Female, Nude by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett review – a seductive drama of art and rivalry

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.

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'm not convinced by the whole "trendy Greek island" vibe yet . 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?

I'm loving the way Cosslett uses art as a backdrop for her story . I mean, who wouldn't want to escape to a Greek island for the summer? But what really drew me in was Sophie's journey - she's got this fierce determination to create and be seen, but at the same time is struggling with so many things, you know? The way Cosslett weaves in these historical female artists is like, totally genius. It adds this depth to the story that makes it feel so much more than just a pretty face .

And can we talk about how gorgeous her writing is? I mean, I'm all about layout and structure, but even I couldn't help getting lost in Cosslett's prose . 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 . And I'm all about Sophie's struggles as a young artist trying to make ends meet - it's like, girl, I've been there too with my own creative pursuits . 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 .

Sophie's character feels like the real deal, you know? She's got her own struggles and flaws, but Cosslett nails that whole "struggling artist thing". The way she writes about art is so vivid, it makes me wanna grab a paintbrush and get creative myself! But, gotta say, some of the supporting characters feel like cardboard cutouts . Ky's got potential, but his character feels kinda...off. Still, overall, I'd give this novel 4 out of 5 stars ️️️️. It's a wild ride with some serious themes thrown in, and Cosslett's writing is top-notch

I'm really loving the vibe of Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett's writing style in Female, Nude - it's like being transported to a picturesque Greek island with the characters' innermost thoughts and desires The way she weaves together art, relationships, and motherhood is so relatable, especially for young women trying to find their voice in the world of art What I'd love to see more of is character development - sometimes I felt like some characters were a bit one-dimensional

I don’t usually comment but I just finished reading Female, Nude and I gotta say it's a wild ride! The setting on that Greek island sounds idyllic at first but trust me, things get messy . I love how the author weaves in those art history tidbits – it adds this whole other layer of depth to the story . But what really stood out for me was Sophie's journey - she's just trying to make ends meet as an artist and navigate her relationships, all while dealing with these super relatable themes like motherhood and finding your voice . 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 .

I just finished reading Female, Nude and I'm still reeling from the experience . Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett's writing is like a warm summer breeze - it just wraps around you and makes you feel all the feels . 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 . It's like Cosslett saw me in Sophie and wrote the book for myself (minus the part where I actually have talent ). The themes of motherhood, relationships, and societal expectations are so timely and thought-provoking . Overall, Female, Nude is a must-read for anyone who loves art, drama, or just a good story about women navigating the complexities of life .

I loved how Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett weaves the historical female artists into Sophie's story! It adds such depth, but sometimes feels a bit disconnected lol like when they go from talking about Georgia O'Keeffe to someone spilling rosé on the beach . Still, it was so refreshing to see Sophie's artistry and struggles with motherhood portrayed - we need more of that in books!

I just finished reading Female, Nude by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett . 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!

I just finished reading this new novel and I gotta say, it reminded me of all those chick-lit books we used to devour back in the day like The Group by Mary McCarthy or The Female Man by Joanna Russ. There's something about a group of women navigating art, relationships, and their own identities that just feels so familiar to me. I love how the author weaves together these historical tidbits about female artists, it adds this whole other layer of depth to the story. And Sophie, oh girl... she's like the modern-day counterpart to all those strong-willed heroines from my youth .

omg u gotta read female nude by rhiannon lucy cosslett!!! it's literally so deep & relatable i mean Sophie's struggle as an artist & a mom is SO real 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

OMG, I just finished reading Female, Nude and I'm still reeling from the experience! I mean, the Greek island setting was like, totally picturesque at first, but then you realize that beneath all that beauty, there's so much drama and tension . 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?

I loved how the author wove in these little passages about female artists throughout history, it was like a nice bonus . But, I'm not gonna lie, some of the other characters felt a bit one-dimensional to me . Still, Sophie's story is so compelling and Cosslett's writing is just, wow! The way she describes food and light is, like, mouthwatering .

All in all, I'd say this book is like a masterclass in storytelling - it's got art, drama, romance, and even some serious themes about identity and motherhood . Definitely recommend it to anyone who loves character-driven fiction!

I gotta say, Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett's got some serious skills when it comes to crafting an atmosphere that'll make you wanna dip your toes in the Mediterranean waters ... but, can we talk about how some of these characters feel like they're stuck in a Greek yogurt mold - all smooth on the outside but kinda bland? I mean, Alessia's got her whole 'luxury lifestyle' thing down pat, but what's under that designer label, though? Sophie's struggles as an artist and a woman are super relatable, but I'm not sure if we're getting the full story on some of these other ladies. Anyway, Cosslett's writing is, like, silky smooth and makes you wanna devour this book in one sitting ... just don't expect me to do that when I find out there's a plot twist !

Ugh, you know how I always say the good ol' days were better? Like, remember when we could just hang out with our friends at a Greek island in 2019 without all the drama? This novel is like that, but instead of sunshine and beach parties, it's all about the tension and rivalry among these women. I mean, who needs all that drama in their summer vacation? But, you know, I do think it's cool how the author highlights the struggles of female artists throughout history. That's something we should definitely be learning from again... maybe back in 2019, but not now, lol! Still, this book does have that certain je ne sais quoi, like a fine wine or a good ol' fashioned summer romance novel from the early 2000s. So yeah, it's worth reading, I guess!

Ugh, the struggle is real with these female characters ... 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

I'm loving this new novel by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett! I mean, who doesn't love a good drama about art, rivalry, and, you know, girls being weird? 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! And that Alessia character is giving me major Mean Girls vibes – you know, the rich girl who thinks she owns the place? Anyway, I'm totally intrigued by Ky and how he shakes things up between the girls. Can't wait to dive in and get lost in this juicy tale of female drama!

I think Cosslett's use of meditations on female artists is kinda forced, feels like she's trying too hard to cram some extra meaning into the story. It disrupts the flow and makes me feel like I'm reading a lit review instead of getting lost in the drama . And yeah, Sophie's character development is solid, but the others? Meh, they're just kinda there . The only thing that keeps me invested is Cosslett's attention to detail on sensory stuff – her descriptions of food and light are actually pretty great