Dirty Diana by Jen Besser; Shana Feste
Portraits of Want: Finding Agency and Artistic Rebirth
As I push toward my end-of-year goal of 100 books, I’ve found myself immersed in the Dirty Diana trilogy. What I thought might be a casual read turned into a compelling exploration of identity and the “stuckness” of mid-life. Diana is navigating a lackluster career and a marriage where the love remains, but the chemistry has faded. Her journey toward reclamation begins through art and conversation; by interviewing other women about their desires, she doesn’t just paint portraits—she paints a roadmap back to her own agency.
At its core, this story is a powerful meditation on the bravery required to admit what you truly want. It explores the radical act of self-love, showing how vital it is for women to prioritize their own joy and identity outside of their roles as wives or mothers. Through Diana’s “artistic rebirth,” we see how creativity can be used as a tool for healing, proving that knowing what you want in all aspects of life is a truly inspiring feeling.
While I’ve already jumped into book two, I do find the “short” format a bit limiting. While the 240–270 page count is helping my 100-book goal, the story is so rich that it deserved the depth of a 400-page novel rather than being split into shorter installments.
