There is nothing in here that I haven’t read or heard somewhere else, unfortunately. Also, maybe it was just my older kindle, but the formatting of this book made it very difficult to read.

I adored this novel! I have read it twice and the reminder to slow down is so needed in today's very masculine-based "go-go-go!" society. I've read before that even today we touch in with more feminine ways of being for the sake of masculinity, as in we go to yoga/meditate/rest (feminine) so that we can better go/do/work/achieve. That hit me hard and this book was such a sweet remedy for that. Slowing down for the sake of slowing down, not to be better and go faster later. I recommend this book to anyone but especially women who feel like they can't keep up and just want to slow down.
Thank you Euphemia Russel for your healing words of wisdom and beauty!

this was a case of 'it's not the book, it's me'. i read a few chapters but didn't feel like i was reading much new to me information and i didn't feel inclined to pick it up whenever i put it down. might try again at a later date .

This is not a sex manual--and that's a good thing! This is a much broader meditation, or even manifesto, about the nature of pleasure, connectedness (to ourselves and others), and joy. The author makes a strong case for rejecting our pervasive culture of "busy" and instead slowing way down and really examining ourselves and our desires in order to explore the full range of pleasure available to us as humans, both by/within ourselves and with others.

Of course, sex is a relevant topic and is discussed in a respectful and affirming tone (I especially appreciated the acknowledgment of the good that can come from mindfully chosen porn, as it's so typically demonized) but just as much time is devoted to how to intentionally create a life that leaves space for as much pleasure as possible, in all its wonderful forms. There are lots of useful exercises and reflection questions to help the reader really think through the concepts discussed. This would be a great read for new adults, but really anyone could benefit from thinking about how pleasure fits into their life and how to court more of it!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!