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dmalexander's review
5.0
Powerful, poignant, moving, nuanced, diverse, educational, fascinating, familiar! I could go on! This collection is a homecoming, in a way, for any bisexual person who has read LGBTQ+ literature and despaired at the invisibility and erasure of bisexual narratives. the diversity of experiences and voices collected here is excellent. This book is an education in the validity of bisexuality and in how essential it is that we continue to work towards visibility and acceptance. The balance between personal narratives, factual evidence and cultural criticism makes this a very accessible read. As an academic I can imagine both recommending this to students and gifting it to family and friends. A must read!
arrianne's review against another edition
5.0
This collection of short essays about experiences of being bisexual - including biphobia, bi erasure, the increased mental health and burden of violence faced by bisexuals, and its intersection with racism and other prejudice - is brilliant. And it’s not all about the bad things!
So many authentic, beautifully expressed stories and perspectives of bisexual people. Bisexual or not, you should read it.
I am delighted there’s a second volume.
So many authentic, beautifully expressed stories and perspectives of bisexual people. Bisexual or not, you should read it.
I am delighted there’s a second volume.
jodierose14's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts
jewelleryjen's review
5.0
I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the eye opening and heartfelt accounts of life as a Bi person. My favourite was FML - Fix My Life which was heart breaking but left me feeling hopeful with tears in my eyes at the end. The vast difference in writing styles are balanced out by each one being so captivating. From the scholarly with many references to the many purely personal experiences.
A great collection of essays, I'm looking forward to reading more.
A great collection of essays, I'm looking forward to reading more.
lbcecil's review
5.0
Such an amazing collection of personal essays. So moving and educative. It also features essays from a wide-range of bi people, including POC, trans people and non-binary people, and discusses many important issues, including sexual assault, chronic illness, privilege, representation, gender, self-harm and suicidal ideation. There's trigger warnings in the introduction.
My favourite essays are:
- Five Times I Felt Invisible as a Bisexual Fan (And One Time I Didn't)
- A Place to 'B'
- Girlfriend Wanted: Bisexuals Need Not Apply
- On Bisexual Representation in LGBTQ+ History
- Revelations: On Sex, Sexuality and Religion
Definitely a must read if you're bi!
My favourite essays are:
- Five Times I Felt Invisible as a Bisexual Fan (And One Time I Didn't)
- A Place to 'B'
- Girlfriend Wanted: Bisexuals Need Not Apply
- On Bisexual Representation in LGBTQ+ History
- Revelations: On Sex, Sexuality and Religion
Definitely a must read if you're bi!
booksinblossom's review against another edition
5.0
In these short personal essays bi/pan people share their stories, helping our voices to be heard and our identities to be seen. This intersectional selection show the variety and diversity of a sexual identity that is often erased.
From the first page I knew this book would have a powerful impact on me. I realized how much I needed to read these stories, experiences and quests for self-discovery to put my own feelings into fitting words. Personally, I struggled to realize and understand same-sex attraction in a heteronormative world. For too long, I sat on the side-lines, and didn’t consider myself part of the LGBTQ+ community. I felt like an outsider, didn’t fit into heteronormative society norms and the idea of a ‘right’ or ‘ideal’ type of LGBTQ+ identity.
This book is very empowering. I feel relieved that I can still retain my own sexual identity, regardless of the gender of my future partner(s). Because their gender doesn’t make a difference in how I feel. Unfortunately, it sometimes makes a difference in how other people will react to my feelings.
Important note: The focus on the label bisexuality instead of pansexuality could annoy a lot of people. Because if you define ‘bi’ as being attracted to both women and men than it implies exclusion. For me and many others, bi means being attracted to ‘the same gender as yourself, and others’.
From the first page I knew this book would have a powerful impact on me. I realized how much I needed to read these stories, experiences and quests for self-discovery to put my own feelings into fitting words. Personally, I struggled to realize and understand same-sex attraction in a heteronormative world. For too long, I sat on the side-lines, and didn’t consider myself part of the LGBTQ+ community. I felt like an outsider, didn’t fit into heteronormative society norms and the idea of a ‘right’ or ‘ideal’ type of LGBTQ+ identity.
This book is very empowering. I feel relieved that I can still retain my own sexual identity, regardless of the gender of my future partner(s). Because their gender doesn’t make a difference in how I feel. Unfortunately, it sometimes makes a difference in how other people will react to my feelings.
Important note: The focus on the label bisexuality instead of pansexuality could annoy a lot of people. Because if you define ‘bi’ as being attracted to both women and men than it implies exclusion. For me and many others, bi means being attracted to ‘the same gender as yourself, and others’.
lauraisreading's review
3.0
Easy read, with some interesting points made throughout the book. The strength of this book does not lie in the writing, which is often rambly and incoherent, but in showing the versatility of bisexual experiences.