Karin Watanabe has given us the story of a woman longing to feel alive again after two children and an unhappy marriage in “A Woman of Intelligence.” Set in the bustling metropolis of New York City in the Red Scare, Katharina “Rina” Edgeworth is struggling as the married mother of two small boys. Her husband, a pediatric surgeon from an old money upper class family, is rarely home due to his rigorous schedule. Rina reflects on her life pre-marriage and motherhood, describing her love of working with the United Nations as a translator and the freedom she coveted. Now, fresh off an emotional breakdown Rina is drawn into working with the FBI in order to gain the trust of a man she’d been linked to at Colombia, a man known to have ties with the KGB.

I have to say I absolutely loved so much about this book. Rina is so well written and relatable as a woman who’d never intended on marriage or children. Indeed, she spent much of her time in college and working under the impression that it just wouldn't happen for her. It’s not until Tom Edgelord—Edgeworth—enters the picture that those inclinations shift. By the time he proposes, Rina seems to have made every concession required of her as the soon to be wife of the time—his family and their money dictate every decision she’d have to make. Tom’s career comes before her own, regardless of how much Rina misses her work with the UN.

Tom’s capitalist family could not be more out of touch with the working class if they tried. His mother and sister make disparaging comments about where Rina went to school and her general upbringing. Her father is a professor of art history for god’s sake and Rina herself has a Master’s Degree so all of this is very classist. Everything revolves around Tom’s career, Tom’s achievements, Tom’s success. If he has a breakdown his mother is there to pick up the pieces but the moment Rina is overwhelmed as a mother her struggles are ignored and, on occasion, subject to scathing commentary from Tom himself. The double standards and hypocrisy of it made me so mad. He invalidates her experiences as a mother by one-upping her with his work. Didn't she realize how stressful HIS work is? He operates on children, surely taking care of your own children is a piece of cake.

Shout out to Amelia though for pulling up at the eleventh hour to support Rina. You might be the kind of rich person who’d think a banana costs ten dollars but you’re good people. I still say eat the rich but I know when to give credit where credit is due. (Does this make me a communist?)The rest of that family needs to get off Rina’s back. She’s a wonderful mother. How dare you?

The bittersweet romance between Rina and Turner was excellent. I initially thought the romance was going to be between Rina and Jacob, but I loved how Turner truly saw Rina for who she was. He praised her, appreciated her input, paid attention to her and it was everything for me. I wanted to throw hands with Tom the ENTIRE TIME for his behavior towards her. He ignored, invalidated and quite honestly abused Rina emotionally. He might be a saint for the sick kiddos but he is shit at understanding his grown fucking wife.

Honestly, “A Woman of Intelligence” reassured me that not wanting children is valid for so many reasons. If a woman wants to work or travel or just straight up not want to have children, that is her own prerogative. Unfortunately, Rina is judged from all sides—from her friend at the UN dropping her for getting married and having children to her in-laws for her lacking the proper skills as a mother. She is constantly pulled one way only to be jerked back in another direction and it’s like she doesn’t have any agency of her own. I loved watching Rina gain that agency.