Sex Positive

by Brooklyn Rose

The first in a sexy new adult college romance series, Sex Positive is about taking control of your own pleasure. Perfect for fans of Hannah Grace and Elle Kennedy.

She wants experience. He wants her.

College senior, Charlotte “Charlie” Rogers is so over abstinence-only sex education. She dreams of dismantling patriarchal shame-tactics and launching her own comprehensive sex education curriculum.

The only catch? She’s still a virgin.

Sex-positive Charlie has a secret: she’s never practiced what she preaches.

Enter Wesley Quinn: Archwood University’s resident playboy and Charlie’s best friend-turned-nemesis who broke her heart three years ago. When Charlie lies to a failed hookup she slept with Wes, he confronts her. In a moment of vulnerability, Charlie reveals her secret.

But then Wes offers to sleep with her for real.

Convincing herself it’s purely for experimental purposes, Charlie agrees. But soon, old emotions resurface, the line between physical attraction and something more begins to blur, and Charlie discovers Wes might not be the arrogant man she thought he was.

When Charlie’s dream of a sex positive sex education program is put at risk, she must decide whether she’s willing to lose her ultimate goal or let go of the heart-stopping connection she thought she’d lost forever.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance

412 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

Brooklyn Rose is a writer of romance stories full of sex positivity, female empowerment, and characters who are funny and opinionated but flawed.

Her passion and work for reproductive justice, sexual health, and the right to choose what to do with your body extends to her fictional romance as she strives to teach and encourage people how to advocate for themselves and their pleasure.

When she’s not writing, you can typically find her reading any kind of book (but specifically romance with strong female leads), going for a long run, or binge watching her latest TV obsession. Born and raised in Michigan, she currently lives in New Hampshire with her partner and an abundance of books.

Follow along for updates: instagram.com/brooklynrosewrites

Reviews

[Grace -thewritebooks]

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op

The RSE curriculum in the UK was updated in 2019... for the first time in 20 years. Relationship and Sex Education needs to be taken more seriously, particularly in an age of misinformation and rolling back of progressive legislation.
For me, this book was not only a fun romance between two people who genuinely care for one another and are doing their best to work together, but also a critical examination of the stigma and reluctance around sexual health conversations. I really want to applaud Rose for the passion that is so obviously behind this novel, and hope we see more romance work from her in future <3

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Okayyyy, it’s been a while since I read a genuinely good one on NetGalley.

I went into this expecting a cute, light read, but the author had other plans. They wanted readers to feel something. They wanted us to have an experience. There was so much intention woven into every part of this story, and I could feel it while reading.

The whole sex-lessons trope isn’t even a favorite of mine, but I really enjoyed how it was handled here. It felt natural, meaningful, and added so much to the characters’ growth and connection.

[Rosi Colmenares · Rating 5 out of 5]

For fans of:
College romance
Spicy lessons
It’s always been you
Frenemies to lovers
Golden retriever x black cat
He falls first

This book felt like a hug to my younger self. I picked it up expecting a fun college romance, and while it definitely delivered on that, it was also so much more. The conversations around sexual health, women’s rights, and the stigma that still exists around those topics were handled so well.

Charlie works at a sexual health clinic and is passionate about helping others, even though her work creates tension with her conservative family. When the clinic is threatened with closure, she ends up reconnecting with Quinn, a former friend she hasn’t fully forgiven. What starts as a deal between them quickly turns into something much more complicated. I really loved Charlie and Quinn together. The chemistry was there from the start, but what I enjoyed most was seeing them work through old hurt and learn how to trust each other again. Quinn was such a sweetheart and definitely gave golden retriever energy.

What stood out to me most was how personal this story felt. You can tell the author poured a lot of herself into these pages. The discussions about sex education never felt preachy or forced—they felt real, important, and naturally woven into the story. At the end of the day, this is a romance, but it’s also a story about finding your voice, challenging the beliefs you’ve grown up with, and learning that there’s no right timeline for figuring yourself out.

Such a strong debut, and I’m really excited to see what this author writes next.

[Ace · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a frustratingly LONG string of books which I liked but didn’t love, I was thrilled to finally review a genuine 5-star read that I loved right from the first page. I received a complimentary advance reader of this book (thank you to the author, btw) and for once I could not WAIT to share my thoughts about it.

I loved this book. LOVED IT. It was like reading Consent Porn, which should *absolutely* be a romance subgenre. Best of all—and this was wildly exciting to me—the male love interest GETS TESTED FOR STIs/STDs before starting a sexual relationship with the female main character, Charlie. Like, WHAT. I was in heaven with the way sexual heath education was built directly into this novel in the most natural way ever.

Before I write another word, though, I want to make it as clear as possible that this book is “Woke” with a capital W. And, because it is “woke”, that means it is chock full of information I wish I’d had growing up, back when my life choices were 100% guided by the editors of Cosmo Magazine, my fellow idiot teenage friends, and whatever bare bones information I got from sex ed classes, paired with the minimal women’s healthcare I could afford to seek out on my own. I was, to put it simply, the opposite of “woke”, i.e. NOT fully informed or “awake”.

For some people, I am aware that it feels like a personal attack (or morally wrong) to read a book that normalizes young women having access to medical information/treatment for their own bodies. If that is you, PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP THIS BOOK. The plot revolves around saving a clinic that offers sexual-related health care to members of the local community, including students at the local university. If this idea—or the idea of a sex-positive festival hosted in a park where the public can see it happening (including any children who could hypothetically walk by and see it)—makes you feel upset or uncomfortable in ANY WAY, then you will hate every moment of reading this, and it’s gonna be a bad time for everyone.

If you’ve read what I just wrote and thought, “Well, actually, it WOULD have been nice for me to have a safe space to go for sexual health checkups and general gynecological needs (such as overly heavy periods) when I was younger” AND you like angsty longing AND you like intelligent characters learning to speak up for themselves and advocate for their own needs AND you like people making damn sure they have *spoken* consent before crossing even one single line, then you may be the exact audience this book.

My absolute favorite aspect of this book was the way that the MMC asked the FMC for consent at literally every turn… AND HE MADE IT SUPER SEXY TO DO SO. Like, it was literally foreplay?? To which I say, “Amen!” Usually during romance novels that have a “teaching the innocent partner about sex” plots, it’s an older person (typically a man) dominating/ordering around the younger person (usually a woman) and telling her what to do in a really forceful way, like, “Stare in my eyes, don’t you DARE look away” etc.

I’ve never really loved that, and now I know why… after reading about a couple who actually just *communicated* as they learned/taught one another what they liked, I realized that for me, this was just totally **chef’s kiss**. 10/10 never going back to the “bossy silver fox” dynamic that I’ve never really loved (however, if that’s your happy place, please do not let my personal preferences “yuck” your “yum”!).

If this becomes a series, I will enthusiastically read the next book, and this is now officially the first romance book I will recommend to ANY woman in her 20s who asks me for a romance recommendation. Please, please, PLEASE can we get more informative yet steamy/entertaining books about sex and positive relationships published and out into the world!!!

PS: I read literally 100+ books per year, and I can’t remember the last time I felt this enthusiastic about an author, let alone a brand new debut author. 5 stars from me is a genuine 5 stars from a real, *very* picky expert reader who truly loved what she just read. My tastes may differ from yours, but this is not a fluff review in ANY way. This author deserves a MAJOR publishing deal (if that’s what she wants), because this book deserves to land in the hands of as many young women as possible. I hope BookTok discovers it and makes it go viral,

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting mix of steam, hard choices, and fighting for what you believe in.

Don't get me wrong, there was a lot of electrifying spice which I adored, but I didn't expect to also see so many important messages strewn across it. Besides the obvious ones in relation to sex itself (consent is unnegotiable, protection is important, access to sex-related healthcare should be available for everyone, sex ed helps people in more ways than one, etc.), there were some others that I really enjoyed like the fact that it's important to accept help, fight for your beliefs, and not let others rule your life. And, of course, fuck the patriarchy.

I think the author's notes both at the beginning and at the end definitely add value and show how passionate she is about sex education having a proper place in today's world's discourse. Couldn't agree more.

3rd person narration in the present tense is definitely a choice, but you can get used to anything, I guess, and in the end it didn't really bother me the way I thought it would.

When it comes to the characters, the tension between them and resulting chemistry was brilliant. They have good banter going on, being frenemies at first, and it's fun to see them getting closer and closer to each other once again, slowly learning what actually happened that drove them apart. Also, I really enjoyed the last chapter - beautiful casual intimacy of being an actual couple.

The plot connected to The Wild Rue was interesting to follow and I'm happy with what the drama of the last quarter finally resulted in. (no spoilers)

Now to the less enjoyable parts - I don't know if it's me suddenly not being able to read properly or were the descriptions actually confusing at times. I quite often couldn't tell what position they were in, where they were, or what time it was. Maybe it's something with the editing, maybe there were some small clues missing, or maybe I was distracted throughout the whole book. Hard to tell, honestly, but I'd like to believe I can read with understanding since this is my 76th book this year and I'm able to pick up the underlying themes.

Both Charlie’s and Wes’s behavior was sometimes simply annoying. I don't need to agree with everything they do to like them or want to read about them, but I feel like some things were just gritty or didn't fit with their personalities.
For example, Charlie was very contradictory, always lusting after Wes but keeping him at an arms-length, and okay, fine, that I get, a girl can be confused, but she comes across as very empathetic towards other people so I don't understand why there was a moment when she saw him in distress and her first instinct was to make it all about herself and close off.
And Wes, well, at first glance it just looks like he's trying to get into her pants by any means necessary which isn't a good look (it does improve with broader context much later), but what I disliked the most was the invasion of privacy - she told him the notebook was private so what the hell was he doing, snooping around for it? Plus his explanation of what happened years earlier was simply not good enough for me and too quickly turned into her feeling guilty over it. Doesn't add up if his feelings were what there were, in my opinion.

Also, and this one is something that boggles me, if they were the type of friends who confided in each other before, why hadn't they known about each other’s families? I'd think that if you share secrets with someone who makes you comfortable, that kind of stuff naturally comes up.

Overall, there's a lot of goodness here and the faults aren't really that big of a deal, especially if you don't tend to overanalyze everything like I do. If you're into college romances and want something to lift your spirits and deliver nice spice, this book's got your back.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for letting me read the ARC!

[Neu Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sex positive (but virginal) Charlie, blurts out the very worst name that she possibly could while a guy she’s trying to fob off, asks her if she’s ever even slept with anyone. Her former (definitely former) friend and crush – and university golden boy – Wes. After falling out years ago, the two have co-existed on the same campus, but have lost their easy friendship – so when Wes finds out what Charlie has said – he wants to know why. As these things go, a deal is struck – Wes will help Charlie out, and in turn she will tutor him so he can pass the LSATs for his overbearing Dad.

Oh, I really enjoyed this. I don’t tend to read a lot of college-based romances, but this sounded like it could be really good – and it was! For me, this combination of tropes really relies on two things – the chemistry between the two mc’s (obviously) and a semi-realistic reason why they are now back in each other’s orbit. The chemistry between Charlie and Wes is excellent – the banter is solid, the tension is there, and even though it’s told in a single POV, there are enough clues that you can tell that Wes is gone on Charlie (and has been for a long time!). There is also a decent amount of work by both characters to get their friendship back on track, so we get to see them slowly build toward the inevitable.

As for a plausible reason that Charlie would even entertain the deal – well honestly that’s where the book branches out from a more typical college romance for me, and really shines, with the examination of purity culture (specifically in American society) and the impact it has on those who grow up in it. Rose does an excellent job of conveying the tension of the belief systems you were raised in versus how you want to live your life, and how difficult it can be to move from one to the other. This is further highlighted by setting the story in a university – a location typically associated with growth and exploration.

While there is a little bit of dialogue that feels a teeny bit overwrought at times (but also! high emotions, so probably quite accurate) Sex Positive is a fun, spicy romance novel which has something to say. I thought it was great – definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op (Page & Vine) for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be honest, based on the title and the cover - while beautiful - I expected this to a be a cute, spicy, rom com with surface level depth. However, from the brief author’s note at the beginning, I began to think this book might be something different. I was so pleasantly surprised and impressed with the entire novel.

You can absolutely tell the love and passion the author put into this book. The author is very passionate about sex education and everything that falls under that umbrella. Her first had experience working at a Planned Parenthood was utilized for our FMCs base for developing her beliefs on positive sex education after growing up in a very strict, religious, abstinence only home. This book, at its core, is almost more of a politically charged statement at the state of sex education, women’s rights, and more and a romance book second. But it was written so well that it didn’t feel clinical or preachy, it felt so organic, with depth, and authentically written into Charlie’s life in such a clever way. The author should feel so proud to have accomplished such a well balanced novel between political statements and romance.

Unfortunately, my few qualms with the novel and why I couldn’t give it a more than 4 stars was Charlie and the mystery from freshmen year. Charlie is a wonderful character, very well written as far as understanding who she is, for the most part. However, in regard to how she looked at and treated her friendship with our MMC Wesley, it felt a bit inconsistent to me. The beginning was good - she was prickly and kept her distance until he started worming his way back in, and then it was like a flip of a switch. Her internal monologue didn’t match her actions in a way that didn’t make sense to me all that well. And regarding the history between our MCs during freshmen year, I felt like Charlie ended up putting way more fault on herself for what happened after the fact and there wasn’t enough put on Wesley for what happened in the first place and his lack of effort in making it right at the time. It just didn’t sit right with me.

Still a really excellent debut novel and I’m excited to read more from this author.

Thank you to Victory Editing, Brooklyn Rose, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

[Becka · Rating 5 out of 5]

College senior Charlotte "Charlie" Rogers is passionate about comprehensive, sex-positive education and dreams of creating a curriculum that ditches outdated, shame-filled abstinence-only teachings.

There's just one problem... she's still a virgin.

Charlie has spent years advocating for sex positivity without ever having sex herself. When a failed hookup assumes she's already slept with her former best friend turned nemesis, Wesley Quinn, Charlie goes along with the lie. But when Wes finds out, she ends up confessing the truth.

His solution? He offers to be her first.

What starts as an arrangement for "research purposes" quickly becomes something much more as old feelings resurface, past misunderstandings come to light, and Charlie starts to realize that maybe Wes isn't the guy she thought he was after all.

God, I loved this book.

I feel a little silly saying this considering the title, but this book was *so* much more sex positive than I expected. I thought it would use the topic as a hook and then fall into being just another college romance, but it didn't. The discussions around sex, consent, education, and removing shame were woven into every part of the story, and I absolutely loved that. It felt genuine and really added so much depth to the romance.

I also adored Wes and Charlie. Their banter was so much fun, and I loved all the tension between them. The flashbacks to their friendship made me even more invested, and watching them slowly rebuild that friendship before it turned into something more was honestly one of my favourite parts of the book. Their chemistry was amazing, and I couldn't stop rooting for them.

Was it predictable? Absolutely. But honestly, I didn't care. It was the kind of predictable where you know exactly what's going to happen and you're smiling the whole way there. Sometimes that's exactly what I want from a romance, and this delivered.

I genuinely don't think I can fault this book. My only complaint is that I wish it had been longer because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**Tropes:**
✨ Sex-positive romance
✨ College
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Best friends to enemies to lovers
✨ Lessons/teaching trope

[Shana kay Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sex Positive is a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance centered on Charlie and Quinn, two college friends whose relationship fractures after an unexplained fallout during their first year. Years later, they find themselves thrust back into each other’s orbit in a way that forces them to confront old wounds, unresolved tension, and feelings they never fully buried.

Charlie is a driven, academically focused young woman balancing her studies with work at a sexual health clinic. Her role involves educating people about safe sex practices, contraception, and reproductive health. While she is deeply committed to providing accessible care and support, her work creates serious strain within her conservative family, who disapprove of her career and view it as morally unacceptable. Despite this, Charlie remains steadfast in her belief that education and healthcare should not be limited by stigma or judgment.

The clinic itself becomes a central conflict in the story, as it faces the threat of closure. In an effort to save it, Charlie finds an unexpected ally in Quinn, who agrees to leverage his influencer friend’s social media reach to help secure sponsors and public support. In exchange, Charlie agrees to tutor Quinn for his LSAT preparation over three sessions. What begins as a transactional arrangement gradually becomes emotionally charged, as their tutoring sessions reopen old wounds and spark a new and complicated attraction.

As Charlie and Quinn spend more time together, the boundaries between professionalism, friendship, and desire begin to blur. Their evolving relationship explores themes of trust, personal growth, sexual agency, and the tension between societal expectations and individual autonomy.

At its core, Sex Positive is a story about reclaiming identity in the face of judgment and learning to define one’s own values rather than inheriting them from family or society. It will particularly resonate with readers who enjoy emotionally complex romance, slow-burn tension, and narratives that challenge traditional norms while still delivering heartfelt romantic payoff.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read, especially for women wanting to stand up for themselves. Charlie embodies what we all want: sexual freedom and empowerment. The freedom to choose for ourselves what is right for us. This book is essentially a guide to understanding yourself no matter who you are. It's a journey and a green light for sexual self discovery set in a romantic comedy. Charlie starts from where a lot of us do, raised under "purity culture" and taught she was less than for feeling human desires. I appreciate that this book is an outlet without bashing people who are still virgins and choose abstinence. In the books I've read before, it's one or the other, but this was a nice blend of both. I liked the subtle parallels in Wes and Charlie's stories: Charlie fighting to keep her clinic open and for the right to her own sexual liberation, and Wes fighting for his independence from his father and the right to forge his own path in life.

This book was a great read. The pacing was good, the plot was engaging, and the dialogue was hilarious. That being said, I didn't like what Wes said about Charlie when she was a freshman and how it was glossed over as soon as she brought it up. Wes says something totally out of line and rude to someone and Charlie hears it, Charlie doesn't speak to him for years and avoids him because it hurt her so deeply, Wes asks why she left and she tells him, he essentially says "I was a teenager and an asshole", she forgives him and they proceed to have sex. Aftereards he's like, "We could have been doing this for years." This seems like a complete disregard of the fact that what he said hurt her so much. I don't think it should have been so easy to move on and I especially don't think the conversation should have been followed by sex. However, that's just my opinion.

Overall, this was a great romantic comedy that also focuses on being yourself and doing your own thing. This book does discuss sex and have explicit content, so if you are sensitive to that, skip this one.

Thank you to Brooklyn Rose for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Euphonious Times · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley
Sex Positive is a college romance exploring themes surrounding sex education and bodily autonomy. Charlotte (Charlie) comes from a religious family whose views on sex are limited, at best. She’s remained a virgin, but only because she is looking to have a satisfying and rewarding experience and not because of any social constructs or limitations. She’s dedicated a lot of her time and energy into pursuing ventures that promote comprehensive sex education and a lot of the struggles she faces in the book are related to that. Wesley Quinn is the college resident playboy but he’s always been in awe of Charlie and supportive of her, even when she didn’t seem to think so. He ends up helping her with an ‘experiment’ where Charlie tries to discover her sexuality and what feels good.

I really enjoyed the premise of the book and the spotlight on the different issues surrounding living a sex positive life, especially in the current socio-political climate. Whilst these themes were present and addressed extensively, I found that the romance and the characters also shone through and the balance was there.

One thing that had me struggling was that for the better part of the book we were jumping from one moment to another very abruptly. I was also confused about how Charlie was so unwilling to be vulnerable with Quinn, yes she agreed to the experiment with him. I can kind of see what the idea was there but it didn’t come out very clearly through the writing. I was also a little disappointed that the conversation she overheard in their past (the trigger to them becoming estranged in the first place) wasn’t addressed more. She brought it up with him but he gave no explanation for what he said - to me, this feels unresolved as I am wondering if he really believed those things and, if so, that he is not the character I think he is, or he didn’t believe them but we have no understanding as to why he said them which leaves me with questions.

Overall I enjoyed reading this and I am happy with how everything worked out for them !

Thank you Victory Editing Co-Op and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Oh, don’t stop now. I love it when you talk dirty with big words.”

“She’s always thought that there’s a direct path to a persons soul through the books they love and that sharing them, baring the secrets of your heart, is a sign of trust.”

“Come on Charlie, don’t hold back on me.”

“Just like that, Roger’s, I want to hear you.”

✨✨✨

Thank you Brooklyn Rose and IRIS Influencer Society for gifting me an ARC of this book to review.

4.5 ⭐️

God I actually loved this one, and how it made me feel! It really surprised me, and I’m so so glad because it’s empowering, and sweet, funny, and I was just hooked.

✨ steamy college romance
✨ he falls first
✨ second chance romance
✨ self-discovery journey
✨ healthy relationship dynamic

Okay so this was such a surprising read for me, I wasn’t sure when I started as the talk surrounding Charlie’s job and her goals with sexual education were very US centric (which makes sense considering it’s set in the US and I’m in the UK) however it quickly became universally linked, and I saw a lot of the same issues we face here, and the same issues a lot of girls/women face too!

Charlie and Wes’s chemistry was adorable, honestly I was rooting for them from the get-go, and I felt their pain in the moments that they struggled. There was a little bit of what I suppose you could call miscommunication but honestly it wasn’t like a main element to the plot or them working their way back to being in each others lives.

I really felt so touched and empowered reading about Charlie’s journey and her struggles with working out how to express what she wanted, in more than just the bedroom, and I loved how Wes supported her through it all and gave her the courage and showed her her own power in so many aspects of her life.

No woman or girl should ever feel like they’re unable to say no, like they can’t tell their partner how to make them feel good, or be worried about asking how to make their partner feel good (like they’re already supposed to know) and this book reflects all of that and so much more!

[Malene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an ARC. This is my honest review.

Charlie grew up in a household that preached abstinence-only education, where sex was treated as something to avoid rather than understand. When she starts college and begins working at The Wild Rue—a center that provides sexual health information, safe sex education, and abortion services without judgment—her world begins to expand.

Inspired by what she learns, Charlie wants to create a sex education program that offers the kind of honest, comprehensive information she never had growing up. There’s just one small complication: she's still a virgin herself.
Deciding she should probably practice what she preaches, she sets out on a journey of self-discovery—and that's where Wesley Quinn enters the picture.

When I picked up Sex Positive, I expected a cute college romance similar to many others on the market. What I didn’t expect was a story that tackles such important and timely topics. Beneath the romance and spicy moments lies a meaningful exploration of sexual health, bodily autonomy, and the importance of informed choice.

This is an important story, especially at a time when increasingly conservative ideas about sexuality and reproductive rights are being pushed—often at the expense of women.
Brooklyn Rose delivers a clear message about the value of being sex-positive while still keeping the story engaging and entertaining.

At its heart, this is a story about finding yourself, questioning the beliefs you were raised with, and having the courage to stand by your own values. It's also a story about lost connections, personal growth, and a few very educational—and very spicy—lessons along the way.

If you're looking for a college romance with substance, humor, heart, and an important message, Sex Positive is definitely worth picking up.

[Readingwithkatiejane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & Victory Editing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

🌟 5
🌶️ 3

I genuinely really, really enjoyed this book!
The Title and the blurb caught my attention instantly! I thought I was in for just another cutesy romcom book and I was very much ready for it. This book far exceeded my expectations (or sexpectations🤣) and it was that and so much more.
I don't usually go for second chance/miscommunication trope romances but the way this one was written had me completing the book in a period of three hours. I just couldn't put it down!
I love a book with a fiercely intelligent fmc who isn't afraid to show her intelligence off!
I love Charlie and Wesley so much! It is adorable how well Wesley knows her and how he happily let's her rant.
The book is extremely informative and as the title says extremely sex positive! I love how it repeatedly talks about concent and how it can always be taken back even mid act. An important message for everyone to grasp no matter who is reading it.
It is not extremely spicy and that's why my spice rating is only a 3 but what spice there is, is steamy, fun, descriptive and well written.

Overall, it was an amazing read. I had lots of fun reading it. I love how informative it was without feeling too info dump-ish and whole there was some serious topics brought up there was still time for lighthearted romcom moments. I could easily see book this getting a movie deal one day.

I cannot wait to read more from Brooklyn Rose in the future. I haven't fallen in love with a books writing this fast since I read my first Ali Hazelwood book. 💕

[myworldsinpages · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars
Spice level: 3.5

Review of arc received from NetGalley.

Firstly, I think the cover is sooo cute

I really hate the virgin trope, so much, but it actually didn't bother me here. I was also a bit wary about the whole sex-lessons, playboy teaches the girl how to be intimate and falls in love in the process set up... but I actually really enjoyed it.

Quinn is supposed to be a playboy, yet he was doing none of the stereotypical, drinking, hook-ups, partying etc and I really liked that. It made him feel a lot more genuine and had me rooting for their relationship. When he finally confessed his feelings for her, I was actually touched and I loved it.

I loved the whole premise of this book. The characters had a lot of depth. There was a proper plot. I was rooting for the romance. I really hope there's another book.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book!




SPOILERS

Things that annoyed me:
- 37% in, they're in a bookstore.. and he's cracking the spines of books. If he plans to buy them, sure, I have no issue... but he's putting them back. I just thought that was really bad manners.

- 53% in, I really hate it when men can't communicate. It takes all of 10 seconds to send a quick text... instead, he stands her up, and gives her a pathetic excuse for ghosting her. I get he thought he could make the end of the event... but why not tell her that?? It's 2026, there's no way he didn't have his phone on him.

Am I petty for taking 0.5 stars away because of this? Maybe..but it lacked the automatic 5 star feeling for me, although it came very close. I don't do 0.25 stars, but if I did, I would mark it 4.75.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

DnF'd this at the 65% mark.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this book. The writing is fine, the plot is fine, the message is great even, but I was so bored reading this I just wanted to skip to the end.

Sex Positive (other than being a romance novel) preaches about the importance of sexual health, access to health care, and quality information on sexual health and wellbeing; all of which are incredibly important and clearly of immense value to the author. My issue with this is that the book felt like it was warring with itself and couldn't decide whether to be a fictional romance or a non-fiction sexual health guide.

All that Charlie (FMC) seems to care about in this book is sex; her lack of experience, her ambition for exploration in the field, and her desire for sex work, virginity, etc, to be destigmatised. Aside from sex, this girl doesn't seem to talk about anything else or have any other hobbies. The entire book focuses on sexual health and sexual exploration. We don't even get to see our couple meet and get to know one another. The book jumps straight into them being "enemies" with the hots for one another. So, whilst there isn't anything wrong with any of this, after reading the same message for 200+ pages, I just couldn't stomach anymore and decided to give up on finishing it. (No small feat as I DNF less than 5% of the books I start).

All of this is to say that the book wasn't "bad," but it was repetitive and dull (at least, in my opinion). While I agree wholeheartedly in what it had to say about the importance of sexual health care, awareness, consent, etc; I would have much preferred to read about that in a non-fiction format.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

3.75🌟

Friends to frenemies to friends to lovers. Spicy lessons!! A girl who knows what she wants and a guy who’s dealing with an overbearing and controlling father.

I get the girl was determined to hook up with Nash, but he seems like a douche. Charlie is a girl from a small town in Indiana who was taught purity culture and waiting for marriage. When she got to college, she learned about science and sex positivity. We love an advocate for women’s health and pleasure.


“ He bends down, his lips grazing her ear. “It’ll be just like old times,” he whispers. “We’re going to have so much fun.” That’s what she’s afraid of. “ - GAGGED. I’m giggling and so curious.

“ “Don’t mock me.” “I’m not.” He flashes a familiar affectionate smile. “I love it when you go off on your soapbox tangents. But you’re not normal.” “

“Eyes on me” cue screeching

He remembers her coffee order even 3 years later🥹

HE WEARS SLUTTY LITTLE GLASSES TOO?!😭

“I know what I do to you, Charlie.” Dipping his head, he brushes his mouth against the skin under her jaw, dragging his lips down her throat. She gasps, and he chuckles. “See?” He presses the pad of his thumb to her pulse point. “That right there. I can die happy, knowing I can make that happen.” Charlie presses her palms flat against his chest, gently pushing him back. “It’s a physiological response to a pleasing stimulus.” “Always so intelligent. It’s one of the thing I love most about you.” - CUE SCREECHING

"Fine, Rogers. Do you want me to tell you how I liked your face first, but then I fell in love with your brain?
How I liked your body, but I fell in love with that clever mouth and the confident way you speak your mind?

[Nicole Caligiuri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Victory Editing, for providing this digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary: Charlie is a college senior who’s passionate about creating better, more honest sex education, but there’s one problem: she’s never actually had sex herself. When her former best friend and longtime heartbreak, Wes, finds out, he offers to help her gain the experience she’s been missing. What starts as an arrangement quickly turns into something much more as old feelings come rushing back. Now Charlie has to figure out if chasing her dream is worth risking the connection she never really got over.

My Review: Honestly, I enjoyed this a lot more than I originally thought I would. The chemistry between Charlie and Wes was to die for; their banter was great, and I enjoyed all the little tropes in their story. I would’ve loved to read more about Wes, his aspirations, how he overcame his father’s controlling behaviors, and the life he wanted to create for himself with Charlie. But since the main focus of this book was sex education and Charlie’s mission to fix how it’s portrayed and taught, I understand why Wes’s storyline was on the back burner, which is completely fine. Though, tbh, I wish there was a little more to the plot than just the sex education efforts with Charlie. I did love all the details about her and Wes’s relationship and its growth, but more backstory between Charlie and Wes would’ve been nice too. Overall, this was cute but spicy and very insightful. So, period.

[Miranda Aucoin · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.7

Sex Positive was not only a great read, but you could feel how passionate the author is about sexual education, women’s health, and body autonomy! I really liked the premise of this book and the message Charlie Roger’s was spreading. I’m usually not one for a virgin trope but it was well executed in the grand scheme of things .

Charlie grew up with an abstinence based sex education, as I’m sure many of us did in the South similar to the Midwest. She is trying to break the stigma and teach people actual women’s health and sex positivity, while also trying to figure out her own body on her terms. Charlie was such a strong and feisty FMC with a purpose and a plan! Wesley Quinn wants the girl and will do whatever it takes to make it happen, even if that means giving up his dreams to help pursue hers.

I think the romance was okay but definitely felt like a background scene to the clinic and Charlie’s goal of saving it. Even after their realization of what actually transpired three years prior it still felt like something was missing in that aspect. And I felt her shutting him out after such a small one time infraction was a bit shocking, especially for a “naive” college freshman.

Overall Sex Positive is such a great read for NA and I can’t wait to see what Brooklyn Rose comes out with next!
Thank you to Victory Editing, for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐️ | 3.5/5🌶️

I wanted to love this more than I did. I mean I loved the sex positive and sexual education aspect of the book and I think everything around it should be highlighted. It’s a very important topic that should be treated as such and this book did a great job in showing that. I really enjoyed it.

Charlie was such a headstrong, dedicated, intelligent woman. I appreciate everything she tried to do to help with the clinic and just helping everyone around her. She was a great fmc!! Wesley, I loved him so much. He was so fun and charming. I’m glad he was able to find it in him to stick up for himself and what he wanted for his own future.

Wesley and Charlie were cute, I liked their romance and relationship. It was so sweet and I love a good (kind of) friends to lovers. I did feel like their romance wasn’t really as big of a focus though because of Charlie and the clinic and the storyline surrounding that. It felt very overshadowed that I just wasn’t as invested anymore around the 70-75% mark. I also didn’t like Charlie as much around the same time, she just irritated me a little when it came to the romance of the book.

Overall I did like the book though and will definitely be looking into other future books from Rose. The writing was good and enjoyable to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brooklyn Rose, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Nightowl_Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Victoria Editing NetGalley Co-op for an arc of this book.

I am so happy to say that this book was, and I’m sure will continue to be a very successful debut for Brooklyn Rose. It not only felt very relevant to what women are facing at present, but she also put her life experiences into it. It felt so real.

We follow Charlie, a college student who has left her religious family and has pursued her interest in sex education - working at a sexual health clinic, which is in danger of closing. Our first scene is of Charlie and a not-so-successful hook-up, and her observations for her “experiment”. She doesn’t want to admit to being a sex-positive virgin, so when asked, she tells her hook-up that she’s slept with Wes Quinn - her ex-best-friend-turned-nemesis. He catches wind of this, and so their story continues.

They strike up a deal - she can experiment with him in the bedroom if she tutors him for his LSAT.

I loved everything about this story, and how their past slowly unravels, though I’m not convinced that he did enough when she finally tells him why she cut him off all those years ago. Yes, he was sorry and felt awful, but for something that caused her to avoid him for years, it was swept under the rug a little too quickly.

Overall, really good writing, and I’m excited to read more from Brooklyn!

*College romance
*He falls first
*Second chance romance
*Strike up a deal

[Bookworld1984 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ Star Rating: 4
This book was uncomfortable in the best possible way. Emotional, politically charged and definitely not your typical romance, but that’s exactly what made it so compelling.

📚 Reading Type & Length
I read this as an ebook.
“I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.”
At 335 pages, the story had the perfect length to fully explore the emotions and conflicts without ever feeling dragged out.

📝 Review
“Sex Positive” feels like a quiet rebellion hiding a deeply emotional core.
At the center is a young woman struggling not only with her own insecurities and inexperience, but also with a political climate constantly trying to dictate how she should live and feel.
What hit me the hardest was the broken and tense friendship dynamic. You can constantly feel how much remains unsaid between the characters. The story thrives on emotion, frustration, longing and that painful process of figuring out who you really are.
The vibe feels intimate and rebellious at the same time. Soft in some moments, brutally raw in others. And while sexuality is a huge part of the story, the real heart of the book is personal growth and refusing to let yourself be silenced or diminished.

🚨 Tropes Alert 🚨
💔 Broken Friendship
🔥 Sexual Awakening
🗣️ Political & Social Conflict
🌱 Self Discovery
⚡ Emotional Tension
📚 Feminist Themes

🎯 Perfect for you if …
• you love emotional stories with social commentary
• character growth matters more to you than pure romance
• you enjoy books that feel vulnerable AND angry

⚠️ Probably not for you if …
• you expect a light and fluffy romance
• you dislike political or social themes in books
• you prefer fast paced, action heavy stories

[SynergyQuest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sex Positive by Brooklyn Rose was such an enjoyable read. Beyond its important message, it’s a genuinely engaging romance with well-developed characters and a relationship I found myself rooting for from beginning to end. I loved watching Charlie and Wes navigate their attraction, build trust, communicate openly, and grow together. Their chemistry felt authentic, and I appreciated that every stage of their relationship was given room to develop.

One aspect that especially resonated with me was the book’s emphasis on comprehensive sex education. My children attend a school with a program that covers topics like consent, contraception, oral sex, dental dams, healthy relationships, and communication, but I’m very aware that their school is the exception rather than the rule. Sex Positive thoughtfully highlights that reality and reinforces why accurate, judgment-free information is so important for young people.

This is a romance with substance. It delivers swoony moments while also encouraging meaningful conversations about communication, consent, healthy relationships, and making informed choices. I closed the book smiling, and I’d happily recommend it to readers looking for a romance that’s both entertaining and thoughtful.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[she’s a reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sex Positive by Brooklyn Rose was an incredible read, especially as a first book this author has had published. I am giving it a strong 3 stars, and it may be a me problem. I think this book was written well, but I would have LOVED seeing this as a first person instead of third person point of view. The topic throughout the book were important and sometimes heavy, so reading those feelings and conversations through each character's perspective I think would have grounded it a little. Wes and Charlie's chemistry was intense, and their banter was fun. I think it was nice to see a book where the FMC is in college as a virgin and not obsessed with the idea of sex as a way only to lose their v-card, as she had depth behind her desire. Charlie is passionate about women's health and spreading the importance of safe sex and sexual health and what YOU want. I did think the romance plot kind of slipped behind the other topics, but they were still important topics. While the romance was sweet and topics were informative, the plot felt like only sex just described in different ways. Again, when the romance was there it was really easy to read but this one felt a little more informative than romantic. Thank you to NetGalley and Victoria Editing NetGalley Co-op for this eARC, all opinions are my own.

[Keily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing book that touches on the very real conversations of today regarding sex, bodily autonomy, gender affirming care, abortion access, consent & more.
You can tell from reading this book that these are important topics to Brooklyn Rose, & the way she wrote about them in this book was actually incredibly informative & factual. In a way, truly a love letter to clinics/workers that provide these services across the country. 10/10 in regards to how she approached these topics & informs the reader through this story/her characters!
This is kind of a second chance romance between her characters & I love the smart, headstrong FMC who loves an athlete with a tender heart. I enjoyed the dynamic between the two, which probably had a lot to do with the fact that they were friends previously & already knew a lot about each other. I do wish we got a little more substance out of our MMC-Wes. While I loved his banter & interactions/conversations with Charlie, there is still an air of missing depth with his character in a way? A little hard to describe, but I think it would’ve helped if we got a few chapters through his perspective.

A lovely & enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley & Victory Editing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! :))

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read The Purity Myth in college and shouted about it from the rooftops, I loved that this opened with both a quote from and then another reference to it in the dedication section right off the bat. The care this author took in building the world and these characters is very apparent and I really enjoyed this story. Charlie was a wonderful FMC; smart, strong, frustrating at times, REAL. She had a quiet confidence about her and I loved her passion.

Our guy Wes was a great counterpart for Charlie and I think that shows through really well. I really liked that *he* was kind of a mess regarding his future but was figuring it out in his own way. He wasn’t intimidated by Charlie’s intelligence and he was happy to just be around her. Swoon!

I LOVED the podcast element! Victoria and Theo were so much fun and I think I just had loved on the brain because I was like, are we about to watch a reverse age gap unfold?! Wishful thinking but their banter was so good. Theo really redeemed himself, and getting the glimpse of how things are going for everyone in the future during the epilogue made me excited for any possible next books in this world :)

I received an advance reader copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book!!! Ugh, how desperately we need more authors like Brooklyn Rose writing about consent education and bodily autonomy in our current political climate.

This book is amazing, and so sexy and fun, and I highly recommend it to literally anyone. The main characters, Charlie and Wes, are lovely and have great character development. I completely believe their relationship and desperately hold on to the hope that there are more men like Wes in the real world.

I love the messages in this book, not just about how important sex positive education is but also what a healthy relationship looks like. I hate miscommunication tropes, and though there's a bit of wanting to yell at both characters to tell them to just talk to one another, it was believable enough that I didn't mind it. Wes and Charlie's relationship is supportive and caring, and really based on actual friendship. The sex education message is incredibly important, and the author does a great job conveying that (and also ending on an uplifting and hopeful note).

I HIGHLY recommend this book for everyone, and hope that Brooklyn Rose's message will reach readers. I can't wait to look out for more of her books in the future!!

[Pammy VS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of sex positive through Netgalley. I was so excited to read this book. I heard about it and found the author on Instagram.
I really enjoyed the story. I was very sex positive 😉 especially from the females perspective.
I don’t want to give any spoilers away so I won’t go into details. The main female and male characters were really great, well written, relatable in one way of another. I liked the their chemistry and how their story unfolded. I also appreciated that the author did explain their past in a chapter since it is mentioned multiple times. I always appreciate a back story which you get along with their own pasts in terms of their family life. The story over all was very interesting, I felt like there were very real situations in the book that make it easy to get into the story because they are real life concerns especially these days.
The story was interesting, fun to read and heartfelt. Very romance comedy vibes which I love.
Charlie and Wes had a great friendship and Amy even better relationship. Also the spicy scenes were great to read, they ate throughout the book so there’s quite a few but nothing too crazy or super spicy but still good and very descriptive.

[Meg Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this read! This contemporary romance has a perfect blend of banter, tension and spice! I couldn’t put it down!

Charlie and Wes have history. Their friendship was cultivated Freshman year through library study sessions, witty banter and shameless flirting… until Wes broke Charlie’s heart at a party. Three years later, a series of unfortunate circumstances throws them back together and calls for a (temporary?) truce. As lines blur and feelings resurface, Charlie must decide if she should hold onto her past hurt, or consider whether she’s the only one who has matured the last three years.

**This next part is a spoiler: My ONLY complaint is how “the incident” was handled on Charlie’s end. Wes was 100% in the wrong for what happened at that party, yet Charlie apologized TO HIM for how she handled him talking poorly about her and making out with another girl immediately after having his hands all over her. I ALMOST stopped reading the book because I was so mad. Other than this situation, I loved the book and how sex-positive it was.

I hope Theo and Victoria get their own book. 😘

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Liz the Little Book Gremlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was superb! 10/10. Infinity stars. No notes.

I expected it to be a fluffy little romcom. Cute and light and not that deep. I was wrong, and I was blown away!
Don’t get me wrong, that WAS an adorable friends to enemies to lovers romance, and I was fully on board with that and how hot it was! Gosh, Wes can talk dirty to me any time… BUT it was so much more.
It was like reading a critique on modern sex education, or lack of, in America, and you can see how much the subject matters to Charlie, our FMC, and to the author too. It was so perfectly done though, as it was informative and warm and didn’t feel preachy at all.

This all comes from the perspective of Charlie, who has been brought up in a stiflingly conservative Christian household, and now that she is in college she is working through the damage that this has done to her, whilst trying to educate others. As part of this she is running an “experiment” to find out what she likes in the bedroom, and after running into ex-best friend and crush, Wes, one thing leads to another…

Brilliant! Please read. Thank you!

Thank you so much to Iris and Brooklyn for this amazing ARC read 🥰