I recently had time to read this book by Jaclyn Friedman, “What You Really Really Want”. I didn’t know what to expect, aside from loving her previous work, but I was pleasantly surprised by the creative and interactive guide to learning about how parents, religion and popular culture help shape our sexual identities.

There’s a journal aspect to this book that absolutely blew me away. Of course, learning and questioning about our sexual desires is very difficult work, but the journal prompts were deep, insightful and many were fun to do. I enjoy how this book can hold you accountable to not only reading the chapters, but figuring out exactly what is applicable to your life, and how you can improve or understand something better for your own experience.

Friedman’s writing style is young and modern, and at times made me laugh out loud. I felt like I was having a conversation with a close friend who really just wanted the best for me. She tells it like it is, and owns up to saying that this book is not a one-size-fits-all, but that it hopefully will guide some questioning and self-reflection that can be useful to everyone.

Overall, I really appreciated this book, I adored the creative journal prompts and I enjoyed Friedman’s writing style. I recommend this book to anyone who is trying to sift through their personal understanding of sexual identity, how to be satisfied, and how to develop an authentic sexual self.