Want

Subtitle: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous

Author: Gillian Anderson

Genre: Short stories, anthology

Format: Digital via Libby

Publish Date: September 2024

Read: November 2024

Favorite Quote: Fantasy is a safe space; it is not necessarily what we wish was real. Crucially, in a fantasy we don’t need anyone’s permission other than our own: a fantasy is a deliberate, and usually entirely private, act of both memory and imagination.

Synopsis: Hundreds of thousands of women responded to an open and anonymous request to share their innermost fantasies for an anthology compiled by Gillian Anderson (yes, Dr. Scully). Broken down by theme, these fantasies range from a few sentences to several pages in length, sharing what few women discuss with anyone: sexual fantasies.

Why does this book beguile? In a fitting way, reading Want feels slightly voyeuristic. Learning about women fantasies was both unsettling and empowering. So few women have the platform to feel these feelings or express themselves, especially as you see the cultural and religious backgrounds that some opted to share. Want will make you rethink the women you encounter on a daily basis.

Rating: 4/5

Link*: Want: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous by Gillian Anderson

If you’re interested in this, read*: Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly