The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer

The Female Persuasion follows the journey of Greer Kadetsky, a shy college freshman inspired by Faith Frank, a prominent figure in the women's movement. Faith's influence ignites Greer's new interest in activism. Soon, Faith becomes not only an impactful influence but also a mentor and eventually Greer's boss. As Faith guides her, Greer embarks on a relatable coming-of-age journey, learning to balance ambition, personal relationships, and her place in the evolving roles of women today.

For most of this book, I was sure it was a five-star read, like The Interestings, which I read two years ago. While Wolitzer’s characters remain timeless, I felt the narrative teeter a bit at the end, ending predictably and with a bit of a whimper. I would have loved to see a more dynamic timeline covering Greer’s progression into the age from which we first meet Faith, who is 63 when she speaks at Greer’s college. The challenge of bridging the gaps between generations fighting the same fight is highlighted in small ways, but I wanted more exploration of this through Greer. This would have given her a more impactful character arc, regardless of how her personal life concluded.

Wolitzer’s characters are outstanding, and it’s particularly interesting that one of the best characters isn’t Greer but her high school boyfriend, Cory, whose path takes an unexpected detour after a family tragedy. The novel’s exploration of womanhood, power, influence, and mentorship was slightly overshadowed for me by the current news about women's rights being struck down at the federal and state levels. Experiencing this angle of the story, presented as an unquestionable given, was disquietingly fascinating from today's perspective.

Overall, a compelling exploration of ambition, mentorship, and the evolving roles of women, despite a slightly predictable ending.