Not all fresh starts come easily.
Shawnna Green does not want to be at Stumpy’s Sex Emporium for any reason, least of all to ask for a job. But times are tight, and moving to New Orleans means trying to find employment without her network. That makes a job at a sex shop better than nothing until Shawn can get back into her chosen field as a social worker.
Leaving Indianapolis was the right thing to do, especially considering how badly Shawn’s relationship with her ex, Courtney, ended. Thankfully her best friend from college, Veda, has a spare room and a gigantic heart, and wants to help Shawn get back on her feet. Rebuilding her life would be a lot easier, however, if Courtney would stop calling at all hours wanting to talk.
During a bar night with Veda, Shawn meets Keisha, a kind woman who’s more than happy with the no-strings-attached sex that is all Shawn has to offer. Adventures with women from Tinder quickly teach Shawn that dating is different than it was in her life before Courtney. She throws herself into her new life with abandon, only to learn that it brings out a side of herself that she didn’t know existed—and isn’t sure she likes. Can Shawn find a new normal where she’s happy with who she is and the people around her?
Pink is a drama that explores what happens when you strip everything away from a person. It’s not at all a romance, which is worth noting because readers who are familiar with KD Williamson will know her from her Cops and Docs romance series (which is also well worth checking out). Instead, the book is entirely about Shawn and her transformation. In moving to New Orleans, she has to give up everything—her job, friends, her last ties with Courtney. Her new life is a study in humility since it means depending on Veda, working at a job she’ll never list on her resume, and learning the rules of dating all over again.
Shawn’s character arc is not always easy to read. She does a lot of things that are selfish, rude, and thoughtless, showing us someone who’s a far cry from the woman we meet at the beginning of the book and say goodbye to at the end of it. I actually hated Shawn at times and almost put down the book, but I stuck with it because I’ve known for a couple of years that KD Williamson is the master of character development. I’m glad I did, too, because Shawn has a true transformation, becoming the best version of herself by the end of Pink. It also doesn’t hurt that she has the best of best friends in Veda, who is one of my favorite recent supporting characters in lesfic with her generous nature that comes with a constant side order of tough love.
At less than 170 pages, Pink is a shorter novel, making Shawn’s emotional journey all the more impressive. This is a book that will have you laughing (especially at the antics at Stumpy’s, which have to be read to be believed), make your blood boil with anger, and tug on your heartstrings. Anyone who’s had to tear down their life to rebuild it into something they can be proud of will be able to identify with Shawn and her story. If you’re looking for a break from what you usually read, I recommend picking up Pink. Shawn and her story are sure to stick with you for a long time, giving hope in the possibility of fresh starts and a new life.