Holding Out

By Anne O. Faulk

Book Overview

In a love story that goes to the very heart of male-female relations, Anne O. Faulk updates for the nineties the tale of Lysistrata -- who persuaded the women of Athens to withhold sex from their husbands to end a war. Not since Erica Jong's Fear of Flying has a novel been as stunningly sexy as it is smart.
Like millions of American women, Lauren Fontaine, thirty-six-year-old Atlanta financial wizard and single mother, was outraged when the wife of a top government leader committed suicide after enduring years of spousal abuse. Worse, the abuser stayed in office, no blame, no shame. But it was Lauren's brilliant idea to stage a protest that would hit men where they live: no sex. Nada, zip -- until justice was done. A majority of women across America agreed. Then all hell broke loose.
The male power structure -- and Lauren's new boyfriend -- are miserable about women holding out. Now someone is using dirty tricks, underhanded tactics, and outright terror to stop Lauren and her movement. The eye-popping results make for the wisest, funniest, and most provocative book you'll read this year. Holding Out is a call to arms you won't soon forget.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1982131179
• ISBN13: 9781982131173
• Release Date: February 2019
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 1.03 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Funny, Steamy, and great for a new Feminist.

Yes, the characters are a little extreme, but this IS fiction after all. What good is it to write a book without a little spice? They all have their fair share of problems that any person can relate to: a fiance that died, falling in love with a married man, and getting a divorce. I think the point of making Lauren so successful was to show women that they too can be. I read this book last summer, and it took me around two days. I couldn't put it down. I am re-reading it, and discussing the book with people is slightly difficult. I have found that the word feminist is like a dirty word; no one wants to hear it nor try to understand it. This book is great for anyone that is just getting into feminism. It blends romance, straight and gay people, feminism, and women coming together among other things. The one thing that really stood out for me was the way the women were tense around each other. That seems to be incredibly true. Any feminist that loves to read needs to buy this book.

intelligent women only

i bought this book 3 years ago as a bargain book to read on a trip. i read about 5 pages and promptly forgot about it. a year later i was rummaging through my carry-on luggage (which was still packed from that trip a year ago) and found it. i started reading it and couldn't put it down. i've since purchased it for most of my girlfriends. i loved lauren and wanted to fight right with her. maybe it's the democrat in me that's too willing to march in dc, but i think this book is a must read for any intelligent woman who cares about social issues.

Whats it all about.

I read this book on loan from a local library. I checked out three books and this was, at the time, the least compelling I had in my stack. I ended up reading it first and I am glad that I did. The book is about a sex strike imposed by American women until a wife-beating Chief Justice is extracted from the Supreme Court. So that is the plot. But what I think the book is really about is why we, and I mean all of us, don't stand up for what we think are our base set of morals more often. Lauren Fontaine, the protragonist and my new hero, stands up and winds up in prison, chastised by men and women alike, and celibate with only her convictions to accompany her. In other words, OUCH!!! Once one sets aside the sex strike--and by which I mean accepts it as a protest to gain power (as if it were a boycott of a product for example), I believe that the book appeals to any person who loves reading about a courageous, dedicated person who you can't help but root for. The scene in the church made me cry. Those who have read the book know what I'm talking about. The scene is not more than 40 words long but it snaps you into the world that not only Fontaine lives in but one that we all live in: A world that often punishes those who try to make it better and rewards those who contribute to the denegration of society. If you were not a fan of Lauren Fontaine by that point, you would be afterward. This book is about a woman, written by a woman, and probably for women but I feel that anybody who puts fourth the effort to read this fast moving, witty, and excellent work will be happy they did. It is time well spent.Excellent work Ms. Faulk.

delightful,sexy,fun and one of the best reads this year

Ms. Faulk has a wonderful talent to paint a story with words and she sure captured my attention! What a sexy, witty and rollicking read. I could not wait to get back to Holding Out when made to put it down. It was one of those books that I hated to finish. I felt that I WAS part of the story it was so much fun. Ms. Faulk, where is the next one? I am waiting.

Funny and smart!

This book probes feminist theory in a way that is more accessible and engaging than Camille Paglia's diatribes. It's witty, heartfelt, and honest in its depiction of an tragi-comic heroine and her political exploits. Truly thought-provoking and entertaining.