Not My Type by E. Jean Carroll

E. Jean Carroll took Donald Trump to court for defamation and sexual abuse and won. She was awarded $5 million in the first trial and $83 million in the second. This remarkable book puts you in the courtroom with her through two high-stakes trials, with behind-the-scenes commentary that is insightful, surprisingly hilarious, and as page-turning as a novel.

The author is a journalist and the author of five previous books, and she knows how to write! I knew a little about the trials from TV reports, but her well-written book puts you in and around the courtroom and is filled with details that are both fascinating and extraordinary.

Trump’s attorney astonishingly asks E. Jean – now 80 years old – to list the people she has slept with, but this turns out to backfire spectacularly on their case when she lists men with such impeccable calibre. We get to see how E. Jean and her team spent time on her hair and clothing to help juries connect the older woman with the younger woman who was attacked by Trump in Bergdorf’s. We hear from expert witnesses and psychiatrists. E. Jean is repeatedly questioned why she didn’t scream, even though not screaming is a very normal response to a sudden, unexpected attack, as the book reveals. That E. Jean is so open about factors like these that seem to undermine her case only highlights her truthfulness in court – something that clearly helped the jury reach their conclusions quickly.

The author has courage and sass, and the book reveals her vulnerability and her strength as she dares to tell the truth. Not My Type is a compelling read that I couldn’t put down, with much to contemplate after finishing. I’d highly recommend it for its insight into the justice system, the questions it raises, and, despite the book's seriousness and themes, its sheer entertainment value. It’s very witty and unputdownable.

Reviewer: Karen McMillan

St Martin's Press