Reviews

Drawn to Sex Vol. 1: The Basics by Matthew Nolan, Erika Moen

daumari's review against another edition

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5.0

I backed the Kickstarter for the second Drawn to Sex volume, but hadn't read the first so fixing that now! Erika Moen's Oh Joy Sex Toy is an educational webcomic staple on sex ed, sexuality, and sex toy reviews, and the Drawn to Sex volumes are collections of the educational ones in physical (or eBook) form. This first volume is basics, divided into four parts: what are the fundamentals (consent, sex positivity, etc.), how to do it safely (contraceptives), how to do it yourself (because you should know how your bits work before inviting others to play!), and how to do it with others. Illustrations are simple and fun, and all around inclusive because everyone deserves to have good sex, regardless of size, shape, gender, etc.!

It's very sincere (though a bit cheeky with puns at times), and I would absolutely hand this off to future spawnlets so they're armed with knowledge before getting it on. Really approachable way for basic sex ed.

daumari's review against another edition

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5.0

Inaugural review on GR, I suppose! (which makes sense, given it went out this week to Kickstarter backers.

Drawn to Sex Vol. 2: Our bodies and Health continues the work of the first volume, collecting Oh Joy Sex Toy's educational strips for folks who want a fun, handy reference without the sex toy reviews. Volume 2 covers anatomy, pregnancy & abortion, menstruation & menopause, and reproductive health (exams, when to talk to your doctor, common issues, and of course, STIs).

Perfect for approachable sex education, and all around inclusive!

alandd's review against another edition

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5.0

Funny way to learn about sex!! Inclusive, serious (when it need to be) and realistic. It was about time to have such a positive book in the market!

torikiza's review against another edition

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5.0

Before I start, I want to point out that I received this as a free eARC from Net Galley and the publisher.

HOLY COW!
This book was perfect!!! I am a Planned Parenthood advocate and volunteer and one of my passions is nursing, especially sexual health nursing. This book is a brilliant guide on sex. The illustrations are indeed super graphic so I do not recommend reading it in public unless you are comfortable doing so, but even then, it may be uncomfortable for others around you so be wise.
Erika and Matthew have clearly done their research! They even provide websites and resources where you can fact check them or just get more information about the topics they discuss.
Also, this graphic novel is very LGBTQIA+ friendly. It discusses different sexual and gender identities as well as illustrates them too. They did not leave anyone out! This is the kind of inclusive and sex positive literature that I think needs to be apart of any sex education class. (Although, I did come from a small school where we were told abstinence is the only way to a happy life, so I am a little bitter about that still, haha.)
The education in this book was amazing, the illustrations were inclusive and descriptive, and lastly, I love that the authors did not just use medical lingo that not everyone will understand. They use multiple terms to describe and educate. This makes it a more fun and casual way to get educated.
I am so excited for this book to hit shelves. I hope other people find it as amazing and educational as I did.

orionoconnell's review against another edition

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4.0

From the creators of "Oh Joy Sex Toy", this book is refreshing to anyone looking to learn about sex- from beginners, to veterans who sometimes just need a reminder.
This is done webcomic style, with illustrations and guides in subjects like: defining sex, consent, protection, and 'how tos' on the more common sexual acts.
The biggest breath of fresh air (for me) was the inclusivity in the drawings- featuring couples of every gender, different types of relationship and bodies, and even illustrations of disabled people.
This is a great starter book for anyone, and like I said earlier- good to read regardless of how much experience you've had. But, I would venture to say that this book works really well for someone who is nervous or wants more information on sex in general. It delivers lots of information with good resources and reassurance, and in a COMPLETELY HEALTHY way/language. It takes a lot of stigma out, as well as emphasizes the importance of communication and boundaries.

ddiazmoron's review against another edition

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funny informative reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.0

crookedtreehouse's review against another edition

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2.0

When I was in high school, the publisher of The Horny Teenagers' Guide To Sex stopped by our campus and left cases of their books around. I think every student read it at some point.

It was designed to be funny but also informative. And, while it was written well, not a lot of people go to books for sex advice, no matter how well written.

This book is fine. It's informative. But, the thing is, this information will evolve over time. This makes their websote (Oh Joy Sex Toy) a much better resource than any physical book.

If you need a book to explain consent or the basics of sex to you, by all means pick this up. But, uh, there's a whole internet out there, and it's best to have a variety of sources when it comes to sex, as everyone is different.

melissa_h's review against another edition

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5.0

Informative, great artwork.

silodear's review against another edition

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5.0

Super great intro to sex featuring all kinds of bodies and people. Very consent focused. A wonderful, body-positive resource for people figuring sex out.

bluenicorn's review against another edition

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3.0

I think this would be best for young adults or those thinking about becoming sexually active. She doesn't really leave any stones unturned- but that is all the more reason that I think this is important for teens and college-age individuals. The internet is great, but also kinda overwhelming, frequently gross and sometimes terrifying- a book like this would be a good (albeit probably embarrassing) gift to a teen who may feel like the internet is their only source for info. While there's nothing very sexy about birth control, STI's or talking about consent, it's so, so important and I think she tackles them straightforwardly and in a way that avoids shame or judgment. And as always, she does a commendable job at representation- lots of types of bodies and couples.