Drawn to Sex Vol. 1

Whereas most educational books focus on sex as a way to explain where babies come from, this book focuses on understanding your body, contraception/safer sex and sex for pleasure. "People deserve to know how their shit works, to be empowered to ask for what they want, and to feel secure in saying 'yes' or 'no' or 'Let's try it but I reserve the right to change my mind'" (page 28).

The artwork is great quality and features cartoon versions of the authors answering questions from a diverse range of characters. The language used is inclusive of different genders and sexualities, and the authors use a broad definition of what "counts" as sex. The advice is non-judgemental and there is a strong focus on consent and respect. The authors are very clear that no one should be pressured into doing anything they don't want to, and that if someone doesn't want to have sex- now or ever- then that is always the right decision for them.

The book serves as an introduction to different topics and the authors point to Planned Parenthood and Scarleteen as more in-depth sources of information. It is very accessible and completely unashamed which means a refreshing change from the cringy advice most people got in their youth. It would be useful both for people who think they know a lot about sex and those who know very little. It would not be suitable for explaining sex to children, but nor is it meant to be.

There are a lot of books about sex, and understanding it, out there, but Erika and her husband Matt, have written the clearest, most comprehensive, easy to understand book about sex out there. 

Erika and Matt have been running their site, <a href="https://www.ohjoysextoy.com/" target="_blank">Oh Joy Sex Toy</a>, to talk about toys, but they also get into the ins and outs, no pun intended, of, well sex. Erika has a very easy on the eyes cartoon style, and she tries to include all types of sexualities, as well as bodies, when she draws her stories. 

This book is a collection of the strips she did about sex. 

This page is part of the three or four page story about consentual sex, and how to know what it is.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-865" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Screen-Shot-2018-08-16-at-8.38.19-AM.png" alt="Drawn to sex" />

and this page is about condoms, and Matt's first experience purchasing one.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-866" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Screen-Shot-2018-08-16-at-8.37.47-AM.png" alt="drawn to sex" />

All of the stories cover the basic things you need to know about sex, from what STDs are, to what the best method of birth control might be for you, from the pill to the condom, to the IDU.

Each story is told without shame, without assumptions, and the characters in the story ask the questions that you might be too embarrassed to ask.

This is a valuable resource, as well as fun to read. It gives you a lot to think about, and answers questions you might not even have thought of to ask. Even if you think you know everything there is to know about sex, you might be surprised to learn a few things, and be entertained in the process.  Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Drawn to Sex: The Basics by Erika Moen & Matthew Nolan is a free NetGalley e-comicbook that I read in mid-October.

A graphic novel primer on safe, self, and interpersonal sex that's extremely body positive (quite positive all-around, in fact), exhibits an excellent use of gender fluid rendering, and describes intimacy as a low pressure, consent-based, exploratory, lifelong activity. I actually learned a lot (i.e. dental dams are NOT retainers, the difference between a combination and mini birth control pill, using an enema, and how a morning-after pill works) and affirmed a lot (the creativity of fantasies; use of toys during intercourse; and, aww, anal safety snails).

This was awesome. I wish this had been availabld to me in my teens and twenties but I'm so glad that today's youngsters get access to a book that is so sex positive, wise and without shame.

The drawings are brilliant showimg a variety of body types. Consent, safety and communication are emphasised. The more difficult topics are not shied away from and then just whenyou think you couldn't ask for more, a variety of pairings and sexual acts are presented as normal because as ling as there's consent, sex is fun and pleasure is good for you. This is light years away from the narrow minded 'only after marriage' or 'only if you love him' christian attitude foisted on me as a child. Can't recommend this highly enough.

This book is a compilation of educational comics featuring various subjects surrounding sex. It's essentially a silly sex-positive comic. There's humor. There's heart. There's sex. There's information. 

There is a great amount of information in this book. There's a chapter on asking yourself if you're ready for sex. There's many chapters on contraception and STI prevention. I wasn't aware of the different types of IUDs. There are also chapters on different sexual activities including some tips and tricks.

This is the way sex education should be taught. It's casual, but informative. There are resources provided in case you want more information on a subject. This book is absolutely queer friendly. I love the amount of diversity shown in the illustrations. This would be a great read for any young adult, whether they're sexually active or not. I give this a 5/5.