BOOK REVIEW - Sex-O-S: The Tragicomic Adventure of an Italian Surviving the First Time by Gaia B Amman

Sex-O-S: The Tragicomic Adventure of an Italian Surviving the First Time

Author: Gaia B Amman

Genre: MG/YA Coming of Age

Publication Date: December 25th, 2017

Book Description:

Is strong-headed teen tomboy Leda ready for her first time?

Italy, the 90s. Leda is not a popular girl. Ecstatic to be dating the brooding bad boy she grew up with, she wonders if her relationship with the player will last… Is it love?

Leda learns to be strong and stand up for herself in the face of her insecurities, family expectations, and peer pressure. Surviving through high school, she will make plenty of mistakes but eventually will realize she is the one that has to love herself. 

Funny, moving, brutal, and emotional, this realistic first-time romance is recommended to adults and teens alike. Breathtaking Northern Italy—including Padua, Liguria, and the incredible Island of Elba—adds to the charm of this addictive book, empowering girls and women to become their brave true selves.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

Self-proclaimed tomboy Leda has certianly grown a lot since she was first introduced to us at the tender age of nine. As she journeys through her later teenage years, she learns that with age comes more responsibility - and more chances of making all the wrong decisions. A lot is changing for Lee and the people around her, and she's not sure she can keep up. When peer pressure starts to take its toll, Lee quickly learns that her expectations and the reality of her world are not seeing eye to eye. Trying to please everyone brings about insecurities that governs the decisions she makes and interferes with past and future relationships. Boys are still a mystery to Lee, especially her long time crush Nico the thug, and although they form a stronger bond and she gets a better understanding of why he is the way he is, her high expectations prove to be a constant stumbling block in their relationship.

I really enjoyed the way this book unfolded. There were some shocking moments and subject matters that I thought the author handled well, though I would have liked a deeper exploration into one or two issues, be it with Nico or Lee's family, but as short-lived as they were, they made me understand some of the characters a little better. I was a little surprised by the fact that many of the secondary characters - her family and high school friends - haven't changed much since the first book. It appears as if it's only Leda and Nico who are changing. Everyone else is as they were since book 1. Perhaps it's because we don't get to delve much into their backgrounds, but I had expected more of a growth with some of the characters. Still, I love how Lee handles the difficult situations she finds herself in. She has been portrayed as being very mature for her age, but there is still a naive innocence about her character that I appreciate. No matter how mature she thinks she is, she's still just a girl in the pursuit of happiness. What that happiness looks like, I don't even think Lee herself knows.

I am definitely looking forward to finding out how Lee's journey ends.

Award: Gold

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Source: Author