My favorite book so far of 2022. This one centers around teenage Phoebe, who anonymously writes a blog about sex that is aimed at teens. In it, answers all of the questions that everyone wants to know, but are too embarrassed to ask. While it is a wealth of information, some folks in her small town want to banish the blog and expose the writer as a pervert. SUCH a good story and with so many important facts thrown in. It's the type of book I wish I'd had as a teen, back when parents would rather avoid the topic of sex altogether.

Phoebe Townsend is your typical high schooler. Living in a small town in California, Phoebe is exposed to both closemindedness and the ever present reach for social change. However, when it comes to teenagers and sex education, no topic could be more taboo. Until Pom makes her debut with her blog, The Circle in the Square. The blog touts itself as a helpful guide for teenager that coaches understanding one's own body, how to stay safe and utilize boundaries when sexually active, and how to have mature communication with sexual partners. When word gets around that Pom actually resides in Phoebe's town, she starts to feel the walls of her anonymity caving it.

Then Lydia Brookhurst, a social and political conservative who is vying for mayordom of the town, begins a witch hunt for Pom, determined to bring the blog writer to task. Will Phoebe be able to continue her crusade for spreading sexual awareness to her woefully ill-informed peers? Or will Lydia tear her apart, with the whole world as witness?

I enjoyed this book. One, because I love the anonyms blogger aspect. It gives a layer of juiciness to the plot when there's a secret only the main character knows. Two, because Lydia Brookhurst is one of those characters you just love to hate. It's hard to find any redeeming quality in her, so there's no real question of whether or not she's truly awful. She just is. I will say the theme of a lack of sexual awareness might be a bit off. I think teenagers today are much more informed and empowered to make smarter decisions in regards to being safe and utilizing precautions. But I don't think it hurts to reiterate that point in this book. Ultimately, I thought it was a good book and I would definitely recommend it to older students.

Someone who grew up going to private schools with literally no education on our bodies and health, this book really hit home in a funny but painful way.
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This book is about a girl who secretly runs a blog where she informs about safe sex.
You should read it if you like:
- Sex positive books!
- Books about politics
- Fresh by Margot Wood

I enjoyed this. Loved the sex positive aspect of it and the whole safe sex blog. Also loved the love interest, BUT he was the only diverse ‘main character’, being Latino. I was expecting more representation. Especially LGBTQ+. 3.5 stars.

Rep:
- Latino love interest