A huge thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
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It is no secret that kids, and particularly teens, have questions about their bodies and sex. Questions, that more often then not, they are afraid to say out loud for fear of embarrassment or being shamed by their peers, parents, or community. But what if there was an anonymous resource to see that you aren't the only one with such inquiries and you can ask the specific questions you have, without getting textbook answers that skirt around the issue at hand. A blog written by a teen, for teens. That's what lies at the center of this novel, and the lengths at which a conservatively-led local government will go to uncover who is behind the blog and shut it down.
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The characters are well-written and the pacing keeps things moving at a decent clip. There are again (and aren't there always) towns and school systems are banning books and materials, and this book brings up just how slippery that slope can be. It also touches on racism, bigotry, and succumbing to peer pressure beyond high school. At the heart of the story is the need for comprehensive sex education and access to information for people of all sexualities. The blog may be a part of work of fiction, but the information is factual which I think will actually help a lot of young readers.

Let’s begin by saying that the book scared me a little in their depiction of the mob mentality- the followers of Brookhurst hit too close to home after watching Trump and his followers. That said, it was accurate. This is absolutely what would happen. I love Walton for not shying away from those feelings and scenarios.

The characters here are amazing. Phoebe is so smart, but unsure of how the world would see her. I loved her analytical mind, her fascination with researching not just sex, but the human body. I might have also gotten a kick out of the angry vagina picture and the hidden books. These characters, they feel so real- like someone you could meet on the street. Cora is just wonderful- she’s Phoebe’s person and it shows. I hated that she felt left out after the big reveal, but loved how she dealt with it. Jorge was also wonderful- supportive and charming. I loved watching the relationship between Phoebe and himself unfold. One thing I didn’t like that seems to be coming up in a lot of reviews, though, is that Jorge seems to be the only character that gets any in-depth analysis that isn’t… well… white. Also, while it talks about the LBTGQ community, there are no characters that are like this and what roles the community play in the book is dwindled down to what amounts as a footnote. I fear this will not sit well with some, because it isn’t very inclusive. Now, there was a moment where Phoebe gets a question on her blog about same-sex sexual encounters and realizes that that’s something she hadn’t researched yet. And so she does. I like how she handled the question and that she actually wanted to get information for them- that she took the sharing of correct information very seriously. For me, personally, the fact that this wasn’t the most inclusive book in the world didn’t stop me from loving it, but it made me a little sad for the missed opportunities.

Over all, this is a well written book with a good flow to the pacing. It never really seemed to lag anywhere, though I did feel like the second half moved faster. It took a taboo subject and made it feel more accessable, and it didn’t pull any punches either politically or depicting the fallout after the big reveal. Because of this, I feel like it will be an important book for young adults- and parents, really. For me, this is a five star book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
On the adult content scale, there’s some pretty severe bullying- threats, destruction, that sort of thing. There is alot of sexual content- but most is of the informational variety, nearly clinical; with the exception of one encounter towards the end and a reference to a sexual encounter that did not go into detail. I feel like it’s still acceptable as YA, and doesn’t necessarily need to be considered New Adult instead.


I recieved an eARC from Netgalley and Random House Books for young teens in exchange for an honest review. As always, I am very grateful for the opportunity.

4.5 education, not evasion stars!

What I liked about the book:
1. I loved the sex positivity! There was so much information and so much knowledge behind everything from how to properly use condoms to what is considered “normal” to how to give your partner pleasure. It was so informational, it took the “taboo” out of it, which is fantastic! Sex is not taboo, sex is not bad, sex is not something to be ashamed of. It is a normal part of life, and I really liked the approach this book took with it.

2. I loved how there was so much opposition to her blog, given she was from a conservative town. The people that were in opposition to her felt so real! I have definitely heard the thoughts of those that think, “If we don’t talk about sex, how can kids get pregnant?” more times than I can count, especially with some of the more religious/conservative sects of my own family.

I also liked that the author didn’t wrap it up in a neat bow, like “Yep, and everyone changed from being bigoted folks with creationist outlooks to understanding and admiring the teenaged girl.” It felt raw and realistic, which I appreciated thoroughly.

3. I was a bit disappointed when we thought the abortion thank you letter from A.L.T. was from someone almost irrelevant to the storyline…until we found out it wasn’t! After the excitement of this wore off, I was sure Phoebe was going to blackmail A.L.T., which I was SUPER NOT COOL WITH! But the author didn’t let me down and had Phoebe take the high route in the most badass way possible.

4. I loved how Phoebe’s and her mom’s relationship grew before our eyes once Phoebe’s identity was out. The readers were lead to believe her mom was bad at talking about sex and she wasn’t a really open person, but we got to know her story and she saw the error of her ways. I loved watching this growth in her mom as well as the openness in the family’s discussions.

5. I loved the inserts from her blog, Twitter, texts, emails, etc. It added nice visual texture to the book, which I loved!

6. I loved the local election aspects of this story, and how it didn’t turn out how I wanted. But that’s life, so that’s good enough for me!

7. I loved the feminist undertone surrounding this book too. So many things just made me want to high five our narrator.

What could have been better:
1. The romance in this felt forced and unnecessary. It was definitely my least favorite part of this book, and that’s coming from a romance junkie.

This is a story about trusting the truth. Phoebe Townsend lives in small-town Linda Vista, California, where she is a good student, a reporter on the school newspaper, and a dutiful daughter. In her spare time, she is also Pom, the anonymous author of a sex education blog for her peers. The blog is a product of her obsession with research, and all her information is heavily footnoted with citations to medical journals and other authoritative sources.

The blog largely flies under the radar until Lydia Brockhurst, the heir to Linda Vista’s wealthiest family who has recently launched a mayoral campaign based on a return to “traditional values,” calls out the blog on her Twitter account. Brockhurst demands the blog be shut down and the author reveal themselves. Phoebe is undeterred — even as Brockhurst’s campaign gains traction among unexpected parts of the town, and seemingly even those Phoebe previously trusted. As Phoebe navigates her increasingly complex personal life while also maintaining her blog in the face of growing attention, she comes to realize that she is far from the only one with a secret … and the power of the truth.

This was a great book, often in unexpected ways. In many ways, it was a clever allegory for the 2016 election. Among other respects, it explored in an interesting way how social media can serve as both a positive resource for sharing facts and information that people may otherwise have trouble accessing and a toxic tool. It also offered an insightful look at the assumptions we make about each other, both those we know well and those we hardly know at all but assume we know well. This came through in many of the relationships in the book, but especially the one between Phoebe and Jorge.

Strongly recommended!

2.5 stars

This YA contemporary features Phoebe, a by-the-book high schooler who gets interested in sex and sexuality (mostly sex and anatomy), and starts a topical blog under cover. It's fascinating that she's able to keep this secret for so long, but for me, aside from that surprising fact, the magic dwindled a bit from there.

While Phoebe runs this blog mostly in peace for forever by the standards of her age group, the tables turn when a particularly traditional individual runs for office in her community. This adult woman begins terrorizing the blog and blogger and suggesting truly outdated and backward concepts about identity and sex education for 2015, but they are right in line with much of 2016 and beyond so far (pour one out for our basic human rights, Friends). The juxtaposition of these two forces is a nicely executed element of the novel, though if you were drawn to read this book in the first place, you'll likely also find one of side of this argument asinine and outrageous (which is the point).

What strikes me most about this book is that it's billed as somewhat provocative and inclusive, but there is very little content that matches this attempted vibe. There are so many great opportunities to get into sexuality, gender expression, gender identity, and a whole array of LGBTQIA+ issues and characters here. If these are supposed to be modern teens, related content should be coming in almost every letter to the blog. However, Phoebe's followers seem to be interested in pretty basic anatomical questions that they could easily Google. There was just never a strong enough tie for me to understand why these folks would write in to the blog when they could just get the answers themselves in seconds. Because Phoebe's identity is secret, there's no draw to the person (just the 'mystery'). There is almost no representation of queerness in any capacity here or of heterogenous identities overall. Having read and taught YA for a really long time, I find myself struggling to see how and where I'd find a place for a book that feels so limited in my classroom or list of strong recs. Being sexually inexperienced is not a novelty in this age group, and the plot and characters rely too much on this for my taste.

I enjoyed a previous book by this author, and I think the concept is intriguing here. The connections to Netflix's _Sex Education_ are misleading in the sense that the show is largely known for its inclusive (though there are also limitations in that example) representation. The characters are not all cis, het, and white. Here, that's almost exclusively the case, and in a book with this central concept and for this age group, that decision is somewhat confounding. I'll give this author more tries, but I'm left feeling like there are some important missed opportunities here. More importantly, I wonder how many readers will come to this book looking for mirrors of their own experiences and identities and be left - with the absence of those - feeling even more alienated.

A high school's journalist anonymous blog answering sex questions with factual, scientific information brings her into conflict with an ultra-conservative politician and her small town's "abstinence-only education" policies.

Militantly sex-positive in the best possible way, Walton's novel includes a sprinkling of accurate information about taboo topics, including female masturbation, and a powerful call-to-action to fight for factual, science-based sex ed in high schools. By having her well-informed protagonist choose to wait to have sex until she feels emotionally ready, Walton provides a counter-example for anyone who worries that when kids learn about the existence of condoms they will immediately run out and have lots of promiscuous sex. That's actually the main thesis of her work: information doesn't lead to more sex. It leads to safer sex. Couched in an entertaining narrative with an unlikely heroine, repulsive villain, and tantalizing love triangle, Walton's message couldn't be more fun to read. I highly recommend this book to fans of YA Contemporary and any public and high school libraries who can get it past their gatekeepers. (Because yup, this book will be challenged. Oh, the irony.)

Phoebe is your average passing high-schooler. She goes to school, complains about her best friend's PDA with her boyfriend, and also writes an anonymous sex-ed blog. The blog blows up in her town when a local polticial candidate that Phoebe's parents work for blasts its factual presentation of sex instead of advocating for abstinence. Although the A plot of the book is very much the blog, the part that gets more focus is the daily aspect of Phoebe's life, her experiencing romantic life for the first time. You follow her first kiss with a guy at the newspaper and getting the ick about it and then her subsequent crush on a sweet, plant-obsessed football player.
Although reading the first chapter or so felt cringey because of the idea of a teenager writing a sex blog, the book itself struck a nice sweet tone about everything involved. Phoebe just seemed so genuinely interested about this stuff that it read easily. After attending a football team and getting injuries that necessitate a makeover, she begins to get attention from boys, including one she likes, which doesn't work out as is usual in contemporary. Much of the book was cliched from that perspective, but it read easily, was cute, and made sense as most people that age go through very similar experiences. The reveal was not that big of a plot point, occuring in the last fourth of the book and getting dealt with pretty easily. No one really ostracizes her, and the hate comments never really seem to phase her. I appreciated that aspect because often the main character gets overwrought and has to be pushed to continue, but in this case, it fit her character more that she had to make others realize why she ahd to continue despite the unpleasantness.
Overall, pretty enjoyable summer contemporary read.
Side note: this book felt perfectly written to become a movie. From the makeover to the feisty best friend to the mocking of the prude adults in the cafe when Jorge and Phoebe go on a date, it all seems written like movie scenes.

<i>A free e-copy of this book was provided in advance of publication by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review</i>

4.5 stars!

I loved this book! It's so sex positive and I feel like everyone between the ages of 16 and 18 should give it a read. I would compare it with the Netflix show- Sex Education, since it does teach us about the topic to some extent.

Plot:
Love the plot- it's actually what drew me to the book! I have a thing for anonymous stuff. Add that to the unconventional topic picked up, and that makes the plot 10/10! And the fact that the love interest actually wasn't who I thought it would be- amazing.
My only complaint was that the ending wasn't very realistic- I mean her parents being okay with everything, especially after how they had been portrayed, so yeah.

Characters:
I actually loved to love the characters that were supposed to be loved and hated to hate the characters that were supposed to be hated. No complaints there either!

Writing Style:
This was another plus and no complaints here either, except Phoebe felt like someone who wasn't 17 sometimes, but that can be overlooked!

Definitely a must-read!

Not even halfway through, I preordered a physical copy of this book because I loved it so much. As someone who went to a VERY religious and conservative school K-12, I appreciated THE HELL out of this book. I wish Pom’s blog was real and around when I was in school and told I’d go to hell if I had sex before marriage plus a whole barrage of other horrible things at school. Phoebe was AMAZING. I just loved her. She was strong and fierce and intelligent. Lydia, as awful and abhorrent as she was, was written so well. She’s legitimately terrifying because we know there are people in the world with those rigid, backwards beliefs. Also, this book was so funny. The football incident had me cackling and Cora distracting the librarian for Phoebe was amazing. And JORGE. What a man. Bless him and his garden. I also liked the tension between Phoebe’s parents about Lydia and working with her. That was an interesting look at complicity. This was not only a good book, this is an important book, especially with what’s happening in our world right now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is an absolute must read. I struggle writing reviews because I don’t want to give anything away, but please read this. I could not put this book down and think that most everyone can take something from this. Love love love!!!

Phoebe Townsend is your average high school teen. She has a fairly good relationship with her parents, is on top of her school work, and she loves writing, especially for the school's newspaper. But there's one more aspect to Phoebe that no one knows: she runs an anonymous blog and Twitter account all about sex.

But it's not quite what it appears to be. Phoebe is just naturally curious and loves research, so her blog posts just happen to be about all the things she learns (which is ALWAYS backed up with citations and unbiased sources!).

So what happens when the town mayoral candidate, Lydia Brookhurst (former beauty queen and outraged citizen), discovers that the author of this "scandelous" blog actually lives in their own town? It becomes a battleground between truth and misinformation, personal opinions and desires and facts. Will Phoebe manage to get through it all unscathed and maybe manage to also inform some of her peers while she's at it?

What I enjoyed:
- The writing overall was really well done and fast-paced.
- There was not any point when I found myself bored or felt that the storyline was dragging. Something was always happening!
- As a current junior high librarian working and living in a very politically-charged environment, I appreciated that so much of this book covered what feels like is my every day life. These are the conversations I'm having with parents, adults, other teachers, and kids. I felt like the content of this book was riduculously relevant, and I love how Julia Walton just calls it out for what it is.
- There were some hilarious laugh-out-loud moments especially in the first half of the book and I really enjoyed those moments (all the awkward teenage sort of stuff).

What I didn't enjoy:
- There wasn't anything I really didn't enjoy. The only downside to this one was that I felt it would be best suited in a high school setting and definitely a must-buy purchase for a public library! As a middle level public school librarian, I don't think it would be the best fit that I was hoping for (there is one particular scene that, while not too explicit, is still detailed enough that it would likely be hard to keep it in our library at this level).

Overall:
I really enjoyed this read. The first parts had me laughing out loud and trying to stay a little more quiet in public settings (those are the best kinds of books!). I enjoyed Phoebe's character and her desire to stick with the truth, even when it got hard. I loved the elements of romance that were incorporated, but Walton wasn't at all too heavy handed with those aspects. I especially loved the education approach to sex, how matter-of-fact it was, how informative it was, and how it essentially did everything that Phoebe's own blog set out to do. I think this would be a beneficial and straight forward read for any teen looking to find out more or to ask questions but through a fiction outlet, one that allows them to learn without embarrassment or judgment. I think for adults who enjoy solid YA realistic fiction (with some laughs!), you'll find a good one here!

A big thank you to Random House Children's / Random House Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the e-ARC! This one publishes August 23, 2023!

I really enjoyed this book! So brave and so needed.. I wish this book had been around when I was a teenager.

Phoebe, a quiet, unassuming high school junior, has a secret life as Pom, the anonymous writer of a sex education blog. When a local politician makes it her mission to unmask Pom and get the blog taken down, <i>The Circle in the Square</i> goes viral. With everyone knowing about the blog, searching for the blogger, and debating the ethics of the case, it is just a matter of time before Phoebe is unmasked.

I found the book very predictable, but for me at least, that isn't a reason to stop reading. Of course Phoebe will get found out. Of course there will be repercussions and shaming. The best part <spoiler>was the way that her family and friends rallied around her. </spoiler> I don't typically like love triangles, but the "triangle with Neal, Jorge, and Phoebe felt a bit more realistic. Phoebe discovered that she didn't actually know Neal, and what she liked was the idea of him more than the reality. That's certainly how most of my high school crushes went! That aspect felt very realistic. Phoebe chooses to let go of her idea of Neal in favor of who Jorge actually is and what their relationship could be.

Phoebe is the shy girl. The one that turns red when someone says anything remotely embarrassing. But she loves her best friend Cora and loves working on the school newspaper. Oh yes, she also loves secretly writing on her sex education blog. She helps teens where public schools fail them. So when the blog goes viral, not everyone loves it—especially the purity crowd and their local leader, Lydia Brookhurst. Phoebe needs to stay anonymous while trying to bring Linda down.

Scientific studies have proven that abstinence-only education does not work. What Phoebe is doing is a great service to teenagers. Especially because sex education isn’t universal, and it’s poorly lacking in the US. I read a lot of YA. This one is very geared to the YA crowd, and I think readers will not only enjoy the story but find benefit in the various Q&A that Walton, through Phoebe, incorporated into the book. This story includes many real-world issues as well, and on the whole, it’s going to help a lot of readers. Thank you, Random House Children’s, for sending this along.

The cover art for this is perfect! It immediately drew me (I do find myself judging books by their covers, which is an outdated saying since there are so many wonderful artists expressing their work these days). This book touches upon some very relevant topics such as censorship, racism, and sexism. Phoebe is a very relatable character, and I found myself rooting for her the whole book! I didn't foresee how her love triangle between Neil and Jorge would unravel, and was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering when "Pom" would be found out. The character of Lydia Brookhurst is also someone everyone likely knows. Hypocritical, and uses religious tomes to spread misinformation to rally the masses. I think this book in and of itself would be a wonderful addition to any teen or young adult section in public library, but as I used to work in a public library in the South, sadly I can say that I'm not even sure they would purchase this book because they are so behind in the times and worried about people exactly like Lydia Brookhurst. Luckily, I am friends with several of the collection development committee members, so I will definitely be discussing why this book would be amazing to add to their collections. This book reminded me of the movie Easy A, which had a strong message, but comedic elements as well. I devoured the book in a weekend, and can't wait to read more of Julia Walton!

I thought this book was extremely timely. It looks at small town politics and sex education in American schools. I felt the topics were well handled, nothing felt gratuitous. I think this book would serve teenagers well, especially those who need this sort of education and understanding.

This was a quick and lovely read, though somewhat antquated in terms of community beliefs. The main character is just interesting enough to keep reading. Some of the other characters were a bit cliche but still fun to read.

3.4⭐️

A huge thank you to Penguin Random House International for the e-ARC in exchange for the honest review.

Phoebe, 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. She’s not a pervert she just want to talk about sex education. She also don’t want to reveal herself because of privacy especially like Ms. Brookhurst who’s against her blog. Cora was really into Pom’s blog but she doesn’t know that her best friend was behind that blog.

Mrs. Brookhurst, from the beginning she was against in Pom’s blog. She was saying that this Pom was a pervert. When one of the council member said that she can blocked the blog she knows that but she was concern for the young viewer. Mrs. Brookhurst was so annoying she always complains on twitter.
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Great book….schools need more literature like this on the shelves. Love the way so many topics are handled with class.

Sex Positive, informative, hilarious. I don’t know what it is about Walton’s writing, but I become utterly absorbed. There’s something about lowkey feeling like the main character as you’re reading because she doesn’t spend a ton of time describing our narrator. I love that it allows me to immerse myself more easily in the story. I loved Phoebe, I loved that she stood up for what she believed in. I love that she promoted sex education and that there were supportive adults in her life. I was indifferent about the mayoral race side plot, but I understand why it was included. I found this book extremely engaging and relevant to todays teens, and I can’t wait to recommend it to my students!