Although I was able to adapt to the cheesy dialogue and corny innuendos, I was not able to get past Michael’s body policing and efforts to shame Katherine into feeling less than wonderful.

I particularly hated the scene when Katherine tells Michael that she is a virgin and he responds by saying, “Don’t get defensive, Katherine. It’s nothing to be ashamed of…I like you just the same.” What does Katherine’s sexual experience have to do with her personality or relationship with Michael? Why WOULDN’T he like her the same? In fact, after a comment like that Katherine should reassure Michael that she still likes him.

The scene when Michael refuses to leave Katherine’s room as she is changing also infuriated me. Michael says, “Are you ashamed of your body, Katherine?…Then what’s the difference if I stay?” He has no respect for Katherine’s boundaries and repeatedly manipulates her to get what he wants. Over and over again, he shames her or presses past her boundaries.

Throughout the novel, Michael polices Katherine’s sexuality and body in a way that attempts to lower her self-confidence and allows him to get what he wants from her, it seems that body policing really does last forever.