Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not usually into self-help books but this is more than the self-indulgent clap-trap pap you see nowadays. There's plenty of inclusivity for all kinds of body shapes and gender identities all said in a very chatty tone as though you were in a room surrounded by people. However, I didn't finish this book having learned anything new and, as other reviewers have noted, this might work well for younger readers.

Three stars.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* never read a book like this before so this was an interesting read for sure! well worth the read.

This was a really great and interesting audiobook. I loved learning about not only female pleasure, but also better self-confidence techniques. I think there’s definitely a spot for this book for any gender because it opens the conversation about having great sex but also being respectful of diversity within the bedroom as well

This was a relentlessly positive (particularly body positive) guide to figuring out what you like sensually and sexually. The chapters on communication were well done and I liked how she gave models on different ways to talk about sometimes awkward or hard to bring up subjects. And while this seemed more female-oriented I picked up several good tips.

I really enjoyed this book! There were some times when I was not sure if this was more about the author or if it were a how-to guide to find pleasure. But other than that I really enjoyed it and will recommend it to friends!

3/5 stars

I really really liked the idea of this book, but I felt like a lot of it dragged on. I really appreciated the ways in which it was size-inclusive and that a lot of it focused on building a relationship with yourself instead of looking for external sexual validation. In the defense of this book, I spent a lot of time listening to it not at home (i.e. running errands) and so I wasn't able to do some of the exercises at the end of each chapter which I'm sure would have influenced my listening enjoyment.

Is the content of this book important and does it need to be written about- absolutely. Was Laura the right person to write about it- maybe not. I did not care for the writing style at all and the narrator made it even worse. Was it supposed to feel like a group of girlfriends getting together and snickering about sex, because it did. I just wasn’t into the vibe- pun not intended.

I appreciate what the author sets out to do in this book: educate sexual beings about the importance of pleasure and how to pragmatically achieve it. But the tone felt cheesy and kitschy, which the audiobook narrator definitely leaned into. This necessarily isn't a bad thing, as the narrator did her job, but it didn't do it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC.
I found that Laura's approach to a subject that might seem uncomfortable to some people was honest and informative.
3 Stars

*Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC*

I enjoy books about sexuality and sex and this was no exception. I think this book is very informative and well written. I highly recommend to anyone who has intimacy issues or just curious about different aspects of sex.
I'll probably purchase the physical or ebook since there are some workbook exercises that accompany this book.

This is the book I would give to my daughter before she goes off to college. I read many books on how to say no and never could figure out. The way this book enforced into me that it is my choice to make, it just stuck. I could say no to my friends when I didn't want to go out. Not just to say no, but feel shame or timid when it comes to one's needs.

Thank you for the author for being vulnerable and writing this. This is worth a university education.

Wonderful sex-positive, body-positive/neutral musings and guidance.

Delarato is a breath of fresh air! Her POV is smart, funny and empowering, and she has a great voice for audio book narration. The focus on self-acceptance makes the book an interesting and necessary listen for a wide range of folks. Her personal stories intermingle with thorough research to build a trustworthy voice. She presents helpful info without being intimidating!

This book was great. It had lots of great info and resources. It was informative without being too much or making someone uncomfortable. Some of it was introductory but I figure if I learn a few new things than the read was definitely worth it. I did and it is! I definitely recommend!

Laura Delarato might be my new favorite person. This book is a journey of emotional and physical check-ins in regards to all things pleasure, sex and self esteem. I appreciated so much about this book I'm not really sure to begin.
Without dumping too much of my personal drama into this review, I will sum it up with I NEEDED this book. I read it at the perfect time, absorbed so much amazing advice and am so excited about the new perspective I have about pleasure, sex and my body.
I plan to purchase this book to flip through whenever I need the reminders. One downside to the audio book is it makes journaling, or writing while the author proposes questions a little harder. I did not take advantage of any of the writing prompts and I wish I had! Though pausing to make mental notes was helpful, I think the clarity of visualizing my thoughts/feelings on the page is something that will greatly help me in fully appreciating the wisdom in this book.

This book is phenomenally written. The author has a way with words that feels very professional while at the same time being kind, empathetic, and extremely human.

While yes, this book does talk a lot about sexual pleasure, all kinds of pleasures are covered. Forming a healthy relationship with yourself and your body is the message that is being sent, and the author guides the audience through the various ways we could do so.

I learned from this book everything I should have learned in health classes as a teen, various health facts that society had lied to me about, and reminded me to be loving and caring to myself.

My needs are important too. My pleasure is important too.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.

I loved this book. Laura Delarato did an incredible job of turning the conversation of pleasure into one full of inclusivity, warmth, and comfort. The writing was witty and it felt as if Delarato was one of my close friends talking to me about sex, body positivity, and pleasure. This may be a little weird but the vibe of Delarato's writing is a combination of Samantha from Sex and the City and Lorelai Gilmore from Gilmore Girls. I loved how fat inclusive this book was too! I learned so much.

My only suggestion is that there were so many parts that Delarato could've talked about sexual dysfunctions such as vaginismus, erectile dysfunction, etc.

I cannot wait to buy this book and have a physical copy for my library.

A grown up and modern day (and better in every sense of the word) version of The Care and Keeping of You! Honestly I usually love an audiobook but this is more a guided workbook and I’ll need the hard copy for the podcast rec alone. It’s a well researched and thought out book to help those new to understanding their sexual needs. Ms. Delarato is not a therapist or a relationship counselor but she is that friend you go to for all the good advice. That being said, with all the care she takes it doesn’t always feel incredibly intersectional but that’s ok! It’s meant to be broad and welcoming and I can see a lot of women identifying people learning a thing or two. I would say if you’re further on down your journey into pleasure there is nothing new here but it’s an excellent primer for those who don’t know HOW to talk about what they like.

I just finished reading Patrisse Khan-Cullors' book An Abolitionist's Handbook: 12 Steps to Changing Yourself and the World. Although My Pleasure is almost completely different in terms of subject matter, I found many similarities between the two. Namely, that it's a book you're not just supposed to passively read once and put away - rather, the authors encourage you to "do the work," reflect on your own life, and make change. You really won't get the most out of the book unless you're willing to think and be vulnerable.

In My Pleasure, Laura Delarato discusses three things: first, her experience as a fat woman (and a fat child/teenager) and her journey towards self-love and self-acceptance. Second, her life's research on sexual pleasure and sex, especially as it includes all bodies, all genders, and all sexualities. Third, a step-by-step guide on how to have your best sex life - not in the salacious way of this and that position to try, but in the realistic way of how to love yourself, how to understand your triggers, and how to have a good personal and sexual relationship with yourself and then others.

You really have to be in the right place and headspace in order to read this book. I usually like to listen to books as I'm cooking or cleaning, but this wasn't the kind of book that's well suited for that. You get more out of it if you're in a good, relaxed space, able to journal or reflect, and willing to give yourself time to digest difficult topics. It's therapy lite, and it's really useful as a foundation for anyone who wants to learn more about themselves and how their mind relates to sex.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for an advanced copy of the audiobook of My Pleasure by Laura Delarato. I requested this book as an aspiring sex therapist, anticipating that this would be a good resource for couples looking to deepen their practice of sexual freedom. What I got was a body-positive, sex-positive, trauma-informed audiobook that views humans as holistic beings. This audiobook encourages people of all ages, shapes, sizes, sexual orientations, and gender identities to fully embrace who they are and begin to prioritize their own wants and needs in life, including in the bedroom. This book provides strong rationale for putting ourselves and our pleasure first and offers practical ideas for exploring sexuality in solo-play or partnered-play scenarios. And Delarato's writing is downright witty and accessible! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to deepen the practice of self-love in all aspects of their lives.