Big Swiss

Greta, a 45-year-old transcriptionist, works for a sex therapist in Hudson, New York while living in a run-down farmhouse with her roommate. Her job involves listening to intimate therapy sessions, including those of a tall Swiss woman she privately nicknames "Big Swiss." After a chance meeting at the dog park, Greta begins a relationship with Big Swiss (whose real name is Flavia) without revealing that she knows her deepest secrets from the therapy recordings. Their connection intensifies despite ethical complications and Flavia's marriage. The novel follows their entanglement against the backdrop of small-town Hudson, where personal and professional boundaries blur. The story incorporates elements of dark comedy while exploring the characters' complex relationships with trauma, truth, and intimacy. The narrative raises questions about voyeurism, consent, and the ways people navigate their past experiences while trying to forge authentic connections in the present.

Readers found the book darkly humorous but noted its intense themes of trauma and voyeurism could be uncomfortable. Many praised the unique narrative voice and sharp dialogue, with several highlighting the authenticity of the small-town setting and LGBTQ+ relationship dynamics. Liked: - Fresh and original premise - Raw, honest portrayal of therapy sessions - Dark comedy elements - Complex character development - Portrayal of Hudson, NY community Disliked: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some found the protagonist's actions unethical - Abrupt ending - Heavy subject matter could be triggering - Secondary characters felt underdeveloped Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (1,100+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (300+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Unlike anything I've read before, but not for everyone." Multiple reviews noted the book requires content warnings for discussions of trauma and mental health.

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🎯 HBO has adapted "Big Swiss" into a series starring Jodie Comer of "Killing Eve" fame, with A24 producing 🏆 Author Jen Beagin won the Whiting Award in Fiction in 2017 for her debut novel "Pretend I'm Dead" 🗺️ Hudson, NY (the novel's setting) has become a popular refuge for artists and writers, transforming from an industrial city to a cultural hub since the 1980s 🎙️ The profession of medical transcription, central to the plot, is rapidly declining due to voice recognition technology, with employment expected to drop 7% by 2029 💭 The novel was partly inspired by Beagin's own experience working as a cleaning person, where she would sometimes imagine the lives of her clients based on their belongings