Love & Virtue

Power dynamics, class consciousness and privilege, social and intellectual coming of age, and consent. Crucially, this story is told not from the fierce inflexible position of a woman whose actions begin to destabilise the entrenched misogyny and entitlement of wealthy USYD colleges, but through Michaela's pragmatic, empathetic and nuanced lens. Hers is a voice that considers and balances all the social, political, and personal pressures she is under. It's a voice that, when not added to the pyre, is taken from her.

Reid's writing is searingly intelligent. Humorous and cutting in her insightful portrayals of the reductive feminism on display in these institutions:

Eve signed up to represent Fairfax in drama, with a piece promisingly titled: What Women Want. Self-proclaimed feminist content usually fared well with the judges, who were looking for ‘diverse voices' and, being former college residents themselves, usually looked no further than recent Sydney private school graduates.”

‘I was so disappointed in her when I found out.' This was not something Eve had expressed to me. I admired how expertly she was manipulating her disappointment—fashioning it into a personal joke, which I would spoil if I treated it seriously, much less defended myself.

* I acknowledge others' point that comparisons to Rooney here are reductive, but I feel she is the gold standard for many in this space. Blame Meg Mason for invoking her on the inside cover!