Can We Talk About Consent?

I'm a psychotherapist (Rainbow Couch) and am in love with this book. It explains everything so clearly and respectfully. It manages to do all this without being condescending. Many of my clients have bought it on my recommendation - both teenagers and adults. Everyone who's read it raves about it and how it made them see things they hadn't realised before. It made me see things that I hadn't stopped to think about before and I thought I didn't need to read a book like this. It really makes you understand consent in a kind, compassionate and warm way. And the illustrations are gorgeous.

This book is such a clear and descriptive, but fun, tool for teens AND adults to learn from. The illustrations are so incredible too. Really highly recommend!

Excellently written, thoughtful and relevant for today's generation without patronising the reader plus brilliantly illustrated too. An absolute must read for all 14yr plus!

Fabulous book very informative and we'll written.

An important topic. As both general discussion and debatable topic, and specific look at an area that modern life means is uppermost in many minds, in popular culture and news.I was really impressed by the way the author broadens the scope of the book, not just with the silly focus on pizza (which does make sense in context), but leads to the most serious sections with wider examples and situations. Looking at how groups decide on cinema choices was a good way in, even if some of the example conversations his participants share seemed a little artificial and very much not how people talk to each other.The over-bright graphic novel colours and stylised art illustrations made this stand out - it didn't seem too 'young' but also was clearly for a young-ish audience. Lots of pages with simple thoughts, questions, short paragraphs contrasted with longer pages of text, with diverse characters and 'timeless' styles of settings and clothes didn't make this feel as though it was trying to be too contemporary and therefore soon to be out-of-date.It's chatty and informal while still making some fairly serious points and with proper terminology (agency, asexuality). It makes the reader comfortable with different options, showing non-judgmental attitudes towards different choices, and not shying away from the more mature topics covered.The 'sex' chapter is great. It really does give the reader a full picture of consent and sexual situations, and not just the obvious ones. The build-up with the ideas of giving consent all come together here and seem logical and are easy to follow.There are resources at the end with suggestions of websites and organisations to turn to for more information.This is a really good resource for secondary schools/teachers, parents of teenagers and young people working out what the 'rules' are.For ages 13 and above, as parents deem fit.With thanks to the publisher for the sample reading copy.

The book is not only about sexual consent but consent in all different manner of things. It starts asking you if you are happy to continue the book, which at first I laughed at but then the more the book goes on, I realised it’s actually a great way to get any young person who is reading the book, to understand consent is around so much in our everyday lives.There is a section on sexual consent, and it does warn you beforehand so you know whether you want to continue on, or skip that chapter.The author has written this book well, and uses pizza a lot as a reference, having to house from all the different pizzas on a menu etc. It sounds weird but makes sense when you read it!I’d recommend this to people looking to understand consent, or even like me, just wondering on how to talk about it with a child.

This book is such a valuable addition to the sex education library. I am 30, and I don't remember learning anything about consent past "only do things you feel comfortable with" which put all the emphasis on me. This book has so much going for it and I would recommend ANYONE who is embarking on sex education with their children picks this up.This isn't a manual on how to do it, and how not to get pregnant as most other books seem to be. With graphics explained through things such as picking a chocolate bar this explores all the nuances of sex and sexual experience while not confusing the message of what consent is.