You probably have your own thoughts about the sex industry, and whatever your opinion is about it, at some point, you’ve probably been curious about how it works. First off, there’s absolutely nothing wrong about wanting to know more about it, and second, we’re all for you being comfortable with and enjoying your own body.
Which is why we find that this tell-all memoire of male escort Raoul Rossetti is quite the read. In a An Italian Gigolo in the City: A True Story, he reveals—professionally and almost clinically—the inner workings of his career. In a previous Cosmopolitan Philippines feature, one of his clients shares:
“While people will frown upon what I’ve done, I’ll never regret it. I had a great time, treated myself to a great guy, and as a girl who loves to learn, found the experience enlightening because it made me see sex differently. Seeing how Raoul was able to preserve himself emotionally despite sharing himself physically with others has made me rethink how I view my own sexual encounters. Stripped of meanings and expectations that may all just be in my head, sex could be just that, and still be pleasurable.
“In our time together, Raoul and I got to talking about the industry he moves in. He told me that he takes pride in what he does and he wants to break the stigma that escorts are ‘dirty’ and ‘cheap’ and that the people who hire them are ‘horny’ and ‘desperate’ because, from his experience, there’s often more to the story than that. And he’s right. I’m not just a horny, desperate woman, and he’s not just a dirty, cheap hooker.”
One of the more interesting things about Raoul (yes, more than the steamy scenes) is how he actually gets to know the women who hire him for his services. We take a peek into the life of a rich businesswoman and the loneliness behind all the glamour, of a heartbroken entrepreneur trying to move on from a long-term relationship, of an unhappy wife unsatisfied with her marriage, of a young woman curious about what sex actually is, and more. Raoul tells each encounter as it is, no more, no less, and no judgement. And honestly, it’s refreshing.
So, if you’re looking for a book you can curl up on the couch with, get out of your comfort zone and make this your pick. You can get An Italian Gigolo in the City: A True Story by Raoul Rossetti once its release in both print and digital for P495 from the Summit Books Shop, Lazada, and Shopee. Trust us: it’s worth the read.
