While the author unfolds the story very slowly by calculated measures, the explicit sex begins immediately on page one in the first paragraph and continues throughout the book. In fact, when the story takes a rare break from describing Shelly and Steve’s sexual encounters (such as when we meet his parents or experience her visit to a therapist) it’s like a breath of fresh air.
Written in a lively, engaging literary style with frequent references to art, design, philosophy, pop culture, consumerism, and of course, deviant sexuality, the story is told entirely from Shelly’s perspective. Vain, shallow, and self-absorbed, she longs for a loving husband who openly communicates with her, and unwisely decides indulging in his sexual fantasies with other couples might improve their relationship. As they employ new sex toys in these adventures, and engage in threesomes, foursomes, and secret affairs, they find their anger, mistrust, and poor communication actually increases.
Shelly’s conceit about her appearance and focus on the musculature and proportions of the men she meets get a bit tiresome. Although she hopes for intelligence and humor in her lovers, size seems to be even more important. Steve also rejects lovers if their hindquarters are too large or their thighs too flabby. This ongoing emphasis on the physical body (size and shape of sex organs and secondary sexual characteristics) and the external material world (clothes, shoes, cars, and houses) makes the couple rather unlikeable, both in and out of bed.
In addition to the central couple, other characters in this novel, including various friends, lovers, and strangers, appear more as caricatures than flesh-and-blood people who will engage the emotions of readers.
SWING SET may appeal to those seeking fluently written erotica, but the novel serves as more of a tease in terms of relationship insights.
~IndieReader.