an absolute joy of a read. full of wonderful messages for teens and parents about growing up and sex education. i loved he characters so much — it was so fun to be surprised by them, to want to be friends with mo and reggie and sasha, to hate dom, and to learn so much alongside them. i will definitely be recommending this to anyone who will listen!

Monique is the pastor's daughter and feels that weight of being the perfect Christian teenager, at least to the public. Behind the scenes she's trying to make her boyfriend of two years happy, which includes having sex. But for some reason, no matter how many times they've tried, she can't get it to work. When said boyfriend breaks up with her, Monique goes on a journey to discover what's going on with her body so she can win him back and on the way meets new friends (the Holier-than-thou Good Girl and the Bad Boy) and discovers who she really is, beyond the expectations others have for her.

This was a wonderful novel. From page one we are thrown into crazy family dynamics and can see the sometimes toxic environment the church, unfortunately, can create. I appreciated the frankness with with the author spoke about Monique's difficulties with her body and felt that Monique's discomfort with sexual things (even just saying the word) was extremely realistic for someone in her situation. I saw a lot of my own life paralleled in Mo's.

I loved the characters and was cheering for them through the whole book. The family situations were hard to read sometimes because of their realness. but they were also beautiful.

This book is not only important for teens to read, I think parents - Christian parents especially - should read this as well.

Preacher's daughter Monique feels pressured by her parents to remain "pure"—and pressured by her boyfriend into an intimate relationship. Her body refuses to cooperate with her boyfriend's plans, and he breaks up with her. Desperate for answers, she discovers she has a medical condition, but she's too young to get treatment without a parent's permission. Friends Sasha and Reggie do what they can to help—and in the process, she comes to realize it's time to listen to her body and her heart.

This is a beautifully written coming of age story. Monique feels increasingly isolated by the choices other people make for her, and it's wonderful to watch how Sasha and Reggie help her break free. All three teens make typical teenage mistakes, but they're acting from a good place. This is a deeply emotional, empowering book—and I'm pleased that it's bringing attention to this particular medical condition.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

What was your sex education like? Abstinence only? Did you hear that gay sex is sinful and/or doesn't exist? Did your school even have sex ed?

If you're confused about the details, worried if your body is "normal", or just want to read a fun coming-of-age story, this book is for you.

Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl</em> by Joya Goffney is a delightful romp through a coming-of-age tale that’s relatable and educational without feeling preachy.

Monique is a preacher’s daughter living in Texas. She’s in a relationship with Dom, the popular jock at school. Luckily, her dad adores Dom, and they grew up together. Unluckily, their relationship isn’t picture perfect (or staying within the bounds dictated by  Monique’s purity ring). They want to have sex, and have tried 29 times. However, there’s a problem involving penetration, and Dom, ever the good guy, breaks up with Monique until she “fixes her problem”.

But…Monique doesn’t know what’s wrong. She’s ready and willing, but the act causes her extreme pain. With no sex-ed and a promise to do nothing more than hold hands until marriage. Desperate, Monique eventually visits a sexual health clinic, and that’s where the story really begins.

You see, Monique isn’t alone in her journey for sexual knowledge. There’s Sasha, someone whom Monique had always perceived as churchy and prudish, who works part-time at the clinic and wants to be a gynecologist. (She also likes girls, so yay for queer representation!) Surprisingly, Monique has another ally to back her up: Reggie. The preacher takes in “bad boys” to help straighten them out, and Reggie’s his latest project, meaning he’s usually at her house. Although initially suspicious, due to fortuitous events, Monique lets Reggie in on her secret, and he keeps the girls from being too serious by turning something as simple as a trip to Target into a madcap adventure.

Along the way, Monique’s ideas about the world are changed. Not in a way that feels jarring, rather, a slow understanding that “sex”, “vagina”, and “masturbation” are not bad words, nor are they anything to be ashamed of. She also gains the ability to take a closer look at the people around her, and questions her feelings about them. Is Dom really such a great guy, if he kicks her to the curb because she’s unable to have penetrative sex? Is her dad really the more reasonable of her parents?

Sexual health is not a topic often talked about in YA fiction. If characters do have sex, it’s usually talked about with euphemisms such as “doing it”. Furthermore, those books tend to follow tired gender roles where the boy is horny and wants sex, and the girl doesn’t want sex for her own pleasure. Not to mention the fact that these are usually heterosexual couples, as shown above.
Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl flips these stereotypes on their heads. Monique, as previously mentioned, wants to have sex for herself, not just to please Dom. Readers are shown that she actually has a sex drive. Although she is straight, Sasha, as well as her sister Myracle both have female partners, and, although it’s generally kept understated, there’s no outright homophobia shown.

The book also does a great job explaining Monique’s condition. Monique is diagnosed with vaginismus, something that she, and therefore readers, learns isn’t a reflection of her in any way. She didn’t do anything wrong, and it’s not something she can control. In fact, the condition often develops due to deeply internalized fear of sex causing damnation, even if it’s unconscious. It’s treatable, and can be treated at the patient’s own pace.

Goffney has crafted a story that will keep readers engaged while giving them crucial knowledge. Too many young people know very little about sex and their bodies. I hope that by reading this book, their worlds are expanded and curiosity is piqued. We need more stories like this.

I went in with high expectations when I read this and I was not disappointed. This was such a real book that as a preacher's daughter I could truly relate to Monique. I finished this book in one night because I couldn't put this down. I was so moved and I learned a lot in this book about subjects I hadn't heard of before.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC*

Hi um this book is amazing?

I grew up as a queer girl with a reproductive illness in a conservative Catholic home and reading romance novels that talk explicitly about sex, sexual identity, and desire is a large part of how I've healed (and continue to heal) from that trauma. And this book, the way it stares purity culture right in the face and fights tooth and nail for young people to have access to information and care. The way it screams loud and clear that pain with sex is not normal and that no one deserves to feel pain or shame (both physical and emotional) when it comes to their own bodies, their own pleasure, and sharing their bodies and pleasure with another person. The way it champions relationships between women - friendship, sisterhood, daughterhood - and acknowledges that everyone is affected by the toxicity of such a pervasive purity culture.

This book is revolutionary. It's powerful and raw and heartwarming and hilarious. It's healing.

All the stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC.

CW: sexual coercion, parental rejection, purity culture

thank you NetGalley for the arc !

2022 is such a great year for ya-contemporary romances because this one is just amazing. Monique, Sasha and Reggie are one of the few trios I like and the entire premise of this book was just amazing.

Pacing was a bit weird at times in the beginning but the fast-ness (is that a word?) of it made it a lot easier to read overall.

The romance wasn't something I was going in for but I fell in love with it too and I loved the portrayal of toxic relationships, religious trauma and just everything asd;fljkdfa[odsf'

What an utterly incredible coming of age book that explores body and sex positivity, toxic views on sex and sex ed. Monique like a lot of women does not have access to sexual health service or information. Being a pk or preachers kid her views are shaped by her upbringing.

There is so much depth to the character of Monique as she figures out her relationship and tries to figure out if she wants to change for a man or if she wants to be who she is and happy in her skin.

Do yourself a favor and grab this book. It will not disappoint.

Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl matches my soul. This book is so relatable to every girl that did exactly what they were told to do and then realized they did nothing for themselves. Great read!

This YA book takes a unique path to exploring some important topics. Monique is uncomfortable with her body and sex. The support of some new friends and a great doctor help her work through an unexpected medical diagnosis and address her fears. Along the way, she gains clarity about what she should expect in a boyfriend and forms more open and healthy relationships with her family members, which is the best part!

Joys Goffney impressed me with Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry and she did not disappoint with this follow up. This book was about love and friendship. She developed both relationships so well while also challenging family dynamics and conservative fees. This book was everything I could’ve asked for.

5/5

This was my first read by Joya Goffney and I was sucked in from the very first page! Joya has this really great that writing style that provides all of the details you need for the story, but she also keeps it short and succinct and keeps the storyline progressing without it ever feeling slow.

I fell in love with Monique so much in this story. As someone who is from Texas, it was easy to relate to the small town preacher's daughter mentally that had Monique physically ill. Watching Monique's journey as she discovered more about her body and herself, the others around her that she had initially misjudged, and her relationship with sex was so beautiful to watch unravel. Especially in a small Christian community in South Texas, it's not easy to get sex education and this story was a stunning example of just how harmful this lack of knowledge can be. I loved watching Monique fall in love with herself and begin to re-think the way she perceived her parents, her sister, and her relationship with the church.

Stories like these are what we need more of!! It's okay to talk about sex and vaginas and how hard it is being a teenager. Especially in a state where sex education is not taught, it can be scary to now know anything about what's happening with your own body. The shame Monique felt about giving away her virginity is something that a lot of girls and women can relate to, as that's a society standard that was set for women a long long time ago. Joya Goffney did a fantastic job of not tip toeing around the subject, but shedding honest truth on what it's like growing up with a vagina. Well done Joya, I absolutely loved this one!

First Impressions: This book discusses the condition, vaginismus, A rarely spoken about condition where your body stops anything from penetrating. Tampons or otherwise.

I’ve heard of this once from a close friend in catholic school. If adults are writing (and reading) YA to heal our childhoods then this was definitely a book I needed. I went to catholic school from 5th grade to 11th grade (when I begged my mother to let me get away from those mean nuns and old school teachers) I had a lot of my own fear as a young adult with losing my virginity and feeling like I needed to be careful to the point where it became a fear of men in general. I actually didn't feel safe or comfortable with the topic until after college at 22 YO. There were uncomfortable moments here that reminded me of how uncomfortable I felt as a teen with virginity. Reading this felt like hugging myself as a teen and telling myself that things are not impossible or as important as we give them the credit for. Someone once told me "virginity is a myth, only a man could invent something that could be taken away from a woman and can never get back" This book reminds me of that sentiment, your body belongs to you no matter who you share it with. You are not a changed person after sex, and nothing is taken away from you.

This book is a great book to discuss: vaginal health, how religious trauma can impact your body physically, Sex talks with parents and children, Unsupportive parents,

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.5/5 stars.

I didn't think I was going to like this that much after I started reading it because the premise is SO unique and sex positive and culturally aware and so many other things...like, I literally gave an update with "I have so many questions" but then I binge read the rest of it?

Monique, or Mo, is in a relationship with Dom. Her dad is the pastor in the deep south of a Black congregation. Highly religious. Mo wants to have sex with Dom...they've tried 29 times but it's always "Mo's fault" that it never happens. Thus, we get a band of misfits -- Reggie and Sasha. Reggie appears to be the bad boy, but it actually a golden retriever cinnamon roll. Sasha appears to be the goody two shoes church girl Mo's parents want her to be...but is actually NOT the image she presents. I love their dynamic. I love how they're just CHILL about Mo having vaginismus and helping her heal from religious trauma and pressure, sexual trauma and pressure, a lowkey abusive relationship, and ultimately family relationships too.

It was beautifully sex positive and the ending with all the women...was beautiful.

After loving Goffney’s debut novel Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry, I was super excited for her second novel, and it did not disappoint. Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl is a fresh and groundbreaking novel that tackles female sexual health, body autonomy, and the importance of healthy relationships.

The novel follows Monique Tinsley, who is a verified good girl. She has never cursed, smoked, gotten drunk, or anything else expected of a normal teenager. Not that she ever could under the oppressive eye of her strict mother, or as the daughter of her small town pastor. She would never dare to ruin her image and face the wrath of her parents, except…she tried to have sex with her boyfriend. And it didn’t work. Forced to join leagues with the town bad boy and the ever pious church girl, Sasha, Monique strives to understand what is happening to her body. In this unlikely, and slightly unfortunate, journey, Monique learns to raise her voice and value herself.

Goffney has a way with writing realistic and 3 dimensional characters. Every person in this novel has depth and different sides to them. I loved how Goffney crafted Monique’s pious and overbearing parents, who could have been easily labeled as bad or villainous, but instead the reader is able to sympathize and understand them as people. The family dynamic, which is key to the overall story, was presented so well and organically.

I also really appreciated reading about Monique’s journey of figuring out what was happening with her body. I don’t think I have ever read a novel, let alone a YA one, that discussed vaginismus, or any other vaginal condition. This was pleasing to see, and brings representation to individuals who are grappling with vaginismus who may not feel normal. I loved how Monique was not defined by this. I think many people put sex on a pedestal in relationships, even though it is not the only thing that defines people or love. I thought that was a very important message.

My only gripe with the novel was that the pacing could be a bit fast at times. Certain pinnacle moments or changes of heart felt rushed, seeming to only happen in a short span of time.

All in all, I’d definitely recommend this novel, especially to teenage girls. This novel has such strong messages about self-worth and independence that are really valuable.

This is the first book I’ve read by Joya Goffney, and you can consider me a fan now! I devoured this book in a day! It was that GOOD!

17-year-old Monique is a preacher’s daughter and struggling with a major decision. Should she or she not have premarital sex? Monique has tried for two years, but it seems like she just can’t do it, and her boyfriend breaks up with her. Unbeknownst to her, she has a medical condition, and she’s informed by one girl from church. Soon Monique embarks on a journey with two unlikely friends as she tries to find herself. She explores her sexuality, the value of friendship, and the importance of being true and loving yourself.

It’s absolutely wonderful when a book can teach you something new. This is the first time I’ve heard the term vaginismus, and Goffney’s book is insightful and informative about a condition that others may also not be familiar with. Monique is such a lovely character. It was a joy to experience her character development throughout the story. Her boyfriend breaking up with her was a blessing in disguise. We get to see her grow into her own person and understand how she should be treated in a relationship.

I don’t want to spoil too much, but I loved the friendships established in this story. They were unlikely, but they were so pure! It’s rare to find good friends, and I’m glad Monique got to see past the exterior of others and her own preconceived notions and gained genuine friends.

Coming from a family that is heavily involved in the church, this book resonated a lot with me. I LOVED that Monique grew to make her own decisions, despite being a preacher’s daughter. This story explores a variety of relationship dynamics, and it was such a beautiful thing seeing so many strengthened for the better.

This is definitely a 5-star read! Thank you to Net Galley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC!

JOYA GOFFNEY!!!! She is one of my must-buy auto-buy authors what even I need to say to get you to buy and read her books. I read Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry early last year and couldn't get enough, so I was super excited to get a copy to review from NetGalley.

Ok where I start (I could talk about this book for days but i'll try to keep it moderately short😂.) This is Mo's journey with understanding sexual health, navigating old and new relationships (both platonic and romantic), with stereotypes about what a "good church girl" should be.

This book is sex positive in the best way. Seeing Mo go from being scared to say sex from speaking freely without shame made me reflect on some of the ways I think about sex and how I had many of the same thought chapter 1 Mo had.

REGGIEEEEEE had me kicking me feet, smiling and screaming. Goffney knows how to write a man😂. I also love how the book ended. I was beginning to think the story would end with Mo realizing she was read to be intimate, and while I would've been fine with that ending I loved how realistic the ending actually was. I was very hard not to spoil this book but I highly encourage you to pre-order and read !!!

Release Date: May 3, 2022

Wow. What a very good/solid book. I laughed a few times and also had so much sympathy for the main character Monique, otherwise known as Mo. I think this is the first book I have read in a while that really resonated with my upbringing. I was raised in the Black Baptist church as is the fictional character. And boy I had some flashbacks to conversations I had with my parents about sex. I definitely recall the looks from my mom and grandmother gave me and my brothers for not paying attention in church. And I also recall willing with my entire body for our pastor to wrap stuff up after his 10th time dancing up and down the steps as he went about his sermon. Black churches are definitely a culture. I don't go to church anymore, because I honestly saw the way I was brought up as more harmful than good. Mo's character hits a lot of the high and low points about being in the church, an also as being a "goody-goody" another label I got called throughout school because I didn't do things other girls did. I think any young adult readers are going to love Mo, the secondary characters like Sasha and Reggie, as well as the ultimate message, know your body and it's okay to say no if you don't want to have sex. I do want to say upfront this is told in the first person point of view, I know some readers hate that style, but it never bothers me. Just wanted to mention it.

"Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl" follows 17 year old Monique. Monique and her family live in Texas. Her father is the pastor of their church, and her mother has Black church lady down pat. Monique wants to do what she can to make her parents proud of her, but she's worried because her boyfriend of two years, Dom, wants to have sex. They have tried 29 times (yes this gets repeated) and had to stop because Monique was in so much pain and didn't want to continue. After the last time though, Dom gets fed up and breaks up with Monique. Monique is determined to win him back and through the help of two people she never thought of as friends (Reggie and Sasha) she goes about trying to "cure" her issue.

There's so many layers to Monique, you find out right away why she is so devastated by Dom breaking up with her. He's been all she's had since her older sister left home. And Monique thinks if she can just have sex with him, everything will get better. But her listening to Sasha and Reggie as well as reading things, leads her down a path to discover her own body and to listen to her own wants and needs.

I honestly was ready to hate both of Monique's parents, I feel some kind of way about parents telling their kids sex is dirty and wrong and it somehow means you are less than what you are if you have sex before marriage.  But the story delves deeper into both of her parents, and you gain another perspective. Still a messed up one, but one nonetheless. I loved another reader calling this book a showcase of religious trauma, and honestly with so much of the legislation getting passed on a daily basis in this country, I can see how that reader would feel this way. Telling teens if they have sex before marriage and or if they are gay, or trans, etc. that means they are somehow wrong/dirty/less than is so messed up and very frustrating when you see the fallout from being brought up and talked about in this manner. Can you imagine being a 12 year old and hearing from the pulpit every Sunday how if you have sex before marriage it means you have less value in the eyes of God? Can you imagine being told if you are gay that means you are going to hell?

I loved the writing an thought that Goffney really captures the Black Baptist church in all it's glory, warts and all. And she manages to still make certain thing funny. I laughed long and hard at the Target scene. The dialogue concerning Insecure and who should Issa pick had me cackling. FYI, I am still not happy about her choice.

The flow was excellent from beginning to end and thought the arc of Monique, her parents, her friends, were well done. I liked the place everyone got to in the end and I loved what Monique chose in the end.

Wow! I loved this book just as much as Joya’s first novel.
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This sophomore novel covers topics that older teenagers should be able to read about and explore. There is a lot of religion based aspects to it, which can be hit or miss with an audience. Especially with it being focused on overcoming parental shame due to their religion.
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I however loved that aspect and feel teens need to know there’s more to life than what parents press on them.

This was wonderful and an incredible study of the inner thoughts of figuring out oneself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.