{"product_id":"skin-contact","title":"Skin Contact","description":"\n\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Told through a variety of perspectives, readers gain a front-row seat to the beginning of Frances and Ben's relationship, while also hearing from some of the lovers they bring into their current dynamic. For fans of \u003ci\u003eThe Fates and Furies\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGunk\u003c\/i\u003e or \u003ci\u003ePerfection\u003c\/i\u003e, this multi-narrative is one not to miss.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarie Claire\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A young married couple decides to open their marriage, only to find the experiment has led them to drastically different conclusions--and contradictory future plans. We've heard this story before (in print and from friends), but what elevates this take is Faison's own clear-eyed and sensitive prose. Ada Calhoun (\u003ci\u003eCrush\u003c\/i\u003e) says it's 'irresistible, ' and who are we to argue?\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBoston Globe\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Sexy and self-assured, \n\u003ci\u003eSkin Contact\u003c\/i\u003e is irresistible. While exploring the boundaries of desire and fidelity, Elisa Faison's characters ask big questions about the choices we make and how to negotiate what's beyond our control.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAda Calhoun, NYT-bestselling author of Why We Don't Sleep and Crush\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Elisa Faison's debut novel will captivate you: lucid prose, delicious sexual tension, bursts of heartbreaking intimacy. I loved these characters, their stories, this book!\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eJean Chen Ho, author of Fiona and Jane\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eElisa Faison\u003c\/b\u003e is a freelance editor living in Carrboro, North Carolina with her partner and one-year-old twins. She has published stories in \n\u003ci\u003eThe Missouri Review\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eElectric Literature\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eSmokelong Quarterly\u003c\/i\u003e, and more. Her story \"Motherlove\" was the recipient of the 2024 Peden Prize, awarded by \n\u003ci\u003eThe Missouri Review\u003c\/i\u003e and judged by Rachel Yoder. Her story \"Group Sex\" was the third most-read story of 2023 in \n\u003ci\u003eElectric Literature\u003c\/i\u003e. Formerly, Elisa worked as a bookseller at Flyleaf Books and the book reviews editor at The Carolina Quarterly. She holds a PhD in English from UNC Chapel Hill.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\" \n\u003ci\u003eSkin Contact\u003c\/i\u003e is so much more than a sharply observed portrait of a marriage, though it is that too. This novel sharply observes us: our petty thoughts and hidden lusts, our late-night fantasies and deepest hopes, all on display, laid loving yet unflinchingly bare. Faison has created a vibrant cast of characters, with each point-of-view richly developed yet effortlessly engaging. This book is the party of the year and I wanted to join in, opening the next door and the next, getting a bit gossip, sharing just one more story, stealing one more kiss. An absolute knockout of a debut.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eGwen Kirby, author of Shit Cassandra Saw\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Elisa Faison's enthralling and unflinching \n\u003ci\u003eSkin Contact\u003c\/i\u003e gives us an intimate view of an intricately bound cast of characters, finding the hidden places where the real story lies. Shifting between the emptiness and uncertainty of loss along with the frightening and enthralling sensation of discovery, Faison has crafted a story that surprises us with its honesty, its passion, and its intensity.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKevin Wilson, bestselling author of Nothing To See Here\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Faison cleverly mirrors the phases of the couple's open relationship with shifts in tone, moving from sexy and exciting to increased emotional intensity and vulnerability. Readers will find it an intimate and insightful story of modern romance.\"-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A kaleidoscopic exploration of polyamory with the experiences of a young intellectual couple at its center...The novel is at its best when examining the intersection of Frances' grief and her romantic life--and how that creates shrapnel through her marriage--and its understanding of all the different versions of ourselves that make up our experiences as lovers. A clever and zippy first novel.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-- \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\"Irresistible.\" --Ada Calhoun, author of \u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eCrush\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA newly open marriage brings discovery, excitement, and upheaval to a young couple, and to the friends and lovers in their orbit.\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThirty years old and reeling from her mother's recent death, Frances feels as if she's lost her sense of purpose, her joy. Her husband, Ben, will do anything to help her. So when she suggests that they open their marriage, he's willing--and maybe even a little intrigued. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThey invite a young woman into their bedroom, create a joint dating profile, and go on dates with other exploring couples, with mixed but often exciting results. Over the next five years, they explore their sexualities, navigating through jealousy, betrayal, desire, and obsession--and the friends and lovers in their circle find themselves asking new questions about their own lives and relationships. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen Ben finds himself falling in love with another woman, just as Frances realizes she's ready to settle down and have a baby, they're forced to confront the consequences of their experiment. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith warmth, humor, and sharp insight, Elisa Faison explores marriage's many forms and possibilities--and announces herself as an exciting new voice in fiction.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 04\/15\/2026 (EAN 9781538776018, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/span\u003e 04\/06\/2026 (EAN 9781538776018, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n","brand":"Cardinal","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51496223965462,"sku":"9781538776018","price":34.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9781538776018.jpg?v=1783057721","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/skin-contact","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}