Top Books We Read in 2025

As this year comes to a close, we’re reflecting on all of the incredible books we’ve covered on the podcast and blog in 2025. We have learned a ton about sexuality, bodies, pleasure, and empowerment this year! In this post, we’ve selected five books that were amongst our favorites of 2025 that are well worth checking out.

1) Get It Out – Dr. Andréa Becker

First up, Get it Out by Andréa Becker discusses the politics of hysterectomy in the modern world. This book encourages readers to consider what it means to be able to choose to undergo a hysterectomy, especially in a country where abortion rights are limited, medical care is not a guaranteed right, and motherhood is often portrayed as the defining element of womanhood. The book includes an investigation into bodily autonomy, medical biases, and reproductive justice. Through interviews with 100 women, trans men, and nonbinary people (those who have had, want, or are considering a hysterectomy) the book exposes how medical systems often police who can control their own body and how. To learn more, read our interview with the author here.

2) Eve’s Blessing – Suzannah Weiss

Next, the book Eve’s Blessing challenges how women’s pain and pleasure have been historically misunderstood, discounted, or dismissed, and how this has led to modern-day inequalities surrounding gender, health, and pain. The book argues that so much of what society treats as “just normal” suffering could be reconceived as disconnection from pleasure. This book is a needed call to rethink what it means to feel good. Check out our Q&A with Suzannah about the book here.

3) The Period Brain – Dr. Sarah E. Hill

Despite nearly half of the population experiencing menstruation at some point in their lives, we know shockingly little about the effects of it. Even if we are amongst the fortunate who learn something about menstruation in our sexual health education, most of the information people receive is either surface level or inaccurate. The Period Brain presents a research-grounded exploration of the biological and psychological changes that occur throughout the menstrual cycle. To learn more, listen to our podcast episodes with Dr. Hill where we’ve covered how women’s brains change on their period and why we need better science on women’s sexual health.

4) Lustful Appetites – Dr. Rachel Hope Cleves

Lustful Appetites traces the historical connection between food, eroticism, and sensuality. As the title suggests, it explores how appetites have shaped human desire, taboos, and social norms. This book outlines everything from the historical background of restaurants as libido enhancers for French men, to the more modern day connections between food and eroticism. This book reminds us that sexuality is deeply embedded in culture, history, and everyday pleasures. We hosted Dr. Cleves on the podcast earlier this year, where we discussed the historical connection between food and sex.

5) Fluid – Mark Cusack

Sexuality isn’t fixed — it can shift over time or depending on the context. Fluid provides a kind, inclusive guide for anyone whose identity, desires, or attractions don’t fit neatly into narrow categories. The author explores sexual fluidity, bisexuality, multi-sexuality, asexuality, and gender fluidity, while also recognizing that many people change over time. This book invites an open-minded view of sexuality and challenges rigid conceptualizations of attraction and identity. If you’re new to the concept of sexual fluidity, check out our two-part podcast series with Dr. Cusack about understanding sexual fluidity and the controversy surrounding it.

The Year in Review

Taken together, these books have taught us so much about how sexuality is deeply complex and multi-dimensional, encompassing history, biology, identity, pleasure, eroticism, and culture. These books have affirmed our belief that knowledge and education aren’t just informative, they’re essential tools for empowerment and agency.

We are thankful for such an incredible year of learning, and look forward to reading more in the New Year ahead!

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