Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. And the relationship between Monique and her parents is one that’s pretty similar to mine so I related to her in that sense. Her journey toward recognizing her own value is hard-won, and her awareness of her own worth, when it comes, feels like a true victory. Vaginismus – is the body’s automatic reaction to the fear of some or all types of vaginal penetration.

After spending time in treatment with other young women like her—who cut, burn, poke, and otherwise hurt themselves—Charlie is released and takes a bus from the Twin Cities to Tucson to be closer to Mikey, a boy she "like-likes" but who had pined for Ellis instead. Joya Goffney really snapped with this one and it's a book that should be in the hands of every teenage girl. The love triangle aspect was interesting but I have to say, the contrast between Monique’s ex-boyfriend Dom and Reggie was a really interesting one and proves that people’s perceptions of others aren’t always accurate. There was strong Friendships, important topics covered, it was fun, humorous, a good dash of Romance, Mischief and a lil bit of Mayhem along the way! So, she unites with Sasha, a girl from her church and Reggie, the town’s bad boy, to cure her condition and win back Dom.I am always appreciative of sex-positive books in the YA lit canon, especially since so many alt-right groups are challenging books like these and trying to get them banned from libraries. As described in a note to readers, Monique’s story does much to raise awareness of vaginismus and directly confront toxic views about sex.

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources and Hot Key Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily. Monique is clearly very uncomfortable with some of the treatments her friends find for her, but she forces herself to do them anyway because she sees them as necessary for the heteronormative sex she desires. The flow was excellent from beginning to end and thought the arc of Monique, her parents, her friends, were well done.I had no idea this religious piece could be a cause, but I dealt with something similar (albeit less extreme) and it became apparent after I got married. Literally everything about Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl feels natural and I'm so happy about it. My mum has expressed to me her regrets for the way she parented me throughout the earlier stages of my life and though we have all grown and evolved, sometimes, unfortunately, those chages take place too late. 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. Safe spaces composed predominantly of Black women, discussions regarding sexual health education's importance, and tender, healthy depictions of romance that exhibit respect for personal boundaries populate this sex-positive read, a compassionate novel that encourages teens to prioritize the control, safety, and comfort of their own bodies.

The friendships and sisterhood shown in this book was so needed and I loved how by the end of this it wasn’t just focused on the romance but about curating an entire community.I’ve gushed in her inbox so many times about this book that she’s probably sick of me but thank you so much for such an important book.