Eleanor Pilcher’s debut novel “That’s What She Said” arrives with the sort of sharp wit and unabashed honesty that feels both refreshing and necessary in contemporary women’s fiction. The story follows demisexual Beth and her sexually confident best friend Serena as they embark on what they dub a “sexual odyssey” – a journey that begins as Beth’s quest to explore her sexuality but evolves into something far more complex and emotionally charged.
From the opening chapters, Pilcher establishes a voice that crackles with authenticity. Her prose flows with the natural rhythm of genuine friendship – complete with interruptions, inside jokes, and the kind of comfortable vulgarity that exists only between people who truly know each other. The author doesn’t merely tell us that Beth and Serena are best friends; she shows us through their banter, their unspoken understanding, and their willingness to navigate uncomfortable territories together.
Character Development and Narrative Depth
Beth: The Reluctant Explorer
Beth emerges as a beautifully nuanced protagonist whose demisexuality is handled with remarkable sensitivity and authenticity. Pilcher avoids the trap of making Beth’s sexual orientation the sole defining aspect of her character, instead presenting a fully realized woman grappling with career insecurities, family expectations, and the complex emotions that arise when one decides to step outside their comfort zone.
The author’s portrayal of Beth’s journey is particularly compelling because it refuses to follow a predictable trajectory. Beth’s experiences with speed dating, sex therapy sessions with Mr. Bates, and even her encounter with escort Rupert are rendered with a combination of humor and genuine vulnerability that makes her struggles feel deeply human rather than merely comedic.
Serena: The Complicated Confidante
Serena, the sexually adventurous journalist, could have easily become a one-dimensional “wild friend” trope, but Pilcher crafts her with surprising depth. Her relationship with her parents, her professional ambitions, and her growing feelings for Zoey reveal layers of complexity that make her both lovable and frustrating. The author skillfully shows how Serena’s confidence in some areas masks deep insecurities in others, particularly when it comes to emotional intimacy and family relationships.
The dynamic between Beth and Serena forms the emotional core of the novel, and Pilcher navigates their friendship with impressive nuance. She captures both the beauty and the potential toxicity of deeply codependent friendships, showing how love and support can sometimes blur into exploitation and selfishness.
Writing Style and Technical Craft
Dialogue and Voice
Pilcher’s greatest strength lies in her dialogue. The conversations between characters feel genuinely organic, peppered with the kind of casual profanity and pop culture references that characterize modern friendship. The author has a particular gift for capturing the awkwardness of discussing sex – the stumbling over words, the nervous laughter, the attempts at sophistication that fall flat.
The dual perspective narrative works exceptionally well, allowing readers to understand both Beth’s internal struggles and Serena’s external confidence. Pilcher manages to give each character a distinct voice while maintaining the cohesive tone that makes the friendship feel authentic.
Humor and Heart
The novel’s humor never feels forced or gratuitous. Whether it’s Beth’s mortification during her encounter with Rupert or Serena’s workplace banter with her editor Arnold, the comedy emerges naturally from character and situation. Pilcher has a keen eye for the absurdities of modern dating culture and sexual exploration, but she never mocks her characters or their genuine attempts at growth and connection.
Thematic Exploration
Sexual Identity and Self-Discovery
“That’s What She Said” tackles the topic of sexual identity with remarkable maturity. Pilcher’s portrayal of demisexuality is particularly noteworthy – she presents it not as a problem to be solved but as a valid orientation that comes with its own challenges and joys. The novel explores how sexual discovery isn’t always linear or easily categorized, and how the pressure to conform to societal expectations can complicate personal growth.
The various experiences on Beth’s “sexual odyssey” – from the hilariously awkward tantra workshop to the surprisingly tender scenes with Evan – serve to illustrate that sexual awakening is rarely dramatic or transformative in the ways popular culture suggests. Instead, it’s often a series of small realizations and incremental growth.
Friendship and Boundaries
The evolution of Beth and Serena’s friendship forms the novel’s emotional backbone. Pilcher expertly demonstrates how even the strongest friendships can be tested when personal growth begins to shift the dynamic. The tension that develops when Serena begins writing about Beth’s experiences for her magazine job raises important questions about consent, exploitation, and the commodification of personal experiences.
The author doesn’t shy away from showing how good intentions can lead to harmful outcomes, and how the people we love most can sometimes hurt us the deepest. The resolution of their conflict feels earned rather than forced, acknowledging that some damage to relationships requires time and effort to repair.
Areas for Improvement
Pacing and Structure
While the novel’s episodic structure generally works well, certain sections feel slightly rushed. The tantra workshop sequence, while amusing, could have been condensed to allow more time for character development. Similarly, some of the workplace scenes with Serena feel less essential to the overall narrative arc.
The resolution of various plot threads varies in effectiveness. While Beth’s romantic development with Evan feels natural and well-paced, some secondary characters and subplots (particularly involving Serena’s family dynamics) could have benefited from deeper exploration or cleaner resolution.
Secondary Characters
While the main characters are well-developed, some secondary figures feel underutilized. Arnold, Serena’s editor, shows promise as a character but remains somewhat superficial. Similarly, Beth’s family members appear primarily as sources of external pressure rather than fully realized individuals with their own motivations and complexity.
Cultural and Literary Context
“That’s What She Said” fits comfortably within the tradition of British women’s fiction that includes authors like Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes, but Pilcher brings a more contemporary sensibility to discussions of sexuality and friendship. The novel’s frank treatment of sexual topics and LGBTQ+ themes feels current and necessary, addressing gaps in representation that exist in much mainstream romance fiction.
The author’s background in marketing and journalism clearly informs the authenticity of Serena’s professional world, and the media industry setting provides an effective backdrop for exploring themes of ambition, authenticity, and the commodification of personal experiences.
Final Assessment
“That’s What She Said” succeeds admirably as both an entertaining read and a thoughtful exploration of friendship, sexuality, and personal growth. Pilcher has crafted a novel that manages to be simultaneously funny and touching, sex-positive without being gratuitous, and honest about the complexities of human relationships.
The book’s greatest achievement is its refusal to provide simple answers to complex questions. Beth’s journey toward sexual self-discovery doesn’t result in a dramatic transformation, and her friendship with Serena isn’t magically repaired through a single conversation. Instead, Pilcher presents a more realistic picture of how people grow and change, often messily and incompletely.
For debut fiction, this novel demonstrates remarkable maturity and confidence. Pilcher has created characters who feel like real people rather than plot devices, and she’s tackled sensitive topics with both humor and respect. While there are areas where the execution could be tighter, the overall effect is engaging and emotionally satisfying.
Comparison to Similar Works
Readers who enjoyed this novel might also appreciate:
- “Beach Read” by Emily Henry – For its blend of humor and emotional depth in exploring relationships and personal growth
- “The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren – For its witty dialogue and complex friendship dynamics
- “Red: A Natural History of the Redhead” by Jacky Colliss Harvey – For its frank, humorous approach to topics often considered taboo
- “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid – For its exploration of sexuality and the costs of hiding one’s true self
- “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman – For its portrayal of a woman discovering herself and building meaningful relationships
Conclusion
“That’s What She Said” announces Eleanor Pilcher as a voice worth watching in contemporary women’s fiction. While this debut isn’t without its flaws – some pacing issues and underdeveloped secondary characters – it succeeds brilliantly in its primary goals of entertaining readers while thoughtfully exploring themes of friendship, sexuality, and self-discovery.
The novel’s strength lies in its authenticity and emotional honesty. Pilcher has created a story that feels both distinctly contemporary and timelessly human, addressing modern concerns about sexual identity and friendship while touching on universal themes of growth, acceptance, and the courage required to change.
For readers seeking fiction that combines wit with heart, humor with genuine insight, “That’s What She Said” delivers on all fronts. It’s a promising debut that suggests Pilcher has much more to offer, and it’s likely to resonate with anyone who has ever navigated the complexities of close friendship or questioned their place in the world of modern romance and sexuality.