souplover2001's review against another edition

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informative
interesting and informative, but i felt that it was lacking in some ways? the book had a good structure and lots of examples and references but i wish there was more discussions on sex in regards to someone's race, class, and especially sexuality. men should definitely read this tho

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spacesapphist's review against another edition

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5.0


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sophiewho's review against another edition

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4.25


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violetends's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

This was fun, heavy, heartbreaking and empowering all at the same time. This was so well researched, phrased and structured that I don't really know what to say except that it does exactly what it promises and it does it incredibly well. This is a concise and at times painful analysis of consent, sexualized violence, gendered roles and experiences, political events, popcultural media, historical developments and movements and most of all, a clever and well-crafted answer to many (anti-feminist) rhetorical claims about women's positions and experiences around sex and consent. The author stresses that she can only speak on behalf of a very specific experience which is why she regularly quotes writers that have added queer and/or BIPoC perspective to discussions on these topics and I appreciate that transparency and acknowledgement. 

I'm already looking forward to Katherine Angel's future writing. 

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lesenilpferd's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.5


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ivulikkivulik's review against another edition

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informative reflective fast-paced

4.5


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angela42's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5


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lenin_lover_69's review against another edition

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informative reflective slow-paced

3.5

Was prepared to like this and learn something but ultimately found it quite hard to read and take in...increasingly have less time for Very Serious analytical non fiction that reads like someone's masters thesis edited into a book. Authors like Lola Olufemi, Shon Faye and Amelia Horgan have shown how you can approach complex social justice issues in an accessible, readable and often funny way! They've really set the benchmark for me and I think this book is the poorer for its tone, which I think sits closer to some of the writers from the aughts/2010s she references e.g. Jessica Valenti. 

I did like the discussion around how we shouldnt always have to know what it is we want and that there is excitement and eroticism in that unknowing. Also had never really thought about arousal and how it is conflated with desire. 

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thesinginglights's review against another edition

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5.0

There's a lot to say that would do this book a disservice to explain but it does well to be very even-handed considering the sensitivity of the subject. Divided into four sections, we explore, desire, consent, arousal, and vulnerability.

One of the most interesting aspects was the distinction making throughout: that we should not bundle up desire and consent, for one can be present without the other. Failing to separate them means we give ground to the outright dismissal of sex workers who people often wish to create more protections for.

Further to that, it carefully dismantle the idea that sexuality is linear and forthright, something that (mostly) women need to reclaim and be confident in. But many people don't know what they want and sometimes can't know, sometimes until you are in the situation. Then comes the question of safety, second-guessing, trust, understanding. Part of that is in the act itself, in not knowing.

This is my very bad way of summarising key ideas that have stuck with me but it's a very, very fascinating book. Recommended.

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mari_books's review against another edition

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I really wanted to enjoy this book, it was recommended by a content creator I like, but I just could not get into it fully. Parts what the author described were fantastic, and so refreshing to see these individual experiences that are actually cultural phenomenon but down on paper. But, at times I failed to find the central thesis and the book fell into its own trap of questioning itself, going on and on. Additionally, it did not seem to acknowledge the different realities (cultural, socioeconomic, racial) that women and their sexualities inhabit well enough for me. Stopped reading because I was bored. 

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