I imagine this book could be written out of the prompt: What do we do with men who are terrible humans and create ground-breaking art? How do we as a global society look past the sins, maybe even crimes, of “great artists”? What is their legacy? What should it be? Who decides what art and artists get put into the public sphere?

Set alternately in the mid 1980’s and late 1990’s, this tale of Anita, an ascending artist, Jack, her famous artist husband, and Raquel, an art history major, pokes at answers to the above questions.

The author relies on a bit of what I call magical realism so if you’re into more literal interpretation of the world in a novel, this might not be for you. It was a bit dark and the misogyny in it reminds me that women of every generation have to battle it.

If you’ve read this, do you think Anita got the last laugh?

Art world. Gender roles. A little spice. Four stars.