After hearing so much hype about the book Fifty Shades of Gray on TV and the radio I just had to read it and find out if this book lived up to its reputation. Let's just say my husband enjoyed the after effects. I feel the author could have written it a little better but the underlying love story was a good one. This is a story about Christian Gray who is a dominant and all of his submissive's look like his biological mother who died when he was young. he has mental health issues going back to an abusive childhood and he deals with it through therapy and BDSM. Christian has communication issues that create a lot of problems in his relationship with Ana, who isn't sure what she wants from Christian. She is intrigued by the Red Room of pain, as she calls it, but is also afraid of it. Even though he gives her a copy of the "rules" and they discuss what each person is willing to do or not do they still have problems because she has never been in a relationship let alone one like this.

This book covers many emotions. It made me cry, laugh and become angry over the stupidity of the characters at times. I wanted to shake both of the main characters and ask them what was the problem with communicating with each other. Ana, the female main character was so naive. Who lives in a college dorm for 4 years and is still that naive? Ana has several male friends but is either oblivious or not good at reading the signals they are sending out or just not paying attention to them because one of her friends tries to take advantage of her when she gets really drunk at a bar one night. This prompted Christian to "rescue" her and it is the beginning of the relationship between Christian and Ana.

Ana has a difficult time accepting the expensive gifts Christian buys her like a first edition of her favorite book, a computer, a cell phone and a new car.

At the end of the book you are left wanting more. I couldn't wait to start the next book to find out what happens with Ana and Christian. Will she go back to him? Whats up with Ana"s new boss who seems a bit creepy? Will Christian go after Ana and convince her to come back? I also want more details about the Red room of pain and what they might do next.

The descriptive language and the lessons Gray teaches Ana were interesting and useful. The tips on fellatio were helpful and some of the things he did to her in the "red room of pain" such as spanking and bondage were fascinating and fun to try with my husband. Overall this was a good book. It did what I expected it to do which was add some excitement to our sex life with the added benefit of a better blow job for my husband who is most appreciative. Would I recommend it to everyone? No! But it is a good book and I couldn't wait to read the second and third books in the trilogy. If you are looking to add some spice to your sex life read this book.

I still like this book. My 75 year old mother-in-law likes this book and my 20 something daughter and daughter-in-law both love this book. I think the allure is the romantic storyline of the book. It is different, naughty, somehow forbidden and exciting which makes you that much more determined to do it (or read it in this case) I have passed my copy on and it has passed through many hands in the month since I bought it (7 at last count). At this rate, this is one book that will not be sitting on a shelf collecting dust anytime soon.