Resources

During my research and planning for a book, I often read non-fiction and other books for additional resources and information in order to write from a position of familiarity, if not knowledge. I’m not a doctor or any kind of expert, but I want to present an authentic representation of subjects when I can. Below are some of the resources I’ve used to inform my writing. Many were available at the library. Check ’em out!

Sex & Sexual Health

Some of these books lean toward heterosexual relationships as this is what I primarily write. I want to recognize that this content could be applied across the sex and sexuality spectrum.

  • Ansari, Aziz, and Eric Klinenberg, Modern Romance, Penguin Books, 2015.
  • Baldwin, Amy, and April Lampert, Shameless Sex: Choose Your Own Pleasure Path to Unlock the Sex Life You’ve Been Waiting For, BenBella Books, 2023.
  • Dodson, Betty, Sex for One: The Joy of Selfloving, Harmony, 1996.
  • Easton, Dossie, and Janet W. Hardy, The New Bottoming Book, Greenery Press, 2011.
  • Easton, Dossie, and Janet W. Hardy, The New Topping Book, Greenery Press, 2011.
  • Harel, Danielle, and Celeste Hirschman, Coming Together: Embracing your Core Desires for Sexual Fulfillment and Long-Term Compatibility, Somatica Press, 2019.
  • Kerner, Ian, Passionista: The Empowered Woman’s Guide to Pleasuring a Man, William Morrow Paperbacks, 2008.
  • Kerner, Ian, She Comes First: The Thinking Man’s Guide to Pleasuring a Woman, Harper Collins Publishers, 2004.
  • Kerner, Ian, So Tell Me About the Last Time You Had Sex, Grand Central Publishing, 2021.
  • Kimmel, Michael, Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men, Harper Perennial, 2018.
  • Lehmiller, Justin J., Tell Me What You Want: The Science of Sexual Desire and How It Can Help You Improve Your Sex Life, De Capo Lifelong Books, 2018.
  • Marin, Vanessa, Sex Talks: The Five Conversations That Will Transform Your Love Life, S&S/Simon Element, 2023.
  • Moon, Allison, Getting It: A Guide to Hot, Healthy Hookups and Shame-Free Sex, Ten Speed Press, 2020.
  • Morin, Jack, The Erotic Mind, Harper Collins, 2012.
  • Nagoski, Emily, Come As You Are: Revised and Updated: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life, Simon & Schuster; Updated edition, 2021.
  • Orenstein, Peggy, Boys & Sex: Young Men on Hookups, Love, Porn, Consent, and Navigating the New Masculinity, Harper, 2020.
  • Orenstein, Peggy, Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape, Harper Paperbacks, 2017.
  • Paget, Lou, How to Give Her Absolute Pleasure, Broadway Books, 2000.
  • Roberts, Matthais, Beyond Shame: Creating A Healthy Sex Life on Your Own Terms, Fortress Press, 2020.
  • Rowland, Katherine, The Pleasure Gap: American Women and the Unfinished Sexual Revolution, Seal Press, 2020.
  • Winks, Cathy, and Anne Semans, Good Vibrations Guide to Sex: The Most Complete Sex Manual Ever Written, Cleis Press, 2002.
  • Wise, Nan, Why Good Sex Matters: Understanding the Neuroscience of Pleasure for a Smarter, Happier, and More Purpose-Filled Life, Harvest, 2020.
ONLINE REOURCES
  • Sex With Emily – Dr. Emily Morse’s treasure trove of information and product suggestions. If you’ve got a question, it’s been talked about here.
  • Shameless Sex – Amy and April talk about it all and share from their own life experience. They are super sex positive and BONUS they reference a ton of people whose books I’ve listed above.
  • Girls Get Off – Newer site out of Australia. US/UK content is still being unlocked. Our Australia and NZ friends already have access to some great stuff. I also like their Facebook Group for some real talk from real people – Girls Get Off Uncensored.
  • OMGYes – provides in-depth guides to pleasuring women and vulva-owners. It requires a membership (one-time payment/no subscription), but it is well worth the money, and they frequently offer discounts.
Sex Later in Life
  • Blank, Joani (Editor), Still Doing It: Women & Men Over 60 Write About Their Sexuality, Down There Press, 2000.
    • Enlightening with contributor stories from many diverse backgrounds and experiences, all over the age of 60.
  • Price, Joan, Better Than I Ever Expected: Straight Talk About Sex After Sixty, Seal Press, 2005.
    • Warm, witty, and honest book about the challenges and delights of older-life sexuality. Input from interviews and real-life accounts.
SURVIVING SexUAL SHAME

I read many other books about this topic but found these to be the most relevant for my writing.

  • Clark, Kristen, and Bethany Beal, Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl’s Heart, Baker Books, 2019.
  • Gregoire, Sheila Wray, Lindenbach, R. G., Sawatsky, J. The Great Sex Rescue: The Lies You’ve Been Taught and How to Recover What God Intended, Baker Books, 2021.
  • Klien, Linda Kay, Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free, Atria books, 2018.
  • Valenti, Jessica, The Purity Myth, Seal Press, 2009.
  • van der Kolk, Bessel, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, Penguin Books, 2014.
  • Anything by Brené Brown on shame is worth the time.
Women’s Health
  • McGregor, Alyson J., Sex Matters: How male-centric medicine endangers women’s health and what we can do about it, Quercus, 2020.
    • Informative and well worth a read empowering woman to take better control of their health.
SEX POSITIVE READS