The art of the well-placed expletive. An illicit pas de deux. Telling "Bad Mommy" secrets. Royally screwing over an ex. An intoxicating blackout. Stealing a Girl Scout badge — and wearing it proudly.

Each tale is indelibly unique, united in the thrill (and spill) of the confessional. For some, the story begins way back. Susan Cheever: banned from the playground at age three. Erica Jong's "dirty" secret: she was a good girl — merely impersonating a bad girl. As for Ann Hood: the meaningless lie is transformational.

For readers tired of paying their bills dutifully, driving safely, eating organically, and other forms of mindfulness, this is a not-to-be-missed secret-telling, soul-baring fest for the prodigal daughter in all of us.

Including pieces by Mary Roach, Pam Houston, Maggie Estep, Roxanna Robinson, Lolly Winston, and more.

"I behave badly to set myself apart. To test myself. To push myself. To prove something. To shock someone....I behave badly because I can." That's how Ellen Sussman describes her deviant endeavors. To better understand them, she's invited 25 other bad girls to share their stories. Ann Hood lies, Mary Roach confesses. Lolly Winston blasts the music; Susan Straight puts the petal to the metal. Erica Jong, the original bad girl, challenges her own claim to that fame. Susan Cheever almost flunks out of prep school and then flunks her chance at redemption. Caroline Leavitt marries and cheats; Kim Addonizio celebrates a one-night stand. Roxana Robinson commits forgery. Daphne Merkin measures the penis. There's a kind of energy that gets generated when bad girls get together. These pages bristle with danger. The writers are digging deep—bad behavior lies in their souls. And what they bring to the surface reveals truths about their psyches and our society.