Enemy Feminisms by Sophie Lewis is a sharp, unflinching critique of the feminisms that claim to be liberatory but ultimately reinforce oppression. Lewis takes on TERF ideology, white feminism, and the insidious ways respectability politics and ideological purity stifle truly radical movements. She refuses to romanticize feminism’s history, instead demanding a more self-critical, accountable, and abolitionist approach. It’s an urgent call to embrace discomfort and let go of defensive posturing in the pursuit of real liberation.

Despite my appreciation for the book’s aims, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. Lewis’s writing is dense, academically rigorous, and often paradoxical—a style that, while intellectually rich, made it difficult for me to focus. Her sharp, sometimes flippant tone also didn’t quite land for me. After two chapters, I realized I wasn’t getting anything new from it and decided to DNF. It’s not a bad book by any means; it just wasn’t the right fit for me.