Rejoice and praise before Dear Monica Lewinsky, a trenchant, incisive, emotionally resonant and so very funny novel that far surpassed my preconceptions — and reservations — about another novel concerning a young woman seduced by her university professor. Author Julia Langbein brings to life our fully dimensional protagonist, Jean Dorman, a 45-year-old woman dealing with an existential crisis brought on by an invitation she receives, as she’s visited by Saint Monica Lewinsky to help her unpack a traumatic event from her past. Starting from a hooky, irresistible premise, Langbein delivers a near-flawlessly crafted novel that find new ways to explore and expand the boundaries of our cultural discourse around power and consent with depth, humor and well-earned emotional payoff. Bless Julia Langbein! Bless Jean Dorman! And Bless Dear Monica Lewinsky!
Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein, (List Price: $30, Doubleday, 9780385551502, April 2026)
Reviewed by Matt, A Cappella Books in Atlanta, GA