick, light and entertaining read that also isn't too serious or dark in theme. 

In Losing It we meet Julia Greenfield who at the age of 26 is still a virgin despite having been to college and despite having had several boyfriends. With the majority of her friends no longer virgins, Julia seems absolutely obsessed with the idea of losing her virginity and sets out on a mission to do so. One summer Julia decides to leave her hometown behind and sets off to visit her Aunt Vivienne in North Carolina. Not long after she arrives there Julia is shocked to discover that at the age of 58 Vivienne is also still a virgin which only makes Julia even more determined to do something about her situation...

I've got to say that Julia was a character who I really struggled to understand, mainly due to her rather unhealthy obsession with losing her virginity. It almost seemed like it was all she ever thought about and that nothing else in her life was as important and I don't think this is a healthy way for anyone to live their life - something will either happen or it won't, what will be will be. That said I do feel that what Emma portrayed through Losing It was something that sadly most women would be able to relate to. This is the idea of wanting to be in a relationship and also constantly comparing themselves to others and thinking they're not good enough. 

I have to be honest and say that for me the second half of the novel was much stronger than the first. I particularly loved reading about Vivienne's background and seeing the relationship between Vivienne and her niece develop and grow. I really appreciated Emma's writing style throughout the novel and thought that it worked really well for the type of novel it was. It was very easy to get into and was also full of humour and just enough description to set the scene for the reader. 

This is a book which for me was quite different to anything I've ever read before and is one which I feel does stand out from the crowd with a main theme that is normally only ever briefly mentioned in literature today if at all. Although there were a few moments throughout the novel that did make me cringe and I didn't particularly gel with the lead character and her outlook on life, I feel that Emma's done a nice job with the book. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to read more by Emma in the future!