Twisted by Lola Smirnova
Reviewed by Amy W.
If there’s ever a title that perfectly fits a book, it has to be Twisted by Lola Smirnova.
Readers meet Julia, a young prostitute fro the Ukraine, and follow her experiences. This is not a book for the sexually repressed. Instead, it is a gritty story at what a girl does in order to survive. Sometimes comical, other times sad, it’s a roller coaster of emotion.
For the most part, the story flowed well. As a pampered American, it was a bit challenging for me to understand such a cultural difference when it comes to prostitution as a viable career option. The author pulls no punches with this dark and graphic novel. Each encounter strips away a bit more of Julia’s humanity as she gets caught up in drugs and alcohol. Yet it is not all doom and gloom because Julia has a truly amazing sense of humor.
Be warned that there is a cliffhanger that alerts the reader to a continuation. This is not a warm and fuzzy story, but it’s a depiction of strong young woman struggling to survive.