We welcome Lisa Taddeo, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller and international phenomenon Three Women, to discuss her new novel. Animal is a depiction of female rage at its rawest, and a visceral exploration of the fallout from a male-dominated society.** We start by talking to Lisa about how she is feeling given the magnitude of her fiction debut, following the phenomenon that was Three Women.  (01:20)** Joan, the depraved protagonist of Animal, will be deemed unlikable by some. We loved Lisa’s answer about this label and how her goal was to write a story where Joan could be completely honest and say everything she wanted. (03:04)** In both Three Women and Animal Lisa explores the loneliness of the mistress and her thoughts on loneliness being the most vulnerable thing any of us can experience blew us away. (06:12)** Animal pushes the envelope in terms of depicting the cycle of trauma. Listen to Lisa discuss how trauma marks us and becomes a magnet for other traumas. (10:17) ** Animal explores motherhood and the parent-child relationship and how that affects the rest of our lives. Things get deep when we talk “mommy issues” and how Lisa’s raw writing from her wounds opened up our own as readers. (14:00)**  We talk about grief, and the anger that flows from it. Does society let women express their rage in the way men are permitted to? Definitely not. (19:48).** Lisa and Carinn bond over how American mothers’ martyrdom syndrome stems from masked fear and anxiety. Kate has a true lightbulb moment listening to them and finally understands their point of view! (24:20)** Carinn asks her burning question about Big Sky and whether there is any hope for Joan and him to live out their “warped fairy tale” someday.  (29:37)** Joan and Alice really “see” each other and Lisa shares how much she values the platonic relationships she has with other women in her own life.  (32:02)** We talk astrology with Lisa, a true Capricorn, and she boldly declares that the world is divided between those who believe in astrology and those who don’t. You know which side we’re all on! (35:00).** We share our casting dreams for Joan and get the update on her upcoming Showtime adaptation of Three Women. (39:30)** Lisa has plans to deliver a reported memoir on grief but the possibility of another novel has us freaking out with excitement. (43:00)** Lisa shares the books she’s loving right now. (44:47)Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @popfictionwomen and on Twitter @pop_women. To do a full deep dive, check out our website at www.popfictionwomen.com. Stay Complicated!We’ve launched a platform at patreon.com/popfictionwomen to keep making the podcast you love -- and to make it even better. Join Patreon to hear a bonus extended version of our interview with Lisa where we discuss who Joan is writing to throughout the novel -- and we get into that ending. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.