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From a quickie in a car to punishment sex on his boat, fans dish the dirt on EL James’ final Fifty Shades book Freed
WITH Fifty Shades led author EL James’ latest book finally here, titled ‘Freed’, die-hard fans of the franchise give their verdict on what will be the final instalment in the novel series.
From finding it ‘sexually provocative and deeply emotional’ to down-right ‘awkward and predictable’, here, Natasha Harding, a book columnist, Jo Hemmings, a relationship psychologist, Amanda Prowse, an author, and Alix Fox, a ‘sexpert’ reveal what they liked (and disliked) about the book.
‘I loved getting inside his head’
Natasha Harding — Book Columnist
IT was obvious from the moment Anastasia Steele met Christian Grey he was a man used to getting what he wanted . . . and he wanted Anastasia.
Now, in this final book told from his perspective, they are married. You would like to think he can relax and enjoy his beautiful bride.
But actually the early days of their marriage are far from ideal as the newlyweds lurch from one crisis to another. All of which makes Christian more worried and more controlling.
Luckily, as well as the arson attack, illness and attempted kidnapping, they still find enough time for plenty of sex.
Highlights include a quickie in a car and “punishment sex” on his boat. Their appetites for each other are enviable and while Christian is in charge sexually, he is more fragile than ever emotionally, which explains his bizarre behaviour at times.
Plagued by nightmares, Christian unburdens himself in weekly therapy sessions, giving readers fresh insights into his messed-up mind.
His life is ruled by fear sparked by a traumatic childhood.
However, this book is not all gloom and doom. There are plenty of light moments and told from Christian’s perspective, the glass sex toy, harness and handcuffs sound almost romantic.
I loved getting inside Christian’s head and while Ana’s voice sometimes grates – I struggled when she “channelled her inner goddess” and tried to be “bad*ss” – I thought Christian had a bit more depth, even when he played the “poor me” card.
By the end of the book, their previously one-sided relationship is much closer to 50-50.
Ana has bagged her dream job, dream home and dream husband, with a sex life to die for . . . if you like that sort of thing.
The young couple are now parents to baby Teddy, who even sleeps in their bed.
So perhaps they will hang up the keys to their “playroom” – for the time being, at least.
At last, Ana is in control . . . everywhere but in the bedroom.
‘Sexually provocative and deeply emotional’
Jo Hemmings — Relationship Psychologist
FINALLY we get to read what life is like from Christian Grey’s perspective, both in the run-up to his wedding to Anastasia and its aftermath.
We recognise how deeply complex he is. His raw vulnerability, insecurity and anxiety are revealed in a way we have never seen before.
As Anastasia has matured, there is a feeling of role reversal going on.
Not only is she the one in control – just about everywhere other than the bedroom – Christian’s neediness and insecure attachment style becomes almost unbearable for her. He becomes desperate to marry her as soon as possible – to own her and to possess her.
His abandonment issues as a child and his experiences before he met Ana really come back to haunt him, both through his imagination and in his dreams.
As his troubled past and his promising future begin to blur, Christian becomes ever more possessive with and protective over Ana, a situation that threatens to sabotage their relationship.
INSIGHT INTO HIS FRAGILITY
As Ana matures into her own person, Christian comes to feel threatened by her.
He is constantly scared that she will leave him but even more so that she will see through him and glimpse the guilt and shame he tries so hard to mask.
No giveaways about the last part of the book, but Christian has an epiphany that gives him the freedom to find some perspective and peace within himself.
Sensitively written, sexually provocative and deeply emotional – hallmarks of the Fifty Shades series – this is the book that finally gives us some remarkable insight into Christian’s fragility, vulnerability and ultimate self-awareness.
‘Awkward and predictable sex’
Amanda Prowse — Author
THESE books are essentially stories about the intense love between Anastasia and Christian with a great big dollop of BDSM thrown in . . . and, in my humble opinion, almost emotionless sex, which can often feel like you are reading cheap, clumsy porn.
You know those books you can hand on to your nan or Aunt Mavis when you’ve finished?
The kind of books you can leave open on the kitchen table while you go to put on a load of washing, safe in the knowledge there is nothing in the pages you wouldn’t mind your little ones reading?
Well . . . this book is definitely NOT that. The sex scenes weren’t so much titillating as rather awkward and predictable. Told from Christian’s perspective, I had hoped for a little more insight into what drives the man and what shapes his sometimes questionable desires.
There are some glimpses into the nightmares of his childhood and the torments of his youth. And more of his viewpoint is shared through his interior monologue.
But in all honesty I don’t think I learned too much more about the man’s motives than I had from previous books.
This is full of everything fans have come to expect – the doubts, the old rivalries, the graphic descriptions of body parts and all of the associated pulsing, writhing, moaning and spanking.
If you are looking for a literary masterpiece, then you might be a little disappointed.
However, for fans of the franchise this will hit the spot, providing them with another page-turning fix.
That is E.L. James’ skill: She draws you into this world and suddenly you don’t notice the naive prose, repetitive narrative or even Christian’s “shrieking” sister Mia.
It will more than scratch your Fifty Shades itch.
And while we have been told this is the end of the series, I would not be surprised if there was more to follow – offering the same erotic promise for which E.L. James will not disappoint.
‘The cringey descriptions are unintentionally funny’
Alix Fox — Sexpert
FOR starters, Freed reveals Grey to be such a petulant child it’s amazing he can do anything in bed except demand another reading of We’re Going On A Bearhunt and a sippy cup of hot milk.
He is permanently throwing unreasonable tantrums – although, like a toddler, he can be distracted by a new toy, such as an expensive German sailplane.
He chucks his teddies out of the pram when his wife sunbathes topless on their honeymoon, covering Anastasia’s breasts in bruises to stop her doing it again.
He storms out when he discovers her pregnancy, steaming: “How could she do this to me?”
Then he calls her a “b*tch” when she understandably becomes upset at his going off to get drunk with his ex. Grey even huffs that he’s “left to struggle with the childproof lid” and that his drink is lukewarm when he is brought painkillers and water to deal with his hangover.
Somehow he thinks it’s a sign that he is “growing up” when he doesn’t “punishment f***” Ana when she is tipsy herself. Someone make this man a star chart and give him a sticker every time he DOESN’T do something that belongs in a potty!
We are meant to feel sorry for Grey, blaming his moodiness and abusiveness on a terrible childhood. But his willingness to perpetuate trauma by behaving awfully to others while taking little responsibility for his actions is hard to like.
If that isn’t enough to spoil the sexiness, the cringey descriptions are often unintentionally funny.
The odd page got me hot under the collar, such as the use of a magic wand vibrator – though even then, I worried that by holding it against Ana’s sternum Christian might make her vomit, as powerful vibrations too close to the throat can provoke a retch reflex. Mine kicked in at least once a chapter.
Most read in Fabulous
Christian’s mum mentions that his wedding planner helped organise something called the “Coping Together Ball”. All readers of Freed should get an invite.
On the final page, Mr Grey is heralded as “the cure for cancer”! Yet his thoughts are more likely to give you a migraine. And a dry gusset.
