Publisher Description

Kathy is a virgin in her twenties trying to navigate the blurred lines between sex and love even as outside forces attempt to detach her from her sexual autonomy. At home, her adoptive mother's eyes investigate her body for evidence of sexual promiscuity and, despite her protests, she is called a putana—a whore—for her perceived sexual debauchery. At work, meanwhile, she is sexually harassed by male managers who slap her butt, tell her they want Greek for lunch (wink, wink), and fill out recommendation forms about her sexy qualities. A young girl on the cusp of womanhood, she encounters a version of herself as men experience her: hypersexualized and objectified.

As if this is not enough, Kathy enters the dating scene in search of love only to find herself fending off young men who want her just for sex. In each relationship, Kathy uncovers her own strength and conviction as she fights for the kind of sex she wants instead of the kind of empty sex boys seem to require of girls. The more demands they make, the more determined she is to hold out for love—even if it means losing a guy or going home single and alone. Raw and empowering, The Virgin Chronicles sends the message that love is worth waiting for and sex is better when it's paired with self-actualization.

Author Biography

Author of the award-winning debut novel Dear Jane, Marina DelVecchio is a college professor and writer who focuses her work on the internal and dark struggles of women. Her writing can be found online and in print. Born in Greece and raised in New York, she currently lives with her family in Cary, North Carolina.

Review

"This memoir is about love—its elusiveness, its tempers, its promise—andthe journey to finding it in oneself and in another. MarinaDelVecchio's voice is honest, pragmatic, and powerful even when shefeels weak. Her story reminds us that vulnerabilities can bringstrength, mistakes can build confidence, and an absence can give us theincentive to find fulfillment. We know we're in capable hands asDelVecchio tells a story that cries, that stings, that trudges, butnever flinches, always endures, and eventually overcomes quitebeautifully."
—Shuly Xóchitl Cawood, author of The Going and Goodbye

"The Virgin Chronicles by Marina DelVecchio is a beautifullywrought, heartbreaking, and redemptive story of a young woman's strugglefor control of her life, mind, and body. She claims her agency todefine her choices about her sexuality while dealing with seeminglyinsurmountable challenges from an adoptive mother who neither trusts nornurtures her. A riveting page-turner, rich with sensual detail, you'llbe rooting for the protagonist's happiness and self-discovery."
—Carla Sameth, author of One Day on the Gold Line: A Memoir in Essays

"In The Virgin Chronicles, Marina DelVecchio delivers a searingstudy on self-possession. Routinely shamed by her distrustful adoptivemother, DelVecchio embarks on a rocky yet indefatigable journey tophysical, sexual, and emotional liberation. With bracing wit and candor,through poignant prose, she reveals the beauty and pleasure found inindependence, establishing boundaries, and connecting with one'sorigins."
—Anjali Enjeti, author of Southbound and The Parted Earth

"Marina DelVecchio's strong writing paints a portrait of a woman whoovercomes the obstacles life has thrown in her path with grit anddetermination. Definitely an inspiring and thought-provoking read." 
—Pamela Stockwell, author of A Boundless Place

Long Description

--A unique memoir angle: Although patriarchal society proposes that female sexuality is about being flirty and sexy and putting out, The Virgin Chronicles takes a unique approach at sexuality steeped in waiting for the right time and the right person, especially when it comes to women writing and defining their own sexual narratives. Through dissecting sexual scripts in one young woman's coming of age years, The Virgin Chronicles not only exposes the toxicity that comes with hypersexualizing girls but also why the #MeToo movement is one we cannot consider as having an end. Marina DelVecchio's debut novel was a #1 bestseller on Amazon in YA Fiction/Adoption and winner of/finalist for a number of awards, including a 2021 Eric Hoffer Honorable Mention in the YA Category, a winner of the 2020 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards, a finalist in the 2020 Best Book Awards from American Book Fest, and a Gold Medal winner in the 2020 Readers' Favorite International Book Award.

Review Text

"This memoir is about love--its elusiveness, its tempers, its promise--and the journey to finding it in oneself and in another. Marina DelVecchio's voice is honest, pragmatic, and powerful even when she feels weak. Her story reminds us that vulnerabilities can bring strength, mistakes can build confidence, and an absence can give us the incentive to find fulfillment. We know we're in capable hands as DelVecchio tells a story that cries, that stings, that trudges, but never flinches, always endures, and eventually overcomes quite beautifully." --Shuly X

Review Quote

"This memoir is about love--its elusiveness, its tempers, its promise--andthe journey to finding it in oneself and in another. MarinaDelVecchio's voice is honest, pragmatic, and powerful even when shefeels weak. Her story reminds us that vulnerabilities can bringstrength, mistakes can build confidence, and an absence can give us theincentive to find fulfillment. We know we're in capable hands asDelVecchio tells a story that cries, that stings, that trudges, butnever flinches, always endures, and eventually overcomes quitebeautifully." --Shuly X

Description for Sales People

--A unique memoir angle: Although patriarchal society proposes that female sexuality is about being flirty and sexy and putting out, The Virgin Chronicles takes a unique approach at sexuality steeped in waiting for the right time and the right person, especially when it comes to women writing and defining their own sexual narratives. --Timely: Through dissecting sexual scripts in one young woman's coming of age years, The Virgin Chronicles not only exposes the toxicity that comes with hypersexualizing girls but also why the #MeToo movement is one we cannot consider as having an end.--Award-winning author: Marina DelVecchio's debut novel was a #1 bestseller on Amazon in YA Fiction/Adoption and winner of/finalist for a number of awards, including a 2021 Eric Hoffer Honorable Mention in the YA Category, a winner of the 2020 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards, a finalist in the 2020 Best Book Awards from American Book Fest, and a Gold Medal winner in the 2020 Readers' Favorite International Book Award.

Details