Review Diary of a Submissive by Sophie Morgan

Title: Diary of a Submissive

Author: Sophie Morgan

Publisher: Penguin

Published: August 2012

ISBN: 978 1405910637

Rating: 3/5

I’ve got mixed feelings after reading this.  The book begins with a simple scenario; a D/s couple outside a public area acting out.  An onlooker doesn’t know if he should intervene because he can see the male acting in what appears to be a threatening way towards the lady he is with, although she doesn’t appear to be asking for help.  Just from this scenario alone, the author acknowledges that sometimes the D/s relationship could be viewed as threatening, unwanted behaviour if there are onlookers who aren’t aware of the D/s scene.  [D=Dominant s=submissive, a bit of info from the book for you there!]

Parts of this didn't add up.  Specifically, when the author was talking about her childhood, said she’d been brought up with her mum, dad and brother, but then slightly later on she mentions “the tree was my private place – my sister had no interest in the inevitable scrapes and dirt…” <shrug> so either I’ve read that wrong or something, as it doesn’t balance when I read it.  There may be a simple explanation, but I didn’t see it (or if it was there, I missed it).

From a content point of view, this is packed with scenarios of a sexually explicit nature, as you would expect from a book with this title.  What I wasn’t prepared for though was some of the degradation that the submissive had to show –in fact, enjoyed showing, and doing…if not in mind, then with her body.  The two sometimes didn’t marry up, especially when the subs mind is screaming at her wanting not to do what she’s been asked, but her body is betraying her.  This was a concept which I’d gotten over by the time the book finished, as by then varying amount of submissive and dominating behaviour had been detailed, along with the emotions from the subs point of view.

I can certainly see the difference between this and something like 50 Shades – Diary of a Submissive is a no holds barred non fiction piece and presents the D/s relationship with both clarity and insight, it also doesn’t sugar coat scenarios or the wide variety of them.  I would suggest that you’d need to be open minded to read this, it is hardcore in places imo.

Book synopsis:

Sophie Morgan is an independent woman in her thirties with a successful journalism career. Intelligent, witty and sarcastic, she could be the girl next door. Except that Sophie is a submissive; in the bedroom she likes to relinquish her power and personal freedom to a dominant man for their mutual pleasure.

In the wake of Fifty Shades of Grey, here is a memoir that offers the real story of what it means to be a submissive. From the endorphin rush of her first spanking right through to punishments the likes of which she couldn't begin to imagine, she explains in frank and explicit fashion the road she travels. But it isn't until she meets James that her boundaries are really pushed. As her relationship with him travels into darker and darker places the question becomes: where will it end? Can she reconcile her sexuality with the rest of her life and is it possible for the perfect man to also be perfectly cruel?

Racy, controversial, but always warm, fun and astoundingly honest this is a fascinating and thought provoking look at a seemingly paradoxical side to human nature and sexuality that no man or woman will be able to put down

Source – Many thanks to the publisher & Netgalley, a copy was received in return for an honest review.