S.E.X., second edition: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties

The most popular sex and relationships guide written for teens and young adults out there, S.E.X. tackles everything they want to know about sex, from consent, safe sex, emotional health and more.

As a teen or emerging adult, dealing with all the changes going on in your life, body, and mind can be mighty overwhelming. When it comes to sex, everyone seems to have strong feelings and opinions about who you should be and what you should (shouldn’t) do. How do you decide who to listen to? Heather Corinna and Scarleteen have provided sex education and information to millions of young people, parents, and mentors since 1998; S.E.X. tackles all the big topics:

• Self-image and how to find and claim your own sexual self
• How to best protect and support your sexual and emotional health
• Sorting out gender and sexual identities, even when they’re complicated and confusing
• The latest on contraceptive methods and other reproductive choices, sexually transmitted infections, and safer sex
• Finding, creating, and managing healthy and happy relationships
• How to set and respect limits and boundaries, and rock consent
• Identifying, preventing, or healing from abuse or assault
• …and much more.

Whatever your gender or sexual identity, whether you’ve already been actively exploring your sexuality or are only just getting curious, S.E.X clearly spells out what you need and want to know–no shame, no judgement, just comprehensive and accurate info in a clear, straightforward language.

Some praise for S.E.X.

“The best book about sex and sexuality: It covers everything from puberty to sex to social and emotional health. It also addresses more complicated issues such as relationship dynamics as well as topics around sexual abuse. S.E.X. is also an excellent text for LGBTQ+ teens, as it covers sexual and gender identity and outlines different ways of being physically intimate, from kissing to anal and vaginal intercourse.” – The 10 Best Books About Adolescence, According to Psychologists, New York Magazine, March 2019

“In high school and college, the bible is Heather Corinna’s S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties. – Peggy Orenstein, Goop

“Not only would my own adolescence have been vastly less painful and confusing if I’d had access to the accurate, comprehensive, and above all nonjudgmental information that Heather Corinna so carefully provides, but S.E.X. is, literally, a lifesaving book: Corinna’s vast commonsense wisdom–especially on topics relating to gender roles, queer sexuality, and gender identities–has the potential to improve the physical and emotional health of anyone who reads it, and to help heal our culture’s unhealthy, conflicted approaches to sex, sexuality, and gender.” – Lisa Jervis, Bitch magazine co-founder

“I think this is the most comprehensive, honest sex-ed book I have ever seen.” – Carol Schramm, First Thursday Book Reviews

“The book that I like most for high school kids is by Heather Corinna: S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-to-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and College. It’s very straightforward and provides lots and lots of information, but it talks about how that particular information relates to relationship issues or values or communication issues. That’s what kids need more than anything.” – Deborah Roffman, author, Sex and Sensibility and Talk to Me First: Everything You Need to Know to Become Your Kids’ ‘Go-To’ Person About Sex.

“S.E.X. is a positive and informative all-embracing guide to sexuality by a dedicated author. Heather Corinna challenges adolescents and young adults alike to be proactive in owning their sexuality by being true to themselves, all the while laying the foundation of knowledge and acceptance key factors for the development of a healthy sexuality.”– Dr. Lynn Ponton, author, The Sex Lives of Teenagers

“Wow. This book has been so useful to me as a consent educator on a college campus! I constantly refer students to this book for honest, shame-free, empowering, and accurate information surrounding questions of sex, sexual orientation, and negotiating boundaries. Corinna skillfully walks the readers through their questions as they apply to real lives, including sections to correct myths, discuss ideas that may be new, affirm identity and autonomy, and challenge readers to move towards healthier lives. Infused into every sentence is the empowering knowledge that the reader deserves to control their own body. At the core, this book is about agency. I can see the positive impact this book is making on the individuals I mentor.” – Janelle Hall

“Sexpert Heather Corinna is the big sis you wish you’d had when you were a confused, pimply teen. Better late than never: S.E.X. gives you the lowdown on gettin’ down without talking down to you. Corinna’s had a lot of practice as the impassioned empowering voice behind the straight-up, sex-ed-for-teens site scarleteen.com. Geared towards 16-22-year-olds of any gender, S.E.X. covers the niuts and bolts of anatomy in a tone that’s conversational, not cutesy. There is also plenty of value for old dawgs (like the checklist of unhealthy post-breakup behavior). In a segment titled “Ten Bodacious Ways to Boost Body Image,” Corinna put such a compelling spin on “looks aren’t everything” that I felt my eyes tearing up. But it’s [their] holistic approach and deft handling of other heavy topics, from eating disorders to abuse, that make this book a must-read.”– Bust Magazine

THIS BOOK IS GREAT. It is trans and queer inclusive which, as someone who’s been trying to help gather resources for that community on my college campus was a godsend. Especially with a website that we can possibly link our students to. Honestly the best and most encompassing sex-ed resource I have come across. – Amazon customer

“Corinna has put together a blockbuster of a book for young people dealing with sex and relationships. Much like the authors of Our Bodies, Ourselves and its spinoffs, Corinna answers every possible question teens and young adults could have about virginity, puberty, pregnancy, body image, masturbation, sexual identity, the variety of relationships, and the mechanics of partnered sex. She also addresses topics that are often overlooked, e.g., transgender and inter[sex] identities, realistic teen relationship management skills, and pornography. An excellent resource for preteens, teens, young adults, and people working with these populations; highly recommended for most libraries.” – Deborah Bigelow, Library Journal

“Talking to teens about sexuality can be really challenging. Our children are counting on us for information and guidance, but human bodies – and human relationships – are complex. It’s hard to knowing when to bring things up, how much to share, and what exactly to talk about. That’s why I’m so grateful for this amazing book by Heather Corinna. In addition to giving clear, complete information about puberty and sexual anatomy, Corinna addresses the psychological and emotional concerns of young people with warmth and care. Variations in sexual anatomy, sexual desire, sexual orientation are gender are covered comprehensively, with repeated reminders that there’s no one right way to be “normal.” Corinna isn’t afraid to address challenging topics like sexual assault and pornography, and makes a point to repeatedly emphasize the importance of consent and pleasure in healthy relationships…I can’t think of a better resource for learning about sexuality, and I encourage you to check it out!” – Christopher Pepper

“This is another groundbreaking book.” –  Seattle Post-Intelligencer