Huge thanks to netgalley and Abrams books for the chance to share my thoughts and read an arc of this early!

The amount of time and research that clearly went into putting together this book is, as someone who’s a massive research nerd, impressive. There’s discussions on topics from bisexual history to understanding the different experiences/stereotypes bi folks can see, while still staying inclusive to other identities. this book is essentially a deep dive that doesn’t sneak around hard topics and doesn’t just focus on the “good parts” of bi history (and queer history as a whole) but instead faces them head on in an honest way.

From the first to the very last page, I felt so so validated in my own experience as someone who identifies as bisexual. I’m in no way an expert on the topic, but I will say that this book is very important. It showed me the nitty gritty sides to being bi, it showed me how amazing it is to be bi and it let me understand that just because you identify a certain way that doesn’t mean you’re not worthy of feeling validated. Everyone, no matter who they are or who they have silly little crushes on, deserves to feel accepted and understood.

This is probably one of my favorite nonfiction books I've read this year. As a bisexual woman, I've always felt not quite a part of the LGBT+ family or the "normal" straight crowd either. This book addresses that feeling among bisexual people, and so much more. Julia Shaw as a great way of writing nonfiction where it never feels too bogged down with jargon, or overwrought with statistics. I personally don't always enjoy when an author goes into too much of their personal life in a nonfiction book that's not explicitly a memoir, but Shaw found the perfect balance of sprinkling in her own experiences with the focus of the book never being distracted from. I would recommend this to anyone that wants to learn about bisexuality, and hope that it's a spring board for more texts to be written on this topic.

I started identifying as bi almost 5 years ago and for 5 years, like Shaw, I've wanted to know more about bisexuality but I found a lack of information on it. I've come across some of the prejudices Shaw mentions, the erasure of bi identities within the LGBTQI+ movement and I agree that there is a need for more bi-visibility. I was surprised by the amount of information she was able to put together in this book. I would say this book is instrumental for any bi ally and bi person.

**4.5 rounded up**
Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams books for the e-arc!

I don't read a lot of nonfiction, as I'm not particularly drawn to it, but as an out and very loud Bi person, I had to get my hands on this one. The first thing I really want to shout out was the amount of research that was put into this book; the amount of time and effort it took to create this cannot be understated and I am very grateful to Shaw for doing this work. The only thing I would have added to this book would have been a bit more personal commentary from Shaw herself and her responses, reactions, feelings, etc, from what she has learned and shared since she is Bi as well. But that's really only a small critique and might just come from the fact that I don't read a lot of nonfiction.

The book is split into 6 sections: The Bi Option, Our History, Nothing but Mammals, The Bisexual Closet, Invisi-bi-lity, It's Political, and Free Love. I was equally drawn in and invested in each section, and it felt very validating to read about experiences that were so similar to my own. The Bi identity is a tricky one and is often fraught with biphobia, bi-erasure, and stereotypes. Shaw did an excellent job in not only sharing the reality of this and what Bi individuals experience, but also in dismantling common stereotypes or misbeliefs about what it means to be Bi, our history, our experiences, our desires, and our acceptance (or lack thereof) in communities.

All in all, I thought this was a fabulously done "deep dive" into bisexuality, and I really would recommend it for anyone, but especially for bisexual (or biromantic, like myself) individuals - this is the one to read!

This book needed to be written! If every person in my life would read this, I would give everyone a copy. The novel touches upon not only the scientific side of bisexuality as well as its history, but the dark social side of this sexuality and how it is demeaned and discarded as a perversion or a performance.

I think some could find the book a bit dry, but I personally enjoyed how it was very scientific, well-researched and thorough. Shaw uses concrete examples without bogging down the narrative and the small anecdotes interwoven with her own experiences explaining a topic.

This is a fantastic resource for the LGBTQIA+ community, and I sincerely hope this book acquires the fame and praise it deserves for what it does for the queer community as well as bisexuals everywhere.

Bi is a well-researched deep dive into the culture and history of bisexuality that, as a bisexual person, was so deeply validating to read. There is so much important information and history in here not just for bi people but humans in general. It doesn’t skirt around tough issues, but also tries not to get lost in them and reminds us that along with the hard things there are so many good as well. I especially appreciated that it is noted more than once that “bi” is not defined by a binary male/female attraction but the broader definition of simply more than one gender without gender/binary limits. Even though bi is what I identify as, I often default to using pan because I feel like so many people see bi as that binary and my attraction to people is a very wide spectrum not limited by binaries…so it is always so validating/reassuring to see that assumption challenged and corrected. Happy and grateful for this book and the representation it brings to be out in the world!

It has been a goal of mine to read more nonfiction and this was a great starting point! While this subject is relevant personally, I do feel as though it goes underrepresented in mainstream media. A wonderful exploration of bisexual history and culture, I think this is a must read for anyone who identifies as queer.

I’m typically not a nonfiction reader, but this one popped out at me and I had to read it. This was a book that needed to be written and is greatly appreciated by many. Full of history and science, 𝘉𝘪’ by Julia Shaw is informative, validating, and really, really interesting. Highly recommend!

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘺 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 (𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬-𝘺𝘰𝘶!). 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

Shaw's book on bisexuality shines a light on everything from the etymology of sexualities as a whole and the science behind things like the Kinsey Scale and Klein Grid to the author's personal experiences with her sexual awakening. I would categorize this almost as half memoir and half scientific nonfiction.

As a recently realized bisexual woman, this book was extraordinarily validating and just made me feel very seen. In it, Julia Shaw, a German-Canadian psychologist addresses and dispels many common myths about bisexuality, discusses bisexual culture and how it fits into the larger queer community, recounts the painful and ongoing history of bisexual discrimination throughout the world, and analyzes scientific studies about bisexuality. I wish I could share all the highlights I quoted, because there were a LOT. (I will share them once I receive my final copy!)

Despite the focus on bisexuality, many of the insights and information Shaw provides relate to the greater queer community as well, and to human sexuality as a whole. She masterfully focuses in on the plight of the bisexual, while not at all diminishing the struggles of others in the queer community.

Although Shaw is open and critical about the lack of research on specifically bisexual issues, she nevertheless provides ample evidence to support many of her controversial claims: that bisexuality was once the default in nature, that bisexuals are no more likely to cheat than heterosexuals, that bisexual women are victims of sexual violence more often than lesbian or heterosexual women. The list goes on. Each chapter is followed by a helpful list of resources for anyone wanting further details about the studies she cites.

This strength is also, oddly, one of my only complaints of the book: it includes a ton of scientific studies and quotes from said studies or researchers. While the scientific data is often enlightening and necessary (and sometimes horrifying, like the statistics on sexual violence against bisexual individuals), sexuality is a deeply personal issue.

As such, I found myself wanting to hear more of Shaw’s personal insights about the studies, or possibly more examples of specific bisexual stories in the context of those studies. I didn’t want the amount of scientific data to shrink; more so I wanted more of Shaw's or other individuals' stories added in between.

That being said, I think this book is deeply important, although I might be a little BIased (ha). It highlights just how important it is for each sub-culture within the queer community to receive its own space in addition to being a part of the larger community. This book is for you if you:

- are a bisexual individual
- think you might be bisexual
- know someone who is bisexual (hint: you probably do)
- are an LGBT+ ally
- are interested in sociology & human sexuality
- like good books

I love how you did so much research just because of a sexuality. I'm personally bi and my mind is blown. I could honestly never do this myself and I truly don't know how you could thank you so much for making this it was very informative and helped me understand things I would have never figured out myself. I can't wait until it's published so I can buy it and recommend it to anyone I see anywhere

So very honored to have been granted access to this pivotal book before its official release. Thought provoking, comfort delving, it comes from a place of respect and love. Thoroughly researched with a plethora of references of studies and surveys. Each chapter ends with studious sources, many of which the reader can access of their own accord. This is a very important book that looks at bisexuality, from the jubilant to the gruesome. The author includes personal anecdotes as well, which for me, helped with the whole comfy feeling of it all. Like how the right therapist and their space feels. I also think that for anyone questioning whether or not they're bi, this is a necessary tool in said discovery. Pacing and book length are adequate, language is approachable and it's not a dry read.

It was quite a thought provoking and an educational read for me. Not only ‘cause of me being identified as a bi but also to brush up my knowledge, keep up with the times to learn and educate myself enough not to disrespect someone else, intentionally or unintentionally ‘cause of the negligence. I can’t wait enough for it to be out to recommend anyone and everyone.

Enjoyed this book about bisexuality which challenges the standard, which bucket do you fit in mentality about sexual orientation. Sound and acccessible science interwoven with stories.

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC*

I HIGHLY recommend this book, not only for people who identify as Bi but those who don't "get" it.
It was very eye opening and gave a lot good information that everyone could use to understand bisexuality better.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book -- Shaw covers a very broad range of disciplines and research covering bi+ sexualities and does so in a way that sucked me in pretty fast. They write in a way that is accessible and gives just the right about of detail. It's also clear that they are thoughtful in their approach, and I appreciate how seamlessly they incorporate peer-reviewed research into this book. I dare say it is a must-read for those studying queer history/theory or human sexuality, and I definitely have plans to incorporate chapters of it into future courses.

Definitely not the typical book I read, but definitely a very interesting and informing. Loved to see Bisexuality history in an entire book and learning lots about myself too. Not the kind of book you binge in a week, but would recommend to anyone who wants to know more LGBTQ+ history.

I had not heard of this book before finding it on Netgalley randomly, but I am so glad I found it! The book covers an area of research and information that I feel is not written on enough. The information presented was very informative and I learned so much!

This year I have been reading a lot more non-fiction and I definitely think this may be my favorite one I have read. The formatting was incredible. I love that the information was broken into manageable sections under a broader topic. This made it more of an accessible read for someone who does not read a lot of nonfiction. I think that anyone interested in bisexuality or its history would easily be able to read the information presented in this book.

My only qualm is that I wish the book was longer and I don't think that is a bad thing! I just wanted more! I wanted to learn more and feel even more seen than I already did. I think this stems from a lack of easily accessible information on the topic, but Bi was just enough to take the edge of the craving.

I think this book should be required reading for everyone! Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc!

This book is extremely validating for those in the bisexual community. It hammers home the fact that bisexuality is NORMAL, and calls into question the heteronormative world-view. It’s an important read for anyone inside or outside of the queer community. It helps you to understand where exactly bisexual people are coming from, and who wouldn’t want to better understand and support the people around them.

The book is a good mix between the author’s personal experience and scientific research. This helped to keep me interested while I was reading the book instead of being overwhelmed by scientific jargon. Whether you come from a scientific or psychology background, this book is extremely accessible.

Coming from a scientific background myself, I can honestly say that this one of the most well-researched nonfiction books that I have ever read. Shaw included a list of references at the end of every chapter as well as in-text citations throughout the book. This allows for further reading if you find a topic that interests you personally.

The book touched on a myriad of important topics, some of which I hadn’t even known existed before reading this book. On the scientific side, figures like the Kinsey Scale and Klein Grid were explained. Both of which are useful frameworks for understanding human sexuality. Another thing I liked about the book was that the author was honest about her personal background. Before talking about topics she hadn’t personally experienced, she mentioned that she hadn’t experienced these issues but backed up the topic with rigorous scientific research. This comes into play with topics such a intersectionality in the bisexual community, which is an extremely important topic. This explains how multiple factors can impact the discrimination someone may face throughout their life, and is important when we consider the experiences of individual bisexual people.

Shaw also talked about bi-phobia and bi-erasure. While these topics often lead to sad conclusions about the state of the world and the close-mindedness of the people within it, it is important to mention in order to gain a full understanding of bisexuality. The way society has viewed bisexuality throughout time is mentioned, and the need for bisexual specific spaces is highlighted.

Something that I found particularly validating was the mention of bisexual behavior throughout history and in nature. Shaw talks about the bisexual behavior of multiple different species, and how this may be advantageous evolutionarily. She mentions that sexuality is a human construct that has just recently became a part of personal identity. This is backed up by mentions of bisexual behavior in ancient societies that was not viewed as anything different than “normal”.

Overall, this book needed to be written, it filled a hole in literature that had not been previously talked about individually and it did so in a thorough, respectful, and scientific manner.

I would recommend this to: Anyone looking to become more educated on bisexuality.

I’m not always a fan of nonfiction books, but this one was too interesting to put down. Like a few other reviews have said, this book is quite dense in the beginning, but it does really pull you in. Julia Shaw obviously did a lot of research and it shows. I would 100% recommend Bi, I think it could be a great reference for all kinds of people both in and outside of the LGBTQIA community.