In Lisa Taddeo’s ‘Ghost Lover,’ Women Are Allowed To Be Bad

The ever-looming, ambiguous specter of “empowerment” permeates the makeup brands that promise a “no makeup” look; it attempts to eclipse carnal and wretched wants; it relegates the world of female desire to the shadows. But in Ghost Lover, Lisa Taddeo’s new collection of short stories, this world is illuminated, unpacked, and ultimately, understood. Across nine stories, Taddeo’s prose cuts like a knife — sharp, visceral, and dripping with ugly truths. She understands the grueling nature of the female psyche with an almost painful precision. Some of Taddeo’s characters hate themselves more than they could hate any other woman; others stalk… Read Full Article