I could not get into this book, ultimately it was not form me and I could not finish it. It may be one for other readers

Despite being the proud owner of a vagina myself, there was a hell of a lot I didn’t know about it. Plus, some of the stuff I did know or see being sold to me, I realised was total BS. This Is How You Vagina is the ultimate guide to everything truthful you need to know.

The book is fun and easy to read in parts, with lots of diagrams. However, it is a bit heavy on the explanation in other parts. That makes it a bit more taxing to read, but really explains the different topic from a scientific point of view. A pet peeve of mine is when someone gives medical advice with no comedy behind it. I love knowing the exact why, and this book offers it.

Unexpectedly, there is also a lot on the history of the vagina. You would not believe what this organ has to endure over the years. It’s also interesting to see there are still some negative opinions that stick with us today.

This was a really informative and useful book, about all things vaginas. This would be great reading for young adults who perhaps are too embarrassed to ask some of these questions, or don't get provided enough information during sex-ed at school. Even as a 30-something woman, there was a lot in here that was new for me and I felt that I'd gained a lot by the end of it. Thanks Dr Nicole!

"The history, mystery, and majesty of the most fascinating organ

In This is How You Vagina, Dr. Nicole Williams presents readers with a much-needed education on the history, science, and attitudes of the most fascinating and misunderstood part of the female anatomy: the vagina. She covers valuable information about sexual function, childbirth, and physiology and provides answers to her patients’ (and probably your) most asked questions. She matter-of-factly dispels the most common myths and misinformation concerning female genitalia, including—

• No, your vagina doesn’t need steaming

• Those panty liners are unnecessary—your vagina needs to breathe

• It’s actually perfectly normal for your vagina to have an odor—consider it your personal brand

This book is an easy-to-understand guide, complete with illustrations, for women to explore and understand their vaginas in a way they never have before. You will learn what's normal and what's not, including that, yes, yours is most certainly normal too.

This is How You Vagina is essential reading for anyone who is looking to better understand the form and function of this most majestic and fascinating organ."

Every girl should read this book. Like in school or given by their parents. It's witty and informative. What more could a woman ask for?

An informative book and important for all to read. I found the format would work best in a hard copy rather than on kindle.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy.

There was real promise with this book. The history side was fantastic, but there were some strange elements (controlling the weight of a baby in the womb?) that really let this down for me.

One of the best books I've ever read. All the history of the vagina, vulva and women's reproduction organs that you wish you got told about before. Breaking down myths and taboos, this book has made me feel empowered and confident in my knowledge.

I'm not usually a nonfiction reader but this book, and cover, caught my eye! It was a humorous take on scientific information and I definitely learned something new. Even if nonfiction isn't your preferred genre this book was easy to read and helpful!

Thank you #Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review of #ThisisHowYouVagina.

Really informative book, and well written.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Such an informative book about vagina! At first, I thought I was getting some education on vagina health from Dr. Williams. It’s always good to have more knowledge on how to take care of your vagina, right? The more I read on, the more I realized vagina is closed related to societal issues we have today. I enjoyed her insight (and her writing) on many aspects of vagina and how to better take care of it. It is quite a quick read for anyone who wants to expand their knowledge on vagina!

Thank you to Netgalley and Greenleaf Book Group for giving me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I found most of the information about vaginas helpful. The comedy and “history” not so much. It was not correct and perpetuated negative stereotypes and at times false information.

This book feels like it should be taught in public sex ed classes! There is so much that vagina owners dont know or understand about their bodies and this book helps fill in some of those gaps in a vert comforting way.

Everything you wanted to know about your lady parts & more! Dr. Williams describes and answers anything you might have wondered about your vagina. This includes why many still do not use the proper term. She describes the parts, functions and aging process. Myths will be debunked, terminology today will take us back to the origin and we even get a lesson in sex toys (which btw have been around for centuries)

I found some useful info as I approach the dreaded menopausal years-which I learned in this book, that I shouldn’t dread it-it’s just a part of life!

The title says all you need to know about this book. I would recommend this to every woman out there, because no matter how much you think you know about your vagina, I guarantee that you'll pick up some useful information from this book anyway.

This was written in a clear non-scientific style, almost perfectly bridging the gap between the average woman and the medical jargon favoured by experts. There were a few instances of jargon-heavy explanations, but I felt that even a layperson could ultimately get the gist of what Dr. Williams was trying to explain. She also didn't use that slight (or not-so-slight) condescending tone that you encounter pretty often in this type of book.

The only downside to reading this book: I haven't been able to get the words 'wandering womb' out of my head for a month. But I'm laying the blame for that squarely with the ancient Greeks.

Dr Williams provides a lot of good scientific facts and informative graphics, so you really get a Vagina 101 session in this book! There was a really important discussion on racism towards the end of the book (rec just for that), and throughout Dr Williams does not shy away from difficult topics such as abuse or FGM.
Something that struck me several times was the stark differences on what i know goes in maternity wards in my country (Portugal) and what Dr Williams describes - does the US got PT beat regarding obstetric care? mayhaps
There was clearly an attempt at inclusion of non-straight and non-cis experiences, which i appreciated, but this was still made mostly for a cis/straight audience. I really think a sensitivity reader would’ve elevated it: !especially! a trans one (i really hope “transgenderED” did not make it to final copy. cannot stress this enough). I read this back to back with Let’s Talk About Down There by Dr J Lincoln, and while it has other flaws, it was exquisite regarding LGBTQ+ inclusivity. But, I still highly recommend reading this one too.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

I was able to review This is How You Vagina All About Your Vajayjay and Why You Probably Shouldn't Call it That by Dr. Nicole Williams and Greenleaf Book Group for providing me with an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very detailed and interesting read. I was shocked at the amount of information I didn't know. Every woman should read this book.

This was an easy to read, informative book which is suitable for a broad range of ages.
It is full of valuable information that helps clear up misinformation that can be found on the internet, hence a great book for the teenagers in your life.

Thank you for this ARC.

I chose this book on Netgalley to challenge myself with a non-fiction book, and a science one even. Exactly the kind of reading I never do, even though I’m a big fan of science podcasts in general. I don’t have much comparison, but it did sustain my interest through and through, making it close to a page turner! The tone is friendly and matter-of-fact, not patronizing at all nor too chummy. I believe that getting the tone “just right” (like Goldilocks) is most important when a science writer tries to teach, convince and dispel some prejudices or popular myths, while avoiding that the reader feels pushed around or treated like a child.

As a 40-something woman, I should probably know all about my vagina, but the truth is, I don’t! Or more precisely, I knew the basics by Dr. Nicole Williams taught me quite a lot about my own body! Well, not my whole body. The author is very precise when she talks about vagina, and she doesn’t approximate it with the whole reproductive organs in general. That’s why the pregnancy and birth part is very light, which surprised me at the beginning. She’s also very much against calling it with endearing / coy terms like vajayjay, which I have a bit more difficulty in practice than in theory.

A huge benefit of the book is normalizing talking about vaginas at any season of life, without shame or embarrassment, while acknowledging that this organ is culturally loaded. She not only addresses the medical aspect, but she also talks about the cultural and racial ideas about vaginas (newsflash: old ideas were almost all very negative). She is very good at highlighting how vaginas can be all very different and that there is not one better than the others. She adresses a wide variety of topics including menopause as well as the recent passion for plastic surgery (alarming to me! I had no idea!). It should be a required reading from high-school on.

This Is How You Vagina: All About Your Vajayjay and Why You Probably Shouldn't Call It That

By Nicole E. Williams

The good things: packed with information but easy to read. Pretty much everything you'd want to know about why your vagina does what it does.

--There are diagrams and lists. Dr. Williams (no relation) answers questions ranging from silly to very serious. You'll learn about the historic origins of some ideas we still have. Turns out Gwyneth Paltrow and her vagina steaming would have been a big hit in ancient Egypt. The blending of clinical and popular information is great.

--The author gives easy tips for a happy, healthy vagina. These include ditching thongs and any cleansers other than gentle soap and water. Did you know Lysol used to be recommended for women to freshen up their vaginas? Yep. Eww.

The bad things: it bothers me when people anthropomorphize vaginas ad nauseum. Throughout the entire book we are told about what "she" likes and doesn't like. Who is "she"? Why, your vagina, of course. Weird.

--Dr. Williams misuses a few words but nothing outrageous and it's probably not even something most people would notice.

--The one thing that made me stop and question my sanity was her statement that Uncle Tom's Cabin is "a book on the defense of slavery." And she doesn't mean it contains characters who defend slavery, which is certainly true because the book presents the full spectrum of human feeling on slavery. She apparently means that Uncle Tom's Cabin--you know, the book many people credit with showing thousands of white Americans the evils of slavery and catalyzing abolition--defends slavery.

So read this book to learn about vaginas but maybe not to learn about literature. You'll have to read TIHYV to find out why it even came up in the first place.

I got my ebook free from Netgalley.

This book was a surprise - I approached it initially with interest but also a fair bit of hubris, in that i fully expected to already be familiar with everything the author was going to discuss about vaginas. As a long time learner in feminist issues and women's studies, I felt fairly well versed in the topic .. but I found quite a bit of new information! The author writes clearly, with a bit of humour, which made for an easily absorbed read. I found myself texting a few female friends at certain parts, to share what I'd just learned, which should speak for itself!