What do you think?
Rate this book
Not My Type: One Woman vs. a President
A hilarious, hopeful, revelatory behind the scenes account of the trials that riveted the nation
You’ve heard about the tantrums, the seething, the storming out of court, yes. But what about E. Jean’s side of the story? What about the flight suits, the bottle of green Chartreuse, and the bob?
Not My Type puts you in a better seat than the jury box.
You will hear Alina Habba, Esq., “Trump’s most beautiful attorney,” asking E. Jean to “list” the people she has “slept with”—a list which turns out to be so marvelous, it is worth twice the price of this book. You will experience the fear and loathing of E. Jean’s “psychiatric evaluations,” and hear how she tries to cheer up Trump’s gloomy, $750-an-hour shrink by telling him about the strange white tablet Hunter S. Thompson gave her.
You will be in on the choosing of the “clothes for court,” and the creation of “the look”: a look that will help the jury connect the younger E. Jean who is attacked by Trump in Bergdorf’s with the older E. Jean who sits in the courtroom.
It’s all here: two dazzling trials, the full-tilt high stakes, the laugh-out-loud commentary, and the inspiring fact that a woman is never too old to get even.
You’ve heard about the tantrums, the seething, the storming out of court, yes. But what about E. Jean’s side of the story? What about the flight suits, the bottle of green Chartreuse, and the bob?
Not My Type puts you in a better seat than the jury box.
You will hear Alina Habba, Esq., “Trump’s most beautiful attorney,” asking E. Jean to “list” the people she has “slept with”—a list which turns out to be so marvelous, it is worth twice the price of this book. You will experience the fear and loathing of E. Jean’s “psychiatric evaluations,” and hear how she tries to cheer up Trump’s gloomy, $750-an-hour shrink by telling him about the strange white tablet Hunter S. Thompson gave her.
You will be in on the choosing of the “clothes for court,” and the creation of “the look”: a look that will help the jury connect the younger E. Jean who is attacked by Trump in Bergdorf’s with the older E. Jean who sits in the courtroom.
It’s all here: two dazzling trials, the full-tilt high stakes, the laugh-out-loud commentary, and the inspiring fact that a woman is never too old to get even.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 17, 2025
818 people are currently reading
5327 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 377 reviews
June 20, 2025
This week, while Trump was busy telling America one of his cringy penis jokes, E. Jean Carroll released a memoir titled “Not My Type.” It’s a shocking and shockingly hilarious account of one woman’s fight for justice against a sexual predator who moonlights as president of the United States.
The world knows that Carroll prevailed in her gazillion-dollar lawsuits against Trump for defamation and sexual abuse. But hearing her describe that courtroom battle in her own smoky, mirth-filled drawl is an experience too delicious for the printed page.
Which is why you shouldn’t read “Not My Type” — you should listen to it.
At the outset of the audiobook, Carroll claims she’s no professional narrator. “I tried practicing,” she says, “and at one point I even gave up and cried out, ‘Bring in Ellen Barkin! Bring in Meryl Streep!’ But despite my flaws as a narrator, regardless of my stomach growling like a bulldog, my laughing and my weeping and my inability to read a single sentence without a mistake, this is my story, and, by God, I’m going to be the one who tells it.”
By God, does she ever. Now 81 — and still able to spot a pair of Manolo Blahnik pumps from 100 yards away — Carroll plunges us into the humiliating gauntlet awaiting any woman who dares to call out the Grabber-in-Chief.
And there’s nothing superfluous about her eye for shoes. Her lawyers know jurors will judge her appearance as much as her testimony. Months of deliberation go into selecting the right outfits for court. Should she recreate the bob she sported in 1996? What about false eyelashes? Blink once for yes, twice for no.
Carroll reminds us how improbable her legal victory was. All Trump had to do was make a single juror believe he didn’t assault her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s. “If Mr. Bankrupt can convince nearly half the country to vote for him because he is a business ‘genius,’” Carroll says, “he should have no trouble convincing one little upstater that I am a disgrace.”
But despite the odds, she picks up the sword and charges.
“I hate to ask you this, but — approximately — how many people do you think you’ve slept with?”
That question opens “Not My Type.” It’s posed by Trump’s attorney Alina Habba during discovery on the 63rd floor of the Empire State Building. The view is spectacular. “But I am not looking out the windows,” Carroll says. “I am looking at Alina Habba, Esq. She is stupendous! Dark, with a broad forehead, cheekbones like pickleball paddles, wide-set eyes as lovely as a baby seal’s. I like her immediately.”
That’s the thing: Carroll likes people — all kinds of people, even her enemies — anyone colorful, dynamic or outrageous. In the courtroom, she’s awed by another Trump lawyer: the wealthy, muscle-bound Joe Tacopina in his sartorial splendor: “Until you have seen the lining of a Tacopina jacket,” she says, “you have never seen the aurora borealis.” His performance is “a one-man show worthy of an audition for an Off-Broadway production of Hairspray.”
Carroll, who once published a biography of Hunter S. Thompson, is a gonzo journalist in a Rag & Bone admiral jacket. She’s a survivor — no, a thriver from a bygone era when writers knew how to really live and propel their prose with rocket fuel. As both the subject and the observer of the 21st-century’s most titanic sexual abuse case, Carroll has written what may be the last great work of New Journalism.
“Not My Type” takes its title from Trump’s infamous suggestion that Carroll was too unattractive for him to rape. Her deft repurposing of that vile defense sets the tone for a memoir that employs all her wit, erudition and insight.
Much of the audiobook is drawn from discovery and court transcripts, but Carroll loves the....
To read the rest of this review, go The Washington Post's free Book Club newsletter:
https://s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw...
The world knows that Carroll prevailed in her gazillion-dollar lawsuits against Trump for defamation and sexual abuse. But hearing her describe that courtroom battle in her own smoky, mirth-filled drawl is an experience too delicious for the printed page.
Which is why you shouldn’t read “Not My Type” — you should listen to it.
At the outset of the audiobook, Carroll claims she’s no professional narrator. “I tried practicing,” she says, “and at one point I even gave up and cried out, ‘Bring in Ellen Barkin! Bring in Meryl Streep!’ But despite my flaws as a narrator, regardless of my stomach growling like a bulldog, my laughing and my weeping and my inability to read a single sentence without a mistake, this is my story, and, by God, I’m going to be the one who tells it.”
By God, does she ever. Now 81 — and still able to spot a pair of Manolo Blahnik pumps from 100 yards away — Carroll plunges us into the humiliating gauntlet awaiting any woman who dares to call out the Grabber-in-Chief.
And there’s nothing superfluous about her eye for shoes. Her lawyers know jurors will judge her appearance as much as her testimony. Months of deliberation go into selecting the right outfits for court. Should she recreate the bob she sported in 1996? What about false eyelashes? Blink once for yes, twice for no.
Carroll reminds us how improbable her legal victory was. All Trump had to do was make a single juror believe he didn’t assault her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s. “If Mr. Bankrupt can convince nearly half the country to vote for him because he is a business ‘genius,’” Carroll says, “he should have no trouble convincing one little upstater that I am a disgrace.”
But despite the odds, she picks up the sword and charges.
“I hate to ask you this, but — approximately — how many people do you think you’ve slept with?”
That question opens “Not My Type.” It’s posed by Trump’s attorney Alina Habba during discovery on the 63rd floor of the Empire State Building. The view is spectacular. “But I am not looking out the windows,” Carroll says. “I am looking at Alina Habba, Esq. She is stupendous! Dark, with a broad forehead, cheekbones like pickleball paddles, wide-set eyes as lovely as a baby seal’s. I like her immediately.”
That’s the thing: Carroll likes people — all kinds of people, even her enemies — anyone colorful, dynamic or outrageous. In the courtroom, she’s awed by another Trump lawyer: the wealthy, muscle-bound Joe Tacopina in his sartorial splendor: “Until you have seen the lining of a Tacopina jacket,” she says, “you have never seen the aurora borealis.” His performance is “a one-man show worthy of an audition for an Off-Broadway production of Hairspray.”
Carroll, who once published a biography of Hunter S. Thompson, is a gonzo journalist in a Rag & Bone admiral jacket. She’s a survivor — no, a thriver from a bygone era when writers knew how to really live and propel their prose with rocket fuel. As both the subject and the observer of the 21st-century’s most titanic sexual abuse case, Carroll has written what may be the last great work of New Journalism.
“Not My Type” takes its title from Trump’s infamous suggestion that Carroll was too unattractive for him to rape. Her deft repurposing of that vile defense sets the tone for a memoir that employs all her wit, erudition and insight.
Much of the audiobook is drawn from discovery and court transcripts, but Carroll loves the....
To read the rest of this review, go The Washington Post's free Book Club newsletter:
https://s2.washingtonpost.com/camp-rw...
August 20, 2025
E. Jean Carroll. She told the truth. Twice. She was believed. Twice. She won a lot of money. Twice. And the justice awarded to her continues to rise in value. ($100 million and counting.)
And, her intentions for that money are perfect! All the things he hates.
“Women’s Reproductive Rights. Voting Rights. Climate Solutions.”
And, she has the best sense of humor. Throughout this memoir, trial tell-all.
I listened to the book along with reading the hardcover copy. As much as I hated what this man, the future and current President of the United States put her through, I absolutely loved her for her courageousness and brave sense of self. Even if she didn’t always see herself that way.
This is mostly her story about the sexual assault and defamation trials. It also is her story of what may not have been shared at trial. And, for those of us who detest men who think they can sexually assault women and get away with it, the sad part is that even though he was held accountable through this assault against her – there are still many in this country that voted for this rapist to be President. There is something very sad about their choosing to do so.
Still, E. Jean Carroll is to be celebrated for her pluckiness and voice. And, because of her case, New York re-visited and expanded the “rape is rape” bill.
For those interested in reading her side of the story, this is a compelling, enjoyable, and, thoughtful look at a woman not afraid of bullies, or taking a stark look at herself. A new kind of she-ro.
I also recommend reading fellow Goodreads friend, Bruce Katz review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And, her intentions for that money are perfect! All the things he hates.
“Women’s Reproductive Rights. Voting Rights. Climate Solutions.”
And, she has the best sense of humor. Throughout this memoir, trial tell-all.
I listened to the book along with reading the hardcover copy. As much as I hated what this man, the future and current President of the United States put her through, I absolutely loved her for her courageousness and brave sense of self. Even if she didn’t always see herself that way.
This is mostly her story about the sexual assault and defamation trials. It also is her story of what may not have been shared at trial. And, for those of us who detest men who think they can sexually assault women and get away with it, the sad part is that even though he was held accountable through this assault against her – there are still many in this country that voted for this rapist to be President. There is something very sad about their choosing to do so.
Still, E. Jean Carroll is to be celebrated for her pluckiness and voice. And, because of her case, New York re-visited and expanded the “rape is rape” bill.
For those interested in reading her side of the story, this is a compelling, enjoyable, and, thoughtful look at a woman not afraid of bullies, or taking a stark look at herself. A new kind of she-ro.
I also recommend reading fellow Goodreads friend, Bruce Katz review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 23, 2025
Oh, this lady is a character! And it's a pleasure to spend time in her company.
I may have been one of the only people to read her prior book, What Do We Need Men For?--the book in which she made the initial allegations against Trump--before all the hoopla. She's got a unique, and very funny, world view. She's quite good at exploring very serious subjects through humor. It's not that she doesn't appreciate the seriousness... I suspect she's wired differently than most observers. But, I think it's also very authentic to who she is.
Now, Ms. Carroll has been at the very heart of a huge presidential scandal. It's a big, frickin' deal. And her insider account is very interesting. (Especially her list of evidence that never made it into the trial and why, that she recounts late in the book.). But Ms. Carroll, despite decades of journalistic experience, isn't that kind of reporter. She's more pop culture than hard news, and she tells her story through that lens. From literally the opening pages...
The book opens with her being deposed, in detail, about her entire lifetime of sexual history. She freely lists her eight lovers. You will know several of their names. It's possible an eyebrow may rise. This opening illustrates the depth to which she allowed (and continues to allow) her privacy to be invaded in bringing this suit. And as much as going public has upended her life, Donald Trump did it first. The book really drives home the long-lasting trauma his sexual assault has caused her.
But also... the clothes, the hair styles. Not all readers --the news junkies--may appreciate her many, many diversions into fashion or other subject matter that could easily be considered frivolous. I think it might be really hard going for a lot of men, to be perfectly blunt.
Ms. Carroll is funny and truly entertaining, just by being her authentic self. And, she has an important story to tell. And, by God, she's going to tell it her way! Just sit back and let her.
I may have been one of the only people to read her prior book, What Do We Need Men For?--the book in which she made the initial allegations against Trump--before all the hoopla. She's got a unique, and very funny, world view. She's quite good at exploring very serious subjects through humor. It's not that she doesn't appreciate the seriousness... I suspect she's wired differently than most observers. But, I think it's also very authentic to who she is.
Now, Ms. Carroll has been at the very heart of a huge presidential scandal. It's a big, frickin' deal. And her insider account is very interesting. (Especially her list of evidence that never made it into the trial and why, that she recounts late in the book.). But Ms. Carroll, despite decades of journalistic experience, isn't that kind of reporter. She's more pop culture than hard news, and she tells her story through that lens. From literally the opening pages...
The book opens with her being deposed, in detail, about her entire lifetime of sexual history. She freely lists her eight lovers. You will know several of their names. It's possible an eyebrow may rise. This opening illustrates the depth to which she allowed (and continues to allow) her privacy to be invaded in bringing this suit. And as much as going public has upended her life, Donald Trump did it first. The book really drives home the long-lasting trauma his sexual assault has caused her.
But also... the clothes, the hair styles. Not all readers --the news junkies--may appreciate her many, many diversions into fashion or other subject matter that could easily be considered frivolous. I think it might be really hard going for a lot of men, to be perfectly blunt.
Ms. Carroll is funny and truly entertaining, just by being her authentic self. And, she has an important story to tell. And, by God, she's going to tell it her way! Just sit back and let her.
July 23, 2025
I'll keep this simple:
(1) E. Jean Carroll is great fun to spend time with. She's a riot! Her remarks about a certain orange Commander in Chief and his legal team alone are worth the price of admission. A good part -- the best part, in fact -- of the book contains her writing about the two trials. You know, sexual assault and defamation. And then defamation again because after he lost the first trial Trump persisted in making the exact same defamatory comments, which of course led to the second trial. Then of course there are her biting comments about Alina Habba, who represented Trump at the trials. (Unsurprisingly, Ms Habba is in the news again: Trump nominated her for US Attorney in New Jersey, the Federal judges there rejected her, Trump had her replacement fired, and so on, because it never stops.) And E. Jean writing about Trump being in the courtroom waiting to testify and grumbling again and again, loud enough for the jury to hear, 'I don't know this woman. I never met her. I don't know who she is.' Again and again, despite the judge's admonition to shut up.
(2) I can't imagine any Trump supporter wanting to read this book. For what it's worth, for those (like me) who are less than enthralled by the man, the joy one feels listening to E. Jean Carroll taking him apart and learning the verdicts and the damages awarded, well, as the old ad campaign put it: priceless.
(3) If you have any choice in the matter, I urge you to listen to the book rather than read it. Her delivery is wonderful. Yes, she goes on several times about fashion and clothing, etc., but that's part of who she is. Zone out, fast forward if you care to, but don't miss the rest of the fun.
(1) E. Jean Carroll is great fun to spend time with. She's a riot! Her remarks about a certain orange Commander in Chief and his legal team alone are worth the price of admission. A good part -- the best part, in fact -- of the book contains her writing about the two trials. You know, sexual assault and defamation. And then defamation again because after he lost the first trial Trump persisted in making the exact same defamatory comments, which of course led to the second trial. Then of course there are her biting comments about Alina Habba, who represented Trump at the trials. (Unsurprisingly, Ms Habba is in the news again: Trump nominated her for US Attorney in New Jersey, the Federal judges there rejected her, Trump had her replacement fired, and so on, because it never stops.) And E. Jean writing about Trump being in the courtroom waiting to testify and grumbling again and again, loud enough for the jury to hear, 'I don't know this woman. I never met her. I don't know who she is.' Again and again, despite the judge's admonition to shut up.
(2) I can't imagine any Trump supporter wanting to read this book. For what it's worth, for those (like me) who are less than enthralled by the man, the joy one feels listening to E. Jean Carroll taking him apart and learning the verdicts and the damages awarded, well, as the old ad campaign put it: priceless.
(3) If you have any choice in the matter, I urge you to listen to the book rather than read it. Her delivery is wonderful. Yes, she goes on several times about fashion and clothing, etc., but that's part of who she is. Zone out, fast forward if you care to, but don't miss the rest of the fun.
August 11, 2025
If you are still a fan of the P(edo)OTUS, you may want to just scroll on by. I’m giving this memoir 5 stars, rounded up from 4.5, cuz E. Jean’s such a bad-ass!! 💪🏻 It’s always taken a lot for women to confront their abusers - just imagine the world where we believed women (I still have hope). For me, the very best part of this book was getting to know the author better - who she is now & who she was back in the 80’s & 90’s - she was/is quite attractive and about the same age as 🍊🤡, well-connected in NYC with her own power & agency. (Though now we also realize that “his type” is anything female with strong preference for post-pubescent teens). This book is both very inspiring and quite infuriating and I highly, highly recommend it.
June 21, 2025
Riveting for the most part, sometimes difficult. At those times, I always thought, if this is hard for me to just read about, imagine how hard it was for her to live through. Funny, wise and glorious. Another WOW for 2025.
Read
June 27, 2025I believe her
August 11, 2025
A lot of times with these types of biographies/non-fiction, I plan on taking them slow and listen in between other books. But as soon as I started this I was immediately drawn in and completely engaged. The information shared is interesting, and E. Jean Carroll is delightfully amusing while sharing the worst time of her life. She explains in part of the book that she was brought up to always smile, laugh, and be positive. So even when she is in turmoil internally or physically, she tends to downplay its significance and laugh on the outside.
First of all, she has had an incredibly interesting life! As a writer for many years, she seems to know everybody. And just from listening to her, you can tell how she was drawn into these circles that included celebrities, famous writers, etc. But of course, at the root of the book are the claims that she made that she was raped/sexually assaulted by Donald Trump. That assault has stayed with her for the rest of her life, ruining her ability to trust and feel safe in any kind of intimate situation. In this way, Trump robbed her from years of companionship, intimacy, etc.
But what drove her to finally take action was Trumps defamation of her. Her career and reputation were damaged irreparably. Her first civil trial against him was for the assault, and the jury came back with verdicts within a very short time, validating her account. As he continued to slander her and say things like she wasn't his type or not good looking enough for him to be interested in... his MAGA cult began sending her terrible emails and communications - calling her names, threatening to kill or rape her. And the second trial also had quick verdicts, with staggering penalties to Trump. It was easy for the jury to see that they needed to make the penalties very high to deter him, because even during the trial he sat there and said she was lying and made derogatory remarks to the jury.
I was so surprised that a book dealing with such a serious subject could be so fun. I'm sure the attitude would come through in the written form, but she narrates it in a way that you feel like you are sitting in your living room while she is sharing her enthralling life with you. She shares everything from the attacks, to how she decided what to wear in court. She shares her fear about the threats, and how much she enjoyed the peanut butter sandwiches they kept for her in their designated room in the courthouse. She compliments Alina Habba, even as she asks E. Jean for a list of everyone she has had sex with in her life. Just when you might get dragged down by her experiences, she laughs and shares some wonderful tidbit. She is a fighter, as she evokes class.
First of all, she has had an incredibly interesting life! As a writer for many years, she seems to know everybody. And just from listening to her, you can tell how she was drawn into these circles that included celebrities, famous writers, etc. But of course, at the root of the book are the claims that she made that she was raped/sexually assaulted by Donald Trump. That assault has stayed with her for the rest of her life, ruining her ability to trust and feel safe in any kind of intimate situation. In this way, Trump robbed her from years of companionship, intimacy, etc.
But what drove her to finally take action was Trumps defamation of her. Her career and reputation were damaged irreparably. Her first civil trial against him was for the assault, and the jury came back with verdicts within a very short time, validating her account. As he continued to slander her and say things like she wasn't his type or not good looking enough for him to be interested in... his MAGA cult began sending her terrible emails and communications - calling her names, threatening to kill or rape her. And the second trial also had quick verdicts, with staggering penalties to Trump. It was easy for the jury to see that they needed to make the penalties very high to deter him, because even during the trial he sat there and said she was lying and made derogatory remarks to the jury.
I was so surprised that a book dealing with such a serious subject could be so fun. I'm sure the attitude would come through in the written form, but she narrates it in a way that you feel like you are sitting in your living room while she is sharing her enthralling life with you. She shares everything from the attacks, to how she decided what to wear in court. She shares her fear about the threats, and how much she enjoyed the peanut butter sandwiches they kept for her in their designated room in the courthouse. She compliments Alina Habba, even as she asks E. Jean for a list of everyone she has had sex with in her life. Just when you might get dragged down by her experiences, she laughs and shares some wonderful tidbit. She is a fighter, as she evokes class.
July 7, 2025
I inhaled this book in two days. Rolled on the couch laughing, held my breath during testimony about the violent rape E. Jean Carroll endured at the hands of Donald Trump, and fell in love with E. Jean Carroll.
Carroll is a woman who answers the question, “How are you?” with “Fabulous,” and it is both hilarious and endearing to read the hours of prep her fantastic legal team, led by attorney Robbie Kaplan, put her through to “teach her to talk like a normal person” and answer simply.
Her takes on people are almost always complimentary, but what she does with the magnificent looking attorney for Trump, Alina Habba, who is wearing “very sleek, very chic black trousers, and heels so high they cause me to wobble, even though I am seated when I look at them. (11),” who is “stupendous! Dark with a broad forehead, cheekbones like pickleball paddles, wide-set eyes as lovely as a baby seal’s. (10)” is absolutely lethal. And never a bad judgment is voiced. It is a tour de force of character presentation.
Her descriptions of everything from rooms to reactions are both luscious and guffaw-inducing. The battles between her thoughts and what she must say simply—to get the truth across—are a three-ring circus act. And the fashion was such an alive character that I, a fashion ignoramus, slopped it up and said, “More please.”
This book is a win for women everywhere—whether you’ve been abused or not. It is cathartic, funny, and impossible to put down.
Carroll is a woman who answers the question, “How are you?” with “Fabulous,” and it is both hilarious and endearing to read the hours of prep her fantastic legal team, led by attorney Robbie Kaplan, put her through to “teach her to talk like a normal person” and answer simply.
Her takes on people are almost always complimentary, but what she does with the magnificent looking attorney for Trump, Alina Habba, who is wearing “very sleek, very chic black trousers, and heels so high they cause me to wobble, even though I am seated when I look at them. (11),” who is “stupendous! Dark with a broad forehead, cheekbones like pickleball paddles, wide-set eyes as lovely as a baby seal’s. (10)” is absolutely lethal. And never a bad judgment is voiced. It is a tour de force of character presentation.
Her descriptions of everything from rooms to reactions are both luscious and guffaw-inducing. The battles between her thoughts and what she must say simply—to get the truth across—are a three-ring circus act. And the fashion was such an alive character that I, a fashion ignoramus, slopped it up and said, “More please.”
This book is a win for women everywhere—whether you’ve been abused or not. It is cathartic, funny, and impossible to put down.
June 27, 2025
There's no Kings in America but E. Jean Carroll is a Queen for this.
Why don't victims come forward?
This woman won millions of dollars from one of the most powerful men in the world and SHE'S still the one paying for it.
Some of her closest friends told her decades ago to never say a word or she'd be buried and she probably would have been.
She's been forced to share her entire intimate history.
She's been called slurs, threatened and defamed relentlessly.
And he still did it as proven by a jury and preponderance of evidence. And he's still a two (or more possibly?) term president. Insane work.
Why don't victims come forward?
This woman won millions of dollars from one of the most powerful men in the world and SHE'S still the one paying for it.
Some of her closest friends told her decades ago to never say a word or she'd be buried and she probably would have been.
She's been forced to share her entire intimate history.
She's been called slurs, threatened and defamed relentlessly.
And he still did it as proven by a jury and preponderance of evidence. And he's still a two (or more possibly?) term president. Insane work.
June 19, 2025
Read This!
Give it to your daughters, your girl friends, your mother!
the men in your life. It should be read by everyone.
E Jean writes well, keeps it fascinating and unveils what so many women go thru after being raped. Most of us don’t have to protect our selves from crazy people as a result but it hurts in ways difficult to explain and describe.
Thank you, E Jean, I so appreciate reading your story and will never forget.
Give it to your daughters, your girl friends, your mother!
the men in your life. It should be read by everyone.
E Jean writes well, keeps it fascinating and unveils what so many women go thru after being raped. Most of us don’t have to protect our selves from crazy people as a result but it hurts in ways difficult to explain and describe.
Thank you, E Jean, I so appreciate reading your story and will never forget.
June 18, 2025
My She-ro
E-Jean shows exactly what it is to be the kind of “good” woman produced during the baby boom and gen x years. She also shows us how to shed that mantle, take up space, and the price she paid for holding the patriarchy from those same generations accountable. I admire her bravery and chutzpah and laughed my way through her asides. Thanks for sharing your story, you are forging an important path in history.
E-Jean shows exactly what it is to be the kind of “good” woman produced during the baby boom and gen x years. She also shows us how to shed that mantle, take up space, and the price she paid for holding the patriarchy from those same generations accountable. I admire her bravery and chutzpah and laughed my way through her asides. Thanks for sharing your story, you are forging an important path in history.
September 1, 2025
ON THIS, BE CLEAR: In November 2024, "We the People" willingly and with eyes wide open elected a convicted sexual assailant, fraudster (34 felony convictions), defamer (convicted in two separate trials, for damages of nearly $90 million), serial liar, carnival huckster (Bibles, electric guitars, cologne, NFTs, ad infinitum), and all-around Fascistic megalomaniac to be PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. FOR A SECOND TIME. We have given a man with absolutely NO shame, empathy, impulse control, moral compass or intellectual curiosity ALL the power. WE did that.
The question is: what will we do next?
Okay, thanks; got that out of my system…would love to say "I feel better now," but we know that's not happening.
Anyway…E. Jean Carroll.
Most of the 5-star reviews recommended the self-narrated audiobook; but most of the 1-2 star reviews were STILL pro-Carroll, but just turned off by her constant fixation with what she (and all other female characters) were wearing. So I opted for the actual book, sacrificing her voice but having the option to skip over the boring fashionista sections* — and frankly, that is how I would recommend reading this otherwise fascinating and surprisingly funny book. (Which, BTW, is not a full-on memoir, but just her story of the attack and subsequent trials, with just the necessary background thrown in.)
Carroll is a delightful, quirky character who I'm sure would quickly drive me nuts in person, but that's just who she is — and it's important to remember that. She is SO MUCH MORE than a one-dimensional "victim of sexual assault;" she's a complex, funny, amazingly strong woman with a long career as a writer, columnist, TV personality, etc.…whose life was turned upside-down (but NOT destroyed) by a well-documented sexual predator. But like the woman herself, this remains a generally upbeat book, (it helps, of course, that she took Trump to he cleaners to the tune of nearly $100 million). In addition, she is a heck of a writer — unsurprising, since that's what she does for a living — despite her eventually-grating celebrity name-dropping and over-reliance on superlatives, (she is always "fantastic," all her friends are "fabulous;" her legal team is made up of "once-in-a-generation superstars").
She balances that general cheeriness, however, with her withering (but hilarious) takedowns of Trump and his legal team. She revels in describing Trump's hair as "twirled around his head like Barbara Stanwyck in Ball of Fire;" "combed into a plume-like Tippi Hedren in The Birds"; "twirled across his forehead like Bette Davis in Now, Voyager;" (you kids can Google those references); and absolutely shreds Alina Habba with her constant descriptions of her beauty contrasted with her total lack of legal knowledge, (indeed, Habba was continually called out by Judge Kaplan for her incompetence**).
As of today, Carroll has yet to see any of Trump's money as all her court victories remain under appeal; and based on Trump's lengthy history of stiffing people he owes money to, I am not overly optimistic. But interest continues to accrue, and at some point, I have to believe that all of Trump's various chickens will come home to roost in that comical hairdo.***
Anyway — a surprisingly entertaining if flawed book; probably 3+ stars in an impartial world…but we left impartiality behind long ago. All the extra points for her courage and "moxie" (an outdated term, but a perfect description for the feisty 81-year-old) and for encouraging other victims of Trump's endless abuses to stand up and push back.
__________________________________
* And there are oh-so-many; I almost bailed on this once or twice until I just learned to skip ahead and get back to the actually relevant stuff.
** Of note, Trump has since appointed Habba as Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, a position in which he has illegally extended her tenure; so as of this review, we remain mired in headlines like "NJ’s federal courts grinding to a halt amid Habba uncertainty," "Alina Habba Breaks New Jersey Court System," and many more. At the same time, our Felon in Chief has appointed former Fox News host and continuing nutjob Jeanine Pirro as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, where she is making a similar fool of herself, ("Fox News Star’s Jump to the Trump Administration is Backfiring;" "Judge Jeanine Suffers Humiliating New Blow in D.C. Crime Crackdown…").
*** So if all this sounds like I suffer from "Trump Derangement Syndrome," I readily agree. But only in the sense that I similarly suffer from "Hitler Derangement Syndrome," or "Stalin Probably Went a Little Too Far Syndrome." If loathing Donald Trump is a literal disease, may they never find a cure…
The question is: what will we do next?
Okay, thanks; got that out of my system…would love to say "I feel better now," but we know that's not happening.
Anyway…E. Jean Carroll.
Most of the 5-star reviews recommended the self-narrated audiobook; but most of the 1-2 star reviews were STILL pro-Carroll, but just turned off by her constant fixation with what she (and all other female characters) were wearing. So I opted for the actual book, sacrificing her voice but having the option to skip over the boring fashionista sections* — and frankly, that is how I would recommend reading this otherwise fascinating and surprisingly funny book. (Which, BTW, is not a full-on memoir, but just her story of the attack and subsequent trials, with just the necessary background thrown in.)
Carroll is a delightful, quirky character who I'm sure would quickly drive me nuts in person, but that's just who she is — and it's important to remember that. She is SO MUCH MORE than a one-dimensional "victim of sexual assault;" she's a complex, funny, amazingly strong woman with a long career as a writer, columnist, TV personality, etc.…whose life was turned upside-down (but NOT destroyed) by a well-documented sexual predator. But like the woman herself, this remains a generally upbeat book, (it helps, of course, that she took Trump to he cleaners to the tune of nearly $100 million). In addition, she is a heck of a writer — unsurprising, since that's what she does for a living — despite her eventually-grating celebrity name-dropping and over-reliance on superlatives, (she is always "fantastic," all her friends are "fabulous;" her legal team is made up of "once-in-a-generation superstars").
She balances that general cheeriness, however, with her withering (but hilarious) takedowns of Trump and his legal team. She revels in describing Trump's hair as "twirled around his head like Barbara Stanwyck in Ball of Fire;" "combed into a plume-like Tippi Hedren in The Birds"; "twirled across his forehead like Bette Davis in Now, Voyager;" (you kids can Google those references); and absolutely shreds Alina Habba with her constant descriptions of her beauty contrasted with her total lack of legal knowledge, (indeed, Habba was continually called out by Judge Kaplan for her incompetence**).
As of today, Carroll has yet to see any of Trump's money as all her court victories remain under appeal; and based on Trump's lengthy history of stiffing people he owes money to, I am not overly optimistic. But interest continues to accrue, and at some point, I have to believe that all of Trump's various chickens will come home to roost in that comical hairdo.***
Anyway — a surprisingly entertaining if flawed book; probably 3+ stars in an impartial world…but we left impartiality behind long ago. All the extra points for her courage and "moxie" (an outdated term, but a perfect description for the feisty 81-year-old) and for encouraging other victims of Trump's endless abuses to stand up and push back.
__________________________________
* And there are oh-so-many; I almost bailed on this once or twice until I just learned to skip ahead and get back to the actually relevant stuff.
** Of note, Trump has since appointed Habba as Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, a position in which he has illegally extended her tenure; so as of this review, we remain mired in headlines like "NJ’s federal courts grinding to a halt amid Habba uncertainty," "Alina Habba Breaks New Jersey Court System," and many more. At the same time, our Felon in Chief has appointed former Fox News host and continuing nutjob Jeanine Pirro as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, where she is making a similar fool of herself, ("Fox News Star’s Jump to the Trump Administration is Backfiring;" "Judge Jeanine Suffers Humiliating New Blow in D.C. Crime Crackdown…").
*** So if all this sounds like I suffer from "Trump Derangement Syndrome," I readily agree. But only in the sense that I similarly suffer from "Hitler Derangement Syndrome," or "Stalin Probably Went a Little Too Far Syndrome." If loathing Donald Trump is a literal disease, may they never find a cure…
June 18, 2025
I’ve been a fan of E. Jean Carroll for decades; clipped and saved her most pungent advice columns in a shoe box (Bass suede bucks), read anything with her byline, and of course followed her recent lawsuits against Trump, and ordered and finished her book in one day — and it did not disappoint. Full of literary allusions, sarcastic asides, and fleeting and brilliant details about shoes and lipsticks, her writing combines froth and steel as she walks us through the timeline of her own life (flashbacks from her depositions), her encounter with Trump, and both the lawsuit about the rape and the lawsuit about his defamation of Carroll. There are moments of vindication, moments of vicarious terror, hilarious moments, and the moment when I had to stop reading to (resentfully) answer the phone. I kept it short and returned to finish the book.
Even if you think you know the case well, you’ll learn more about Trump’s courtroom demeanor, his lawyers’ strategy, and what a lunch spread for NY lawyers should look like than you ever thought you might want to know. Buy it.
Even if you think you know the case well, you’ll learn more about Trump’s courtroom demeanor, his lawyers’ strategy, and what a lunch spread for NY lawyers should look like than you ever thought you might want to know. Buy it.
August 1, 2025
A very poignant and straightforward description of sexual assault and the ensuing civil trial. I really enjoyed the victims tongue in cheek take on it. While the tone was mostly light, it was apparent that below the surface there was a great deal of pain and humiliation.
August 29, 2025
Pro tip - listen to the audio at 1.25x speed. I fully endorse this strong, remarkable woman telling her story in the way she sees fit, like she says she intends to do in the beginning, but she *is* 81 years old. It started to drag and I wish I’d remembered to bump up the pace earlier.
That said, I had no idea what a fascinating, illustrious, glamorous life she led, and it’s a fucking shame that for all she accomplished, she’s going to be remembered as the woman Donald Trump sexually assaulted in the Bergdorf Goodman dressing room. But at least she held the son of a bitch to account and came out on top. Go on with your bad self, E. Jean. ✊🏻
That said, I had no idea what a fascinating, illustrious, glamorous life she led, and it’s a fucking shame that for all she accomplished, she’s going to be remembered as the woman Donald Trump sexually assaulted in the Bergdorf Goodman dressing room. But at least she held the son of a bitch to account and came out on top. Go on with your bad self, E. Jean. ✊🏻
July 8, 2025
Glorious! Every time I think I couldn't love this woman more...
[I recommend the audiobook, so you can hear her story in her voice, and now that I'm done, in EJC style, I am going to go home & throw a ball to my dog.]
[I recommend the audiobook, so you can hear her story in her voice, and now that I'm done, in EJC style, I am going to go home & throw a ball to my dog.]
June 21, 2025
E. Jean is astute, brave, and witty AF! I was not expecting to laugh so much while reading a book about DJT’s sexual assault, a defamation case, and the one woman who was seemingly able to inflict misery on the old coot. Apparently she has a Substack- and I fully intend to investigate it. E Jean is a national treasure.
July 21, 2025
Read by the author, reporting on her two trials with the Complainer-in-Chief. The first trial had to do with him sexually abusing her in a dressing room at Bergdorf-Goodman and the second happened because he couldn't shut up and follow the judges directives.
It was interesting to hear the nitty gritty of the trial but I didn't always like Carroll's flippant manner. I, like Carroll, will laugh and joke when in tense situations (one memorable time was when a tornado warning was issued). Her tendency to act that way I understood while she was in the perilous situation and even when testifying about it, but it got to be too much for me in the reading of this bookk.
It was interesting to hear the nitty gritty of the trial but I didn't always like Carroll's flippant manner. I, like Carroll, will laugh and joke when in tense situations (one memorable time was when a tornado warning was issued). Her tendency to act that way I understood while she was in the perilous situation and even when testifying about it, but it got to be too much for me in the reading of this bookk.
August 18, 2025
I wasn’t sure how well I’d fare with this audiobook give the subject matter and the always toxic presence of Trump. And, indeed, sometimes I felt the need to shower to wash off the filth of detestable acts and detestable people. Also reading about wealthy celebrities generally makes me feel sick, as though I’d eaten an entire cheesecake in one sitting—kind of delicious and then sick-making.
But E. Jean narrates the book!! She has a great gravelly voice and she is no fool. She is also not ( unlike the predator) a one-note person. I loved the literary and historical references throughout. I was interested in her exhaustive descriptions of clothing. (I even went to The Real Real to see if I could find an Armani jacket. The prices were doable but not the sizes.) I appreciated her tolerant realism about the world, her frankness and her wisdom. Where the thought of what E. Jean endured curdles my insides at the mere thought, she allows the reader to see her suffering in spite of an overall chipper approach to the ordeal. The woman has real courage.
I thought the book improved to the end. I was all in for the second trial, the inanity of DJT once he shows up, the comedy flowing from the efforts of the beautiful Alina Habba Esq. to defend the indefensible. I am proud of E. Jean’s win and her commitment to turn victory into advocacy.
My two main takeaways: the idea of celebrities makes me queasy, as I said, but in spite of all the clothes, make-up, money, and celebrity friends, I was left with no doubt that E. Jean was a person one could know. So that is a small enhancement of my compassion for people in that walk of life.
Secondly, what Trump did to E Jean is exactly, I mean EXACTLY, what he describes in the Access Hollywood “grab ‘em by the pussy” tape. Loathsome.
But E. Jean narrates the book!! She has a great gravelly voice and she is no fool. She is also not ( unlike the predator) a one-note person. I loved the literary and historical references throughout. I was interested in her exhaustive descriptions of clothing. (I even went to The Real Real to see if I could find an Armani jacket. The prices were doable but not the sizes.) I appreciated her tolerant realism about the world, her frankness and her wisdom. Where the thought of what E. Jean endured curdles my insides at the mere thought, she allows the reader to see her suffering in spite of an overall chipper approach to the ordeal. The woman has real courage.
I thought the book improved to the end. I was all in for the second trial, the inanity of DJT once he shows up, the comedy flowing from the efforts of the beautiful Alina Habba Esq. to defend the indefensible. I am proud of E. Jean’s win and her commitment to turn victory into advocacy.
My two main takeaways: the idea of celebrities makes me queasy, as I said, but in spite of all the clothes, make-up, money, and celebrity friends, I was left with no doubt that E. Jean was a person one could know. So that is a small enhancement of my compassion for people in that walk of life.
Secondly, what Trump did to E Jean is exactly, I mean EXACTLY, what he describes in the Access Hollywood “grab ‘em by the pussy” tape. Loathsome.
August 17, 2025
While I’m sure no Trump voters will read this book, assuming it’s complete BS just because he says so, it’s too bad because it highlights how even the richest and most powerful person with the best lawyers can’t automatically win against the facts and evidence of a not-powerful but determined woman willing to stand up against his bullying and lies and threats of violence from his supporters.
E. Jean Carroll is a force to be reckoned with and tells her side of the story of the “apricot mythomaniac’s” rape and defamation of her with her unique and authentic voice, and she tells it with humor and aplomb. She is an exceptionally brilliant writer, with a style bordering on the “Gonzo journalism” made famous by Hunter S. Thompson, of whom she has apparently written a biography. When I heard this new book about her rape and defamation trials had come out, I was completely unfamiliar with her career so I first read (listened to) her memoir, “What Do We Need Men For?" and lol-ed all the way through. She mentioned Trump in there and the incident that led to the recent trials, so I was more than ready to get my hands on this one.
And it blew me away. Someone in a review called it cathartic. With what is happening to our country right now, I wholeheartedly agree. This is not your run-of-the-mill tell-all juicy memoir. And while she is fabulous and hilarious in the telling of it, the truth of the matter is that this is serious stuff, Trump has ruined lives, and he was held accountable in a big way. I doubt E. Jean will ever get an actual penny from this grifter, but she WON. Twice. Two juries, unanimously. This is a Big Deal.
All the respect and admiration, all the stars….
Oh, and now I want to shop for some smart designer clothing and go to New York 😂
E. Jean Carroll is a force to be reckoned with and tells her side of the story of the “apricot mythomaniac’s” rape and defamation of her with her unique and authentic voice, and she tells it with humor and aplomb. She is an exceptionally brilliant writer, with a style bordering on the “Gonzo journalism” made famous by Hunter S. Thompson, of whom she has apparently written a biography. When I heard this new book about her rape and defamation trials had come out, I was completely unfamiliar with her career so I first read (listened to) her memoir, “What Do We Need Men For?" and lol-ed all the way through. She mentioned Trump in there and the incident that led to the recent trials, so I was more than ready to get my hands on this one.
And it blew me away. Someone in a review called it cathartic. With what is happening to our country right now, I wholeheartedly agree. This is not your run-of-the-mill tell-all juicy memoir. And while she is fabulous and hilarious in the telling of it, the truth of the matter is that this is serious stuff, Trump has ruined lives, and he was held accountable in a big way. I doubt E. Jean will ever get an actual penny from this grifter, but she WON. Twice. Two juries, unanimously. This is a Big Deal.
All the respect and admiration, all the stars….
Oh, and now I want to shop for some smart designer clothing and go to New York 😂
July 11, 2025
Simply delightful! Very much worth the read. I hear the audiobook is even better, since it’s read by E. Jean herself. And in the life is full of coincidences category, I was reading this book when word came down that DJT had lost his appeal against Ms. Carroll in the first assault and defamation case with a $5M verdict. I commented on her Substack, and she liked my comment. Which made me so very happy!
July 20, 2025
E. Jean is believable, witty, self-deprecating and an astute observer of even the minutest of details. Her harrowing experience of being sexually assaulted by Trump is related with frankness…but lacks the emotional impact of someone who has truly processed the experience. This is good for her, but the memoir doesn’t land the emotional punch that you might expect. The casual name dropping and verbal meandering about fashion choices dilutes her message a bit…but maybe that’s the point. Despite the fact that she clearly has suffered severe emotional consequences of the assault,
she refuses to be overtly victimized him or his ongoing efforts to discredit and insult her. So what does she do when he runs his mouth after she wins the first lawsuit against him? Of course, she sues him again! You can’t help but admire her tenacity. I hope she uses some of that $100 million in damages to get therapy and dig a bit deeper.
she refuses to be overtly victimized him or his ongoing efforts to discredit and insult her. So what does she do when he runs his mouth after she wins the first lawsuit against him? Of course, she sues him again! You can’t help but admire her tenacity. I hope she uses some of that $100 million in damages to get therapy and dig a bit deeper.
August 2, 2025
Bravo to Carroll for standing up to an intimidating, powerful bully and winning. Such a shame to tell the story beginning with two hours of perfecting her hair and fashion. DNF.
July 4, 2025
If you are seeing E. Jean Carroll for the first time, you may wonder what's the matter with her. She gives odd answers to simple questions. She is weird, though incredibly beautiful. My initial impression was that she floats somewhere out in space most of the time, dipping into Earth I now and then to see if she is needed-- a genuine space cadet. Robbie Kaplan, lead lawyer in her case against Trump, spent many hours with her entire talented and expensive legal team trying to teach E. Jean to communicate like the rest of us. E. Jean feels responsible for boosting everyone's self esteem, friend or enemy. When asked how she is feeling, she responds with a hearty "Fabulous." and a broad grin. She performs for people, and she needed to stop communicating that way or she would surely turn off everyone in the courtroom. It wasn't easy, but the lawyers and a psychologist taught E. Jean to be normal enough to make people listen and truly understand what she was saying.
Now having read her book about the trial, I can vouch for her writing skills. E. Jean sees the world on a slant compared to us ordinary beings, but she is always more on top of her game than you are. She attends to her wardrobe scrupulously, and spent some time before the trial began mulling whether she should get a facelift. She didn't. She decided she wanted the women of the world to see her 80-year-old face. She did spend a great deal of energy perfecting her hairdo and color. And she hit it out of the park with her gently blonde long bob and natural makeup. She created the beautiful women who made Trump wild, and anyone could see it.
Her way of collecting and collating her wardrobe and of making a list of what outfits she needed for the courtroom impression she was building was worth the price of admission, as was her packing list for the second trial. She did an awful lot of name-dropping of fashion brands, etc, and I don't usually like that sort of thing because I don't know most of the brands. But in this case, I played student and learned a bit about presentation.
When they asked her at her first deposition how many men she had sex with in her life, she paused dramatically and then said 8, and asked who they were, she named them. An impressive list. This was no simple airhead. Her description of herself fighting off Trump, who outweighs her by 100 pounds (although with her heels she was almost as tall as Trump) is not only funny but also heroic. And her description of Trump's behavior during the second trial was canny and derogatory without being overtly nasty. How did she manage that? Her best friends are powerhouse women. They are devoted to one another, and supportive no matter what. One of the best is Mary Trump. There is so much more, I don't want to give it all away! This was a wonderful book, and I hope you all go and buy or borrow it. Probably buy it because she may not all $100 million from Trump.
.
Now having read her book about the trial, I can vouch for her writing skills. E. Jean sees the world on a slant compared to us ordinary beings, but she is always more on top of her game than you are. She attends to her wardrobe scrupulously, and spent some time before the trial began mulling whether she should get a facelift. She didn't. She decided she wanted the women of the world to see her 80-year-old face. She did spend a great deal of energy perfecting her hairdo and color. And she hit it out of the park with her gently blonde long bob and natural makeup. She created the beautiful women who made Trump wild, and anyone could see it.
Her way of collecting and collating her wardrobe and of making a list of what outfits she needed for the courtroom impression she was building was worth the price of admission, as was her packing list for the second trial. She did an awful lot of name-dropping of fashion brands, etc, and I don't usually like that sort of thing because I don't know most of the brands. But in this case, I played student and learned a bit about presentation.
When they asked her at her first deposition how many men she had sex with in her life, she paused dramatically and then said 8, and asked who they were, she named them. An impressive list. This was no simple airhead. Her description of herself fighting off Trump, who outweighs her by 100 pounds (although with her heels she was almost as tall as Trump) is not only funny but also heroic. And her description of Trump's behavior during the second trial was canny and derogatory without being overtly nasty. How did she manage that? Her best friends are powerhouse women. They are devoted to one another, and supportive no matter what. One of the best is Mary Trump. There is so much more, I don't want to give it all away! This was a wonderful book, and I hope you all go and buy or borrow it. Probably buy it because she may not all $100 million from Trump.
.
July 6, 2025
Do yourself a favor and get this book. I listened to the audiobook because she narrates it, and I also got a hard copy for my bookshelves because I want to help her stay on the bestseller list. She had to re-open a lot of old wounds and put her safety at risk to tell this story and she is a hero for telling it now. They released this book in secrecy for uncertainty around retribution from the White House, because this is the authoritarian world we now live in, and it’s a bestseller!! Good for her and f—- him.
I wasn’t expecting a story about a rape trial to be so funny, but she has a way of describing people that had me laughing out loud. I hope to have even an ounce of her chutzpah when I’m 80 years old.
I wasn’t expecting a story about a rape trial to be so funny, but she has a way of describing people that had me laughing out loud. I hope to have even an ounce of her chutzpah when I’m 80 years old.
July 8, 2025
4.75 This is not a good book; it’s a great book. I went into it knowing almost nothing about Ms. Carroll. I’ve never read her column, don’t remember reading any article she’s authored, and definitely didn’t know she had written for SNL. I had generally heard of her sexual assault allegations against Trump, but had purposely avoided the trial. And this book captured the story and the trials in such a compelling way that I couldn’t stop listening. And by the conclusion—I knew the ending!—it was still full of tension. But Ms. Carroll didn’t simply provide a piece of reportage, she wrote it in her unique voice so as to personalize it in such a way as to convince the reader of the truth of her experience. Pick this up.
July 21, 2025
Wow! This book is thrilling, heartbreaking, and hilarious all at once. Who knew that a 12 hour account of two trials could be so gripping? I did not know who E. Jean Carroll was until this case, which is a real shame--she's someone we all should know, not just for trouncing Trump, but because she's funny, brilliant, sympathetic, and incredibly bold and brave. Definitely listen to the audio if this book is on your to-read list.
September 1, 2025
E. Jean Carroll is a fantastic writer. I wish I could grab cocktails with her; she is just an absolute character and manages to make a book with a very heavy topic, and about someone I despise reading about for leisure, very hilarious and entertaining.
August 5, 2025
Wow E Jean Carroll I need to read everything you’ve ever written.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 377 reviews