It's no secret that most mainstream porn is created with a very specific audience in mind — namely, straight men. As a result, a huge amount of porn found under the "lesbian" category isn't necessarily made for actual lesbians, or by them. A new YouTube video released by lesbian YouTuber Arielle Scarcella capitalizes on this fact; titled "Lesbians Guess: Straight Girls or Gay Girls in P*rn," the video features — you guessed it — lesbians watching various porn videos and trying to guess the sexuality of the women starring in them based off how they have sex with their partners. Some of them make immediate, sweeping judgments saying things like, "The blonde girl is straight for sure," or, "She kissed it, that's a gay thing to do"; other times, they describe the women as "iffy" or "probably curious." In fact, there appear to be an awful lot of do's and don'ts required to convincingly perform lesbian sex in porn.
The "rules" of being a convincing lesbian in porn according to the video require performers to: Visibly look like you're into having sex with your female partners, be into kissing her vagina, be visibly appreciative, put your hair in a ponytail so you don't get lady fluids all over it, finger other ladies with consistency, and have good form. Some red flags and causes for judgement include French fisting, looking like they're acting, unusual or particularly large-looking toys, or poorly executed fingering.
But it can sometimes be entertaining to watch one group of people attempt to identify another group of people based off of nothing more than a video — while it's true that a lot of porn intended to depict lesbian sex stars straight women and is created for a straight gaze — Scarcella's video also drives home this very important point: Sex acts shouldn't actually be considered a marker for sexuality. In fact, Scarcella says it herself at the end of the video: "How we express our sexuality has nothing to do with our sexual orientation .... How can we know how someone identifies based on how they act in bed?" We can't — and that's the whole point. We're not the ones who get to decide how someone else identifies.
I myself as a queer woman have fallen victim to adhering to this kind of narrative. Often when I go out and my friends ask me to identify whether another girl is gay, I — not unlike the girls in Scarcella's video — make sweeping judgements like, "Oh, her nails are long — she can't possibly be gay," or, "A gay girl wouldn't be caught dead in that outfit." I and many other women who like women have also made bold claims about how other girls have sex, saying this like, "Scissoring totally doesn't exist," or, "Lesbians don't like anal." While statements like this may have statistical or numerical value, they cannot be used to categorize the behaviors, sexual or otherwise, of all lesbians. These kinds of narratives undermine female sexuality and the complexities behind each and every identity, and perpetuate harmful stereotypes that can isolate lesbian, bisexual, and other non-hetero women, making them believe there's something wrong with them or that they're not normal.
The issue also, in this case, becomes one of feminism. We're essentially policing these women and deciding what they can do with their bodies to fit a particular mold. Why should I get to decide what makes someone else a lesbian? Why should anyone get to decide someone's identity based on her body or her choices? There's no such thing as a "real lesbian." The phrase itself reminds me of a campaign I used to see a lot when I was younger describing "real men." One specific visual that stands out in my mind is one that read, "Real men give up one-night stands for a woman they can't live without." While the sentiment to find a woman you love a lot is nice, it pushes a certain socially constructed, moral code or agenda onto men. Can gay men not be real men? Can men opposed to marriage not be real men? Can men in consenting non-monogomous relationships not be real men? So, then, in a similar vein can lesbians who have anal not be real lesbians? Or can women who have a lot of sex not be real women?
It's time to start moving on as societies and individuals from harmful generalizations. We need to start understanding that identity, sexuality, and sex and complicated, non-binary things. Besides, stereotypes are so yesterday.
Sisterhood is forever, right? So it's almost a sweet twist of irony the Delta Sigma Theta sorority handbooks held up the Houston airport after they sparked a security threat, and the wait went on seemingly forever. Cute! It wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the sheer number of people involved. Close to 13,000 DST sisters trickled into the Houston airport after their 52nd conference July 23 through 29 wrapped, and each sister was awarded one of these commemorative memory books so they'd remember, like I said, that sisterhood is forever.
Well, the TSA begs to differ. Or at least they eyeballed the deluge of these books and immediately grew suspicious of their actual intent — which, to be real, is kinda fair. It's like a yearbook for grown-ups. Also, I don't know if these girls know it just yet, but they're probably gonna move at least once or twice in the next year, forcing them to reevaluate and likely loathe all the media they collected in their lives, these books included.
In helpful, specific clarification airport spokesperson Bill Begley explained, "At the convention there were items they were given, which they had packed in their bags. As they were going through a check in process prompted a secondary search by the TSA."​
Looks like the long lost missing eighth book in the Harry Potter series, IMO. But what do I know? Not the cost of sisterhood, at least.
After they both appeared with their own solo covers of Cosmo, I thought Kim K and her younger sister were a lot alike, but then, Kourtney Kardashian channeled Khloé in her latest outfit, and now I’m just like “Wait a second.” Because now Khlo and Kourt seem to be twinning. You’re making it difficult for me to keep up with you, you guys. Although, I can’t blame Kourtney for using her younger sister as her inspiration. Nobody wears a pair of jeans quite like she does, you know?
Kourtney wore jeans with a fitted top tucked into them and looked a lot like her little sis. Although, according to her, she was missing the [insert peach emoji here], which I can only assume means butt. When it comes to Khloé’s backside, she’s got it going on, so I understand where Kourtney’s coming from on that one. Of the sisters, I would say that Khloé’s got the most minimalistic style, often wearing jeans or simple (yet amazing) bodycon dresses and skirts. The look totally works for her, so I can see why she’s a source of simplistic style inspo.
I must say that Kourtney really nailed her sister’s style with her Khloé-esque ensemble, so props to her. I’m glad that she can admit when her sisters inspire her because I think we can all relate to wanting to copy their styles, right?
In Sony Pictures' new Robert Zemeckis-directed biographical drama The Walk , Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as the legendary high-wire walker Philippe Petit — who is, as I'm sure you know, best known for his 1974 stunt that involved him attaching a steel wire between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center... and then walking across it. About 1350 feet in the air. And then living to tell the tale. (No, I'm not joking.) The film, which follows Petit as he pulls off his historic stunt (what he calls "le coup") delves deep into how exactly he pulled it off — as well as just who he received much-needed help from. Along with his girlfriend Annie (portrayed brilliantly by French-Canadian actress Charlotte Le Bon), Petit recruits a group of French and American accomplices to help him pull off his coup — two of whom were portrayed by actors Ben Schwartz (of Parks and Recreation fame) and James Badge Dale. Of course, working on a film as high intensity as this one is no easy feat — but, as Schwartz and Dale themselves divulged to Bustle, working on a film that covers such a historic moment in popular culture was an unparalleled experience.
Of their involvement in the film, Schwartz and Dale had nothing but kind words for not only the content, but also the real-life Petit — who closely worked with producers during production to ensure that the film was as true to his own experiences as can be. "Philippe was on set, he was hanging out on set... he's such an amazing guy," Dale tells Bustle of Petit. Working with him, they say, was an inspirational experience, because Petit is "always creating" new art and working on different projects.
The Walk hits theaters nationwide on Oct. 9. Check out Schwartz and Dale talking more about their experiences working on the film below:
I love the idea of crock pots. Besides winning the lottery or getting a new puppy on Christmas, what could be better than having a meal ready when you return home from work?
Unfortunately, in my experience, crock pot meals are usually different variations of soggy meat and potatoes. So, I scoured the Internet for eight slow-cooker recipes that will put those vats of wet meat to shame. There's hot chocolate! And hummus! And chicken enchilada soup! You're welcome.
Sugarpill Cosmetics are known for their vegan and cruelty free makeup formulas as well as their super pigmented lip colors. The Sugarpill Pretty Poison lipsticks are the brand's latest collection of solid matte shades, and they're swoonworthy to say the least.
So when can we get our hands on these intensely colored lipsticks in their signature super cute pill packaging? According to Sugarpill Cosmetic’s Instagram, the Pretty Poison lipsticks will be available for purchase on the company's website as soon as Nov. 14.
From the company that brought you donut-scented lipstick, Sugarpill is debuting six new solid lip colors so noteworthy that beauty lover and cosmetics maven Kat Von D shared them via her Instagram page. She captioned the photo of her new lipsticks, "But like seriously, how fucking cute are these new @sugarpill lipsticks?! 💘💊💄 *and they're #vegan and #crueltyfree too! 🐰 #prettypoison."
The matte lipsticks are set to retail for $20 a piece or $120 for all six colors, keeping them on-par with the prices of many competitive lip shades.
According to the video above (the first ever for the brand's new YouTube channel), Sugarpill's lipsticks are a “non-drying matte formula with pigmented one swipe coverage.” Judging by the video, the formula really does look great with only one swipe.
Fingers crossed that we can get our hands on these pretty popsicle hued lipsticks before they sell out. Until they go on sale on Nov. 14, all we can do is swoon.
If you haven't gotten your fill of former Bachelor stars dancing, don't worry because Josh Murray says he'd be up for being on Dancing With the Stars — not that he's been asked. However, now that he's put the positive vibes out there, I'm sure he can expect a call from ABC any day now. "I don't know if I could dance that well, but I would do it," Andi Dorfman's ex told E! News. "It would be fun. I love having fun!"
Murray got an up close and personal look at the show last Monday when he and Whitney Bischoff attended to watch Chris Soules dance, and it seems he liked what he saw. But Murray isn't the only member of the Bachelor family who would be great to watch on stage. The dancing show has a long history of inviting past Bachelor members to join the competition. Over the years Trista Sutter, Melissa Rycroft, Jake Pavelka, Sean Lowe, and now Chris Soules have participated. And, while not all of them have had success, they've all been fairly entertaining to watch.
I'm all for Josh Murray joining DWTS, but I think the dancing show should consider these former contestants as well. You can never have too much Bachelor!
On her season with Juan Pablo we learned what a terrible dancer Andi was. She deserves a chance to redeem herself. I bet, with the right amount of practice, she could go far. If Chris Soules can do it, anyone can.
We saw a little bit of her dance moves when Chris Soules stole her away for that private concert date, and she wasn't bad. What if the whole double Bachelorette thing doesn't work out for her, and the house picks Kaitlyn to continue as the only Bachelorette? DWTS would be a nice distraction from that.
A slot on the show was actually offered to Robertson after she and Ben Flajnik got engaged. But Robertson writes in her book, I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends, that Flajnik told her if she did the show their relationship would be over. Now that they've broken up anyway, she deserves that second chance.
She was the bubbliest member of Juan Pablo's season, and just a delight to watch in general. Does she have dancing skills? I don't even care. Just give me more Free Spirit.
She was the runner-up on Chris Soules' season and won a lot of people over with her sweet demeanor. I feel like the Becca we saw on The Bachelor was very withdrawn until later in the season, so I'd love to see her come out of her shell a little more. A dancing show could be the perfect way to make that happen.
DWTS is just an excellent way for America to still get to watch this sweet, smartly dressed man every Monday. Do we need more reason than that?
Sure, Arie's in a happy relationship, but just because he can't do a dating show doesn't mean he can't go on a dancing show! I don't know if he has moves, but I'm still willing to bet he could bring some fire to the dance floor.
I wasn't a huge fan of Ashley I. on The Bachelor. She seemed pretty mean-spirited. But once I saw her on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a normal person, I realized she was actually pretty cool. I'd love to see her be able to share that cool side with the world by doing something like DWTS.
Petition for Ashley S. to be on every reality show ever because she keeps it real, and she's hilarious.
With all of Mark Zuckerberg's grand plans to save the world, it'd be pretty awkward if Facebook met the same fate as MySpace. And that might just happen: a new research report by asset-management firm Piper Jaffray indicates that, for teens, Facebook is so last year. Twitter has officially overtaken Facebook as the most important social-networking site to adolescents, and Instagram is steadily creeping up on both. Handily, Facebook owns Instagram, but Zuck will still wince when he reads teens' cavalier accounts of Facebook being a thing of the past: "If you make a Twitter and an Instagram, then you'll just kind of forget about Facebook," said one 14-year-old.
Zuckerberg admitted in September that Facebook was no longer a "cool" product, but maintained that it was still a popular one — according to Business Insider, Facebook won't release statistics, but anonymous execs claim that adolescents use Facebook more than they say. In a talk at the Atlantic, Zuck laughed off fears that Facebook would lose its "cool" factor:
People assume that we’re trying to be cool. It’s never been my goal. I’m the least cool person there is! We’re almost 10 years old so we’re definitely not a niche thing any more so that kind of angle for coolness is done for us.
But everybody knows that if there's one demographic deeply concerned with what is and isn't "cool," it's teens. Seriously: the Facebook drops in the Piper Jaffray graph are sharper than cliff faces.
Piper Jaffray releases a report on the social-networking habits of American teenagers four times a year, and the latest marks the 26th report. For the last 25, Facebook had beaten all its competitors.
In July, Zuckerberg assured investors that Facebook monopolized the social-networking arena for American teenagers. Since advertisers have their pick of sites to choose from when it comes to targeted ads, it's in Zuck's interest to pretend nothing's wrong — but last week, Facebook unexpectedly rolled out a change to teens' privacy policy.
The change allowed teenagers to share their posts with "Public," which they couldn't do before. The move was widely seen as an attempt to sweeten up advertisers — if teens are sharing all their personal information, advertisers can better target ads at them — who, let's remember, have the entire rest of the Internet to pick from when it comes to teens. So this might not be quite so coincidental, or aiming to promote social activism, as Facebook put it.
Thankfully, it seems the scary reports about Joni Mitchell's medical condition may not be quite so bad after all. On Monday, TMZ reported that legendary singer Joni Mitchell was unconscious and unresponsive in the hospital, with "no immediate prospects of getting better," — a report that came several weeks after TMZ first reported that Mitchell was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital. Though TMZ's reports claimed that Mitchell's condition was bleak, Mitchell's reps have a different comment — and, thankfully, it's a much better one. According to a statement from Mitchell's personal website, posted by Mitchell's representative Leslie Morris, Mitchell is not in a coma, and is expected to make a full recovery. The statement, in full:
Contrary to rumors circulating on the Internet today, Joni is not in a coma. Joni is still in the hospital - but she comprehends, she’s alert, and she has her full senses. A full recovery is expected. The document obtained by a certain media outlet simply gives her longtime friend Leslie Morris the authority - in the absence of 24-hour doctor care - to make care decisions for Joni once she leaves the hospital. As we all know, Joni is a strong-willed woman and is nowhere near giving up the fight. Please continue to keep Joni in your thoughts. You may add your well wishes for her at the website WeLoveYouJoni.com.
This is, of course, amazing news for family, friends, and fans of the legendary singer. Mitchell's music has given the world so much that to hear she could be in such a dire situation was truly heartbreaking.
Mitchell first rose to fame in the late '60s as a folk artist and a singer-songwriter who solidified her place amongst the other musicians of the Woodstock generation. Her music spoke for itself with haunting lyrics, which were often hopeful, tragic, and deeply introspective all at the same time. But while Mitchell wasn't always an optimist on love, her music did feature some important words of wisdom. There's a reason why putting on a Mitchell album makes you feel a bevy of emotions — there's meaning behind those words.
Here are some of Mitchell's most important lyrics on life and love that illustrate just what an iconic artist she is — think of it as a celebration of this amazing news.
Describes: When you are on the verge of falling in love with the person who refuses to be tied down to anything or anyone.
"I've looked at love from both sides now/From give and take and still somehow/It's love's illusion I recall/I really don't know love at all" — "Both Sides, Now"
Describes: When you spend hours analyzing your last relationship post-breakup. Some things are meant to be accepted, not understood.
"I got a bird that whistles/I got a bird that's singin'/If I don't have you darlin'/Birds don't mean nothin'" — "A Bird That Whistles (Corrina, Corrina)"
"When love makes a fool of me/After the rush when you come back down/You're always disappointed/Nothing seems to keep you high" — "Woman Of Heart And Mind"
Describes: When the person you love (or loved) now feels like a part of your soul, for better or for worse.
"If your head says forget it/But your heart is still smokin'/Call me at the station/The lines are open" — "You Turn Me On I'm A Radio"
Oh, Kim and Kanye. Ever the prime example of having so much money that you don't know what to do with it. Maybe I'm being a little bitter upon hearing that Kanye West sent Kim Kardashian a few thousand white roses to her hotel room and also surprised her at dinner with a string quartet playing Sam Smith songs for Mother's Day. Meanwhile, trying to get a single flower from a dude you're dating in NYC is like the most covert and impossible operation known to man — but I digress. West and Kardashian are obviously no strangers to luxury and extravagance, and many of their gift choices for each other support this fact.
But extravagance doesn't always mean spending tons of money, my friends. Kanye West does indeed have a flare for the unique and unpredictable, so sometimes his choices veer a little left of conventional gifts for your boo. Kardashian likes to keep things more traditional, but she definitely never skimps on pure lavishness because anything goes when it comes to her husband and her daughter, North.
So, in celebration of one of the most over-the-top celebrity couples, I rounded up some of the most ridiculous gifts that West and Kardashian have given to each other, because since they've got the means, they really go for it.
For Kardashian's 34th birthday, West commissioned a world renowned artist to paint a $10,000 Hermes purse, Jackson Pollack style. Actually, no. West invited their daughter North to go to town and create a little masterpiece. What ever happened to construction paper? Kardashian told Us Magazine, "I had thought it was this new artist who had painted this purse... [But] it was my daughter. It was amazing."
Remember that time West ranted, "I am undoubtedly, you know, Steve of internet, downtown, fashion, culture. Period." He was referring to his hero Steve Jobs, so for his birthday in 2013, Kardashian decided to give West two computer mice autographed by Jobs and Apple co-creator Steve Wozniak. Oh yeah, and they also got to meet Wozniak in person.
Rumors circulated last year that West bought ten Burger King franchises so his girl could expand her empire even further, because who doesn't love french fries? West himself owns a few Fatburger chains in Chicago, so maybe we've got a new family business in the future.
In 2012, Kardashian bought her then-boyfriend a rare $750,000 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 for his birthday. I don't know what any of that means but I know it's expensive, it looks like a Batmobile, and I'm gonna go cry now.
Kanye West is really into defacing Hermes bags. As a Christmas gift, the rapper gifted his wife a Birkin bag worth an insane amount of money. But not just any Birkin bag would do for him. He hired contemporary George Condo to paint on the purse and the result was rather terrifying if you ask me. Whatever floats your boat, I guess.
In 2012, Kardashian was off to Miami to film her reality show, Kourtney and Kim Take Miami, and West surprised her with a beautiful white kitten named Mercy. The teacup Persian didn't stay with Kardashian long — she discovered she was allergic and gave the cat to her assistant, but little Mercy died of a virus at only four months old. :(
Sometimes the simple things really make the most impact. For his 37th birthday, Kardashian got her hands on a My Monopoly board, which wasn't even out in stores yet. She customized the board completely, and replaced the classic Park Avenue and Broadway spaces with locations near and dear to the couple.
We know that West got his girl thousands of roses this year for Mother's Day, but he kicked off the tradition on Mother's Day last year. He surprised Kardashian with a wall of roses, peonies, and hydrangeas and it was really, really beautiful.
Every year, New York's theatre elite collect at the Tony Awards to honor the many actors, producers, and directors that make Broadway shows possible. This year's Broadway season was exceptional, including such hits as The Elephant Man (starring Bradley Cooper) and Gigi (starring Vanessa Hudgens). However, the Tony Awards have never been known for its exceptional fashion choices. It's even been criticized by the editor-in-chief of Vogue and queen of fashion herself, Anna Wintour, for not being fashionable enough — which is why she stepped in to lend the show a helping hand this year.
With the help of Wintour's styling ability, Vogueand KCD helped create this year's red carpet looks. The results were, naturally, amazing. The red carpet began with hosts Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming, who brought their A-game in terms of both talent and fashion. Zac Posen and Oscar de la Renta were all over the carpet tonight. White and metallics were also a huge trend. But those who stood out the most with less conventional dresses really stole the show. Between Vanessa Hudgens' floral Naeem Khan gown to Kendall Jenner's coral sequined Calvin Klein dress, the red carpet at the Tony Awards came alive for the first time in a long time. Here are some of the highlights from tonight's gorgeous looks!
Matthew Lewis knows a thing or two about friendship — and not just from playing his Harry Potter character. Of course, when the actor was portraying Neville Longbottom, he showed the ultimate sign of bravery by standing up for his friends in the face of pure evil, but it is worth mentioning that in real life, Matthew Lewis places quite a high value on his friends, as well.
The 25-year-old has spoken about how the friends that he made long before he starred in the Potter films have helped keep him grounded in the midst of skyrocketing to international fame. He has also talked about being on a great terms with the cast mates who starred alongside him in the wildly popular movie series. It seems like he not only appreciates the camaraderie of the people around him, but also the deep connection that comes from knowing someone for a very long time or on a much stronger level.
We've already explored the reasons why Lewis is celeb crush worthy for reasons other than being, well, hot. So here are some of the best quotes he's said about friendship. If these don't convince you, nothing will!
"The one thing I insist on if I’m asked to do something is: Can I bring a mate? So, if I’m in New York doing an interview with USA Today or whatever, it’s nice to be able to look across the room and see my mate Nick from Otley. It keeps me on the ground," he said in an interview with The Telegraph.
As to the Telegraph: "I was so lucky: I know a few of the other [Harry Potter stars] had problems [as far as their fame affecting their lives at school]. In the early years, I kept to myself, though I had friends from before Potter, and I’m still friends with them today. They’ve helped me keep my feet on the ground," he said.
"In the last film, shooting the big courtyard scene with Ralph Fiennes and Jason Isaacs and all the other guys it was just on a level. That’s not to say I’m on a level with Ralph Fiennes because I’m not, but it felt as if we were all mates doing a job together," he continued.
"It's not something that I'm desperate to get away from in such a way that I can't work with any of them. I'd love to — Dan, in particular. I think Dan is such a committed actor. He works so hard and so tirelessly that you can't help but be inspired when you're around him on a film set. I'd love to work with Dan again," he said in a Radio Times interview.
"And, I just don't see any reason, just because people know who you are, that you have to be any different. And I think if I was, my friends would let me know. And I'm glad about that," he said in an on-set interview during the Half-Blood Prince.
"None of them get jealous or anything like that. And it's just a close group of friends I've got back home that they just deal with it. And the fact that they can have a laugh with it is great and all that," he said in the same Half-Blood Prince interview.
On Once Upon A Time, characters are constantly coming and going according to what the story of the moment calls for, so it's best not to get too attached to anyone outside the main cast. It's hard, however, when you see potential squandered, as is the case with Michael Socha, otherwise known as Will Scarlet, one of Robin Hood's infamous Merry Men. Of course, we first saw him on the short-lived Once spin-off Once Upon A Time In Wonderland , where he helped Alice find her True Love and also mourned the loss of his own in Anastasia. When he joined Once, it was a welcome sight, and he was even given regular status for Season 4... only for Will Scarlet to no longer be part of the main cast in Season 5.
It's not completely bad news. Socha will still be around to reprise his role as Will come fall, but in a much more diminished capacity. For anyone who watched last season, you'll probably wonder how much more diminished Will's presence can be before he disappears entirely. The character was criminally underused last year, serving merely as a prop for the whole Rumpel and Belle saga. Will developed a romantic relationship with Belle after she kicked Rumpel to the curb (or, you know, over the Storybrooke town line), a move that created a lot of potential for two underserved residents of the town. Only it didn't really turn out that way: Rumpel came back and used Will to get Belle's heart back, and then Belle unceremoniously dumped Will when Rumpel seemed to be dying (not that Will knows that yet).
Obviously things didn't turn out as the writers had planned. If Will Scarlet was intended simply as a pawn to get Rumpel and Belle back together, there was no reason to ever make him a regular. He certainly didn't get the amount of airtime that position would suggest. Of course, it's understandable that developing Will fell by the wayside, given that there were much bigger matters at hand, like the Author trying to destroy everything to let the villains win, Gold nearly dying, Emma becoming the Dark One... you get the drift. Will's little dalliance with a heartbroken Belle — who, let's be honest, had no business rushing into anything else, well, pretty much ever, let alone right away. What else could we realistically expect to happen?
In the end, we didn't really get to know Will enough to miss him all that much, but his demotion is worth noting, given that we may soon find ourselves in a similar situation when it comes to Zelena (Rebecca Mader) and Robin (Sean Maguire), both of whom were promoted to series regulars for Season 5 earlier this month. The difference here is that both characters have far more of a chance of sticking around than Will ever did, given their ties to Regina, one of the biggest — and certainly one of the main — characters on the show. They're going to need a little TLC if they don't want to meet the same fate as Socha, but I guess only time will tell.
I’ve been glued to my TV set ever since The Cry premiered on the Beeb. If you haven’t been watching the show, it's nail-biting domestic noir based on the Helen FitzGerald novel of the same name, which follows the heart-breaking and tense relationship of Alistair (played by Ewen Leslie) and Joanna (Jenna Coleman), after their baby son Noah disappears. However, now that the four-part series is drawing to an end, I’m been looking for my next big thriller. So, I’ve hunted down some books like The Cry by Helen FitzGerald to read after the show wraps up on Oct. 21 because let’s face it, there’s going to be Jenna Coleman-shaped hole in our lives at the end of the month.
From the best-selling crime thrillers of the year to older stalwarts that sit nicely in the genre, I’ve pulled together a list of books you should definitely read if you’re obsessed with the show. Given that we’ll have to wait an entire week for the next episode of The Cry, hopefully one of these will tide you over until we find out what really happened to baby Noah.
If you haven't read the FitzGerald book, seriously, do it now. But if you have, check these books out. They are just tense and equally as dramatic if you're looking for your next fix of on-the-edge-of-your-seat literature. You're welcome.
Can’t get enough of FitzGerald’s tense prose and conspiracy thrillers? It’s worth picking up one of her more recent novels in that case. Viral is a story that revolves around a girl named Su Oliphant-Brotheridge, whose graduation trip to Magaluf goes horribly wrong when she falls victim of revenge porn, and the footage goes viral. Once news of it hits home and more specifically her mother Ruth, a court judge, Ruth decides to seek out justice against those who took advantage of Su and the novel quickly teeters into revenge fantasy territory. Gripping and cleverly realised, fingers crossed this book also gets a BBC series order.
Another domestic thriller on the cards, Our House came out earlier this year and it’s a story you won’t stop thinking about. When strangers suddenly move into Fiona Lawson’s family home and insist that they’ve bought it fair and square, Fiona finds that her estranged husband Bram has suddenly disappeared and made off with their two sons. As with The Cry, there’s a big focus on uncovering the mystery behind his actions and it plays with a non-linear storyline; flashing back and forth throughout time to shed greater light on what transpires in the book. With interweaving storylines, Bram’s past indiscretions change everything for the family as Fiona uncovers his secrets one by one.
People went wild for Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train when her thrilling novel and the subsequent Emily Blunt film adaptation came out. Her most recent book Into The Water more than cements her position as one of the world’s most exciting crime novelists, centred this time around a town where a woman named Nel has apparently jumped to her death. However, her sister Jules knows better, especially as her sister was terrified of the Drowning Pool where she passed away and it's her job to force the truth to light. While it’s not as mind-boggling as The Girl on the Train, Into the Water is still a fantastic page-turning thriller that uncovers the seedy underbelly of a town full of apparent do-gooders.
This book is one you’ll definitely have seen on the stands recently, as it was one of the summer’s biggest best-sellers. Written by Celeste Ng, the author behind the compelling novel Everything I Never Told You, this family drama centres around a mysterious fire which has claimed the Richardsons’ home in a sleepy American suburb. As with The Cry, tensions over children lie at the heart of the novel as the Richardsons begin to fight with their tenant and the town’s resident black sheep Mia Warren over a fierce custody battle. It’s a brutally honest and sometimes devastating depiction of motherhood in all its fury and unending love.
Never mind the title, this psychological thriller is a real page-turner. A master of the domestic noir genre, Her Husband’s Lover is a fantastic example of the form and begins with a tragic car accident which takes the life of Louisa’s husband Sam, as well as their children. After Louise tries to move on with her life and sell her home, Sam’s lover Sophie gets involved and things take a dark and potentially bloody turn as she screams for revenge. Like The Cry, you begin to yo-yo between feeling bad or completely hating the main characters as the story hurtles towards its ferocious ending.
And of course to wrap this list up, you can relive Joanna and Alistair's nightmare with the book that started it all. Although Helen FitzGerald's crime thrillers are generally quite solid, this novel was the one that skyrocketed to fame and resulted in the four-part BBC series I'm now obsessed with. If you simply just can't wait till the show's finale, you can read ahead with the original book: however just steel yourself for the fact that it's pretty bleak.
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