My Secret Garden

by Nancy Friday
My Secret Garden cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Psychology and Human Behavior
Technical
  • ID: 1739
  • Added: 2025-10-09
  • Updated: 2025-10-09
  • ISBN: 9780795335396
  • Publisher: Rosetta Books
  • Published: 2013-11-18
  • Reviews: 3

First published in 1973, My Secret Garden by Nancy Friday ignited a firestorm of reactions across the nation, from outrage to enthusiastic support. Collected from detailed personal interviews with hundreds of women from diverse backgrounds, this book presents a bracingly honest account of women’s inner sexual fantasy lives. In its time, this book shattered taboos and opened up a conversation about the landscape of feminine desire in a way that was unprecedented. Today, My Secret Garden remains one of the most iconic works of feminist literature of our time—and is still relevant to millions of women throughout the world.

Reviews
The Guardian · 2023-02-02
radical 4.00

The book is praised for its groundbreaking exploration of female sexuality, though some criticize its journalistic approach. The reviewer finds the fantasies vivid and lush, highlighting the book's radical nature.

The Guardian's piece on 'My Secret Garden' emphasizes its groundbreaking nature in exploring female sexuality. The reviewer appreciates the vivid and lush descriptions of women's fantasies, noting how the book challenges societal norms. They acknowledge that Friday's approach is more journalistic than academic, which some might see as a limitation. Overall, the book is seen as a radical and eye-opening work that continues to resonate today.

Quick quotes

    The critique was that her approach was journalistic, rather than academic; she wanted to know what women fantasised about, so she asked them.

    The fantasies are vivid, even lush.

    Friday’s book remains a radical and eye-opening work that challenges societal norms.

Are We Carrying On · 2014-06-16
liberating 4.00

The book is described as a leap of faith for the reviewer, making their teenage years less unbearable. It is seen as a powerful and liberating read.

The reviewer from 'Are We Carrying On' shares a personal connection to 'My Secret Garden,' describing it as a leap of faith that made their teenage years more bearable. They highlight the book's power to liberate and comfort, noting its enduring impact. The reviewer appreciates the honesty and openness of the women's fantasies, which they find both revealing and empowering.

Quick quotes

    The flowers in her secret garden helped me take a leap of faith, and made teenage a little less unbearable.

    It's a powerful and liberating read.

    The book's honesty and openness are both revealing and empowering.

Five Books · 1973-01-01
touching 4.00

The book is touching and raw, featuring real women sharing their real fantasies, some of which are quite outrageous. It is seen as a significant contribution to the conversation about female desire.

Five Books highlights the raw and touching nature of 'My Secret Garden,' where real women share their fantasies openly. The reviewer notes that some of these fantasies are quite outrageous, including sadomasochistic elements, which adds to the book's boldness. They appreciate how the book contributes to the ongoing conversation about female desire and sexuality, making it a significant and impactful read.

Quick quotes

    It's a very, very touching book, because real women are talking about real fantasies.

    Some of them are outrageous: some of them are sadomasochistic, some of them are...

    It's a significant contribution to the conversation about female desire.

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