Gaitskill's novella was written in response to the #metoo movement, and it has been predictably divisive. It is the story of Quin, who works in media, and surrounds itself with beautiful young women. With them, he builds genuine friendships and flirts, and enjoys exploring the line between teasing and offending, seducing and assaulting (he would not put it like that), hurting and pleasuring. Most of the time, he does so only through words, inappropriate as they may be, though he does not shy away from non-consensual touches, which he promptly stops when he is asked to.

I think Gaitskill is trying to explore the nuances of women's agency here...Margot (the co-narrator) stopped Quin from touching her between her legs on one of their first encounters, and has since enjoyed his friendship, though she's often angered by him, his carelessness and inappropriateness. Angered and charmed. Why can these other, younger women not do the same, and simply say no to what they don't want to happen? Why are they accepting Quin's favours, if they think he's a creep? Yes, Margot recognises, there's an uneven power dynamic, but she seems to think Quin is just on the right side of the acceptable line, and that these girls have taken advantage of the situation as long as they could, and now the punishment that has fallen on him is out of proportion.

I would be harsher on Quin than Margot is, and way less charmed by his explorations of sexuality and sexual fantasies, which clearly is best undertaken outside of one's work network. But I do see how fiction is a good means to talk about these blurry lines, and it takes a good dose of courage to do so.