On the Subject of Unmentionable Things was a refreshing and fun sex-positive contemporary YA book. The story easily kept me entertained until the very last page! Read my review below to find out why!
On the Subject of Unmentionable Things by Julia Walton Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on August 23, 2022
Genres: contemporary, young adult
Pages: 320
Format: ARC
Source: Penguin Random House INTL
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A girl rewrites sex education, one viral post at a time, in this fiercely honest and delightfully awkward novel by the award-winning author of Words on Bathroom Walls.
Phoebe Townsend is a rule follower . . . or so everyone thinks. She’s an A student who writes for her small-town school newspaper. But what no one knows is that Phoebe is also Pom—the anonymous teen who’s rewriting sex education on her blog and social media.
Phoebe is not a pervert. No, really. Her unconventional hobby is just a research obsession. And sex should not be a secret. As long as Phoebe stays undercover, she’s sure she’ll fly through junior year unnoticed. . . .
That is, until Pom goes viral, courtesy of mayoral candidate Lydia Brookhurst. The former beauty queen labels Phoebe’s work an “assault on morality,” riling up her supporters and calling on Pom to reveal her identity. But Phoebe is not backing down. With her anonymity on the line, is it all worth the fight?
Julia Walton delivers a brutally honest novel about sex, social media, and the courage to pursue truth when misinformation is rife. Who knew truth could be so scandalous?
I received this book for free from Penguin Random House INTL in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
☂️ TRIGGER WARNINGS:
sex, vandalism, cyberbullying, harassmentThere are no spoilers in this review.
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I ENJOYED…
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- The sex positive approach! This book is absolutely perfect for any teen curious about sex. There is a lot of information and knowledge about the subject. You learn things as you read, you feel connected to the characters and feel less alone with all those awkward questions going through your head. On the Subject of Unmentionable Things really took the taboo out of sex, it really is nothing to be ashamed of!
- The great voice of the main character. Phoebe was relatable, smart and brave. I loved seeing her unsure about how the world would see her and her growth as the story kept going. Her fascination with researching was an inspiration and it was really refreshing to see a girl curious about sex!
- The family dynamics. I enjoyed Phoebe and her mom’s relationship and I absolutely loved how they slowly opened up to each other more. I think we don’t see parents often in YA books and to see them being beyond supportive of their daughter was more than lovely!
- An extremely timely dive into the conflicted landscape of social media and politics. I loved the anonymous blogger aspect and how Julia Walton wrote about the courage to pursue truth when misinformation is rife. This story takes place while a mayoral candidate in town is trying to return schools to abstinence-only education. It feels really relevant as current events in the USA are dealing with the overturning of abortion rights. I felt that the topics were very well handled.
I HAD A HARD TIME WITH…
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- I thought that the story was a bit slow at first. At the beginning, it was entertaining but I wasn’t as hooked as I much as thought I would be. But the second half of the book moved faster and the story found a really good flow with much more drama, twists and turns!
- I thought that it needed a bit more diversity and representation in the characters. It deals with such an important topic, a topic that we don’t really talk that honestly about in YA books that I was a bit disappointed that it wasn’t more inclusive.
OVERALL
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If you’re looking for a funny, timely and delighfully sex-positive read with engaging and genuine characters, On the Subject of Unmentionable Things is the perfect match for you!
FINAL RATING : 4 drops!
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Did you read On the Subject of Unmentionable Things or do you want to?
What’s the latest sex-positive YA book you read and enjoyed? Let me know in comments!
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