Some Girls: My Life in a Harem

Some Girls: My Life in a Harem

Jillian Lauren

A true story! I loved it.

At eighteen, Jillian Lauren was an NYU theater school dropout with a tip about an upcoming audition. The "casting director" told her that a rich businessman in Singapore would pay pretty American girls $20,000 if they stayed for two weeks to spice up his parties. Soon, Jillian was on a plane to Borneo, where she would spend the next eighteen months in the harem of Prince Jefri Bolkiah, youngest brother of the Sultan of Brunei.

This was a sexy read set in an exotic land, but also a coming of age tale of a rebellious teenage girl trying to find herself. Lauren indeed does find more of herself when she is halfway around the world starring at her face while locked in mirrored palace rooms. She learns that despite the high-price she was being paid and priceless jewels in the world, being a piece of “rental property” for the Prince was ultimately a divorce of mind and body.

Prince Jefri

She presents her memoir – including many striking details of sex work – in a very reflective voice. I like how she examines her sex work, relationships, and herself without any moral judgment. For good or bad, her past is her past. Even on the dark side, she is quite natural and convincing in her choices. I can see how all of it happened for her. 

Ultimately, this is a provocative book – bold and reckless, fearless and delicate. It tells the truth behind life in a harem and how easily the lifestyle can remove the best of senses. But its also comes full circle – through the men, bad decisions, drugs, and deceit – to adopting a child and finding her husband. Any story of beautiful women from around the world, locked in luxury, competing for fortune, fame and the “love” of a prince makes for a good tale. Only this tale is true! … and happened not that long ago (80’s), which makes it all the better.