Body for Rent

By: Olivia Smit, Anna Hendriks

Narrated by: Gemma Lawrence, Sarah Cullum

Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

Growing up in a quiet, middle-class suburb outside of Amsterdam, childhood best friends Anna and Olivia had their whole lives ahead of them. But every parent's worst nightmare came true when the teenagers fell in with the wrong crowd. 

Eleven years their senior, Ryan was charming and good-looking - and Anna and Oliva easy prey. Blind to his grooming, the girls were soon trapped in a terrifying cycle of sexual and physical abuse.    

But their nightmare was only just beginning.   

Trafficked to the neon-lit windows of Amsterdam's Red Light District, Anna and Oliva were forced to work as prostitutes, servicing countless men night after night against their will.    

Body for Rent reveals the disturbing truth behind Amsterdam's Red Light District and the shocking ease with which ordinary girls can be exploited. But despite the unimaginable horrors they endured and the damage done to their bodies and their minds, their friendship remained as strong as ever, giving them hope that one day, they would escape....

©2019 Olivia Smit (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group

Not Enough Detail

I like a story that takes me to the place where the author was. Specific details are necessary. I want a story that puts me there to where I can feel like I completely understand what it was like to experience what the author(s) did. This book repeated itself over and over without elaborating much, it felt very generic and impersonal. I did learn a lot about Amsterdam in that period of time but that's about all I can say for it. There was just so much more that the authors "blocked out" due to it being too painful to remember. I'm not trying to be insensitive. I just think waiting until you can uncover all that pain and those memories and then fully share it with readers would make this book 100x better.

A difficult but necessary picture of the realities of legal prostitution

This is a wonderfully written, powerful, real account of two women violently forced into the sex trade. Their honesty and resilience will undoubtedly give hope and strength to others who have experienced similar traumas.

Beautifully Written and Inspirational

The truth on their story and their strength to rise up and go forward is inspirational. My wish for these girls is to find peace in each day, and to be proud of all they have risen above. Thank you for sharing your story.

Wouldn’t recommend

The storyline has no rhythm seemed to have time jumps back and forth. A great highlight into the red light district and the girls story was interesting just not put together well.

you think it couldn't happen

this is a very moving story of 2 young girls that are exploited for finical gain. and subjected to the most degradation a woman can endure.

Such a moving account

I haven't read or listened to a book to the end ( started a few) for 40 years but this was so well written I was hooked and had to finish it . I also think anyone that works with teenagers should listen to this book to help them spot anymore victims. It will make me think differently now about problem children

such a sad story of these 2 girls.. now women

fantastic book to listen to very clear reading ..such a sad story but a must read!!

sad and honest

An honest and hard hitting read, a harrowing account from two incredibly strong yong women.

Moving and insightful

It was a hard listen. I think we all need to know more about sex trafficking. The way I see it this living hell is like an underworld and our entire society is propped up by it. It was intense and shocking but I now have more of an idea about what goes on and it really opened my mind to the tragic torture women are going through on a daily basis.

horrifying but we need to know

This book was amazing written and full of all the information you need to know what it's like to live as a trafficked prostitute. I am so saddened by what these girls had to go through and the power of these men. blessings to those ladies

Utterly heartbreaking, with a glimmer of hope

This harrowing story, told in turn by the two central woman totally opened my eyes to what prostitution in liberal Amsterdam is really like. I've visited the city many times and had always been under the impression that Dutch laws effectively made the trade safer for its sex workers. How wrong i was. This moving account is told by two girls who slipped through the social net and who were groomed, trafficked and forced into prostitution in Amsterdams Red Light District.

If you're reading this Anna and Olivia, I hope you are safe and well. Thank you for sharing your story. x

brilliant read

no words what to say brilliant to listen
best so far
glad to know they came out good after all of it