All the F*cking Mistakes: A Guide to Sex, Love, and Life

In this explicit sex 101 manual and feminist treatise aimed at 20- and 30-something women, sex coach Engle encourages women to have more sex, and to not be afraid to discuss it. “This book is a guide to taking your power back,” Engle writes. “It’s for women who love sex and want that sex to be a source of strength.” In casual, colloquial prose (“I was fifteen years old when I first had P-in-the-V intercourse”), Engle shares tales of her sexual experiences while covering subjects including sexually transmitted illnesses; masturbation techniques; where to buy sex toys and how to clean them; and the art of writing sexts (the trick is not to freak out the recipient). Engle convincingly speaks to the importance of female self empowerment: “Our bodies are relegated, given value, and consumed by men,” she writes. “When we take back sex, the patriarchal power we bow down to cannot make us bend.” In a world where pornography often takes the place of sex education, Engle writes, it’s critical that women retain agency over their bodies and prioritize their needs. This bold, sex-positive book delivers on its promise to instruct and encourage women who want more from their sex lives. (Jan.)