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My Broken Vagina: One Woman's Quest to Fix Her Sex Life, and Yours
This book is one woman's funny, moving, and sometimes awkward quest to fix her sex life, but it's the story of millions of women everywhere - half of all women have felt pain during sex.
During award-winning writer and performer Fran Bushe's journey towards building a better relationship with her genitals, doctors advised her to have a glass of wine to loosen up, and male friends suggested she simply hadn't 'tried' the right penis yet. Unsurprisingly, neither worked.
After a visit to Sex Camp and many attempts to fix her 'broken' vagina, Fran decided to share her own hilarious, excruciating, and sometimes upsetting experiences. With the help of her 16 year old self's diary, expert advice, candid and enlightening interviews with others about sex, and some self-care exercises, Fran sets about trying to make herself, and other people, feel like they're not being gaslit by their own vaginas.
During award-winning writer and performer Fran Bushe's journey towards building a better relationship with her genitals, doctors advised her to have a glass of wine to loosen up, and male friends suggested she simply hadn't 'tried' the right penis yet. Unsurprisingly, neither worked.
After a visit to Sex Camp and many attempts to fix her 'broken' vagina, Fran decided to share her own hilarious, excruciating, and sometimes upsetting experiences. With the help of her 16 year old self's diary, expert advice, candid and enlightening interviews with others about sex, and some self-care exercises, Fran sets about trying to make herself, and other people, feel like they're not being gaslit by their own vaginas.
272 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2022
21 people are currently reading
846 people want to read
About the author
Fran Bushe
2 books16 followersFran Bushe is an award-winning comedian, writer and performer. She has had sold-out runs and a UK tour of her multi-award winning show Ad Libido, and wrote The Diary of My Broken Vagina for Channel 4 Comedy . She has written sketches for Comedy Central and her play Alive Day is published in 20 Short Plays with Big Roles for Women. Fran has spent years ‘boning up’ on sex. She has spoken with leading researchers, pleasure coaches and interviewed a growing number of people about their sexual experiences. It has also meant flustering many helpful members of staff at The British Library, with endless requests for books on the clitoris. She’s popped crystals in her vagina, attended a vulva massage workshop and visited a sex camp where she had her ‘Yoni’ (…vagina) worshipped. Her candid approach to discussing sex and pleasure has led to her speaking with BBC Woman’s Hour, Cosmopolitan and Jameela Jamil’s ‘I Weigh’. In 2018 she won Performer of the Year at the Sexual Freedom Awards (the statuette of which is a large golden winged phallus, which lives on her parents’ mantlepiece).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
January 4, 2022
When I first started blogging, there is no way I would have dared read this book, let alone review it. To be fair, I also would not have dared read Fifty Shades of Grey (read it, it was boring). It took me to my final term at university to have confidence to point out sexual innuendo in books that I was studying. Basically, it's been a journey to untangle my inner Puritan. One of the things that I enjoyed about this book though was recognising it as a milestone in my own personal journey. I had primary vaginismus during my teens and a fair chunk of my twenties and I never really knew how to reach out for help. All these years later, it is genuinely a distant memory. Something I never could have imagined way back then. But I digress. In My Broken Vagina, writer and comedian Fran Bushe sets out to improve her relationship with her genitalia and decides to share her experiences along the way. The result is a witty and heart-felt memoir which I wish I could pass back in time fifteen years to my younger self.
This is a book for vagina-havers. And Bushe makes clear what a neglected bunch we have been. In the opening pages, she rolls her eyes at how when word got round that she was writing a book about sex, most of her former lovers got in touch assuming she must be writing about them. But this very much illustrates the whole problem. The penis assumes centre stage. In school, sex education centres around how one should not be having sex but if one did choose to be so foolish, one needed to be aware that sperm was powerful stuff and the dangers of pregnancy and disease. The only aspect of women's health that I remember studying was the diagram about a woman's menstrual cycle. Like Bushe and indeed most of our generation, I was not taught that vaginismus was a possibility. Which is strange because we were also never taught anything about making sex pleasurable. The vagina never gets a look in.
This may sound like a gripe. After all, should we really expect schools to teach young people how to have sex? But I really feel that it is a lack of vocabulary around the issue which leads to the mess of poor communication between partners, another aspect highlighted by Fran (she feels like a friend). If we had an education system that had enough courage in its convictions to tackle sexual intimacy with honesty, it would go a long way to equipping young people on how to approach sex with respect and realistic expectations. It sounds like a platitude to say that things got easier for me when I met the right person, but suddenly so many things were simple which had once seemed complicated. I have said this before but the best dating advice I would give anyone is to marry the man who texts you back promptly and in full sentences. It's a good sign he's a communicator.
It would be a lie to say that all of Fran's experiences matched my own. I was never a big dater and tended to have years at a time where I was contentedly single. One of the few upsides to having my fair share of autistic behaviours is that my reflex to sexual harassment was to respond bluntly in the negative. I also spent a lot of time hanging around with Christians which meant that I still had a few problematic relationships but they were of quite a different type. The situations that Fran describes of passively allowing her body to be used were not familiar to me. But one of the really positive aspects of Fran's memoir was that she did seek out other voices and other experiences, including those from an LGBTQIA+ perspective. Again, it is so important to capture experiences of sex that go beyond simply the heteronormative. The only aspect that I did wish Fran had covered more was around sex from a postpartum point of view. This is of interest to me because the topic of secondary vaginismus is one that I have encountered frequently in conversation with fellow mothers over the past few years. What advice could be given for women who have previously enjoyed sex but whose vaginas literally feel broken? These are also important voices that need to be heard.
I remember watching The Vagina Monologues while at university and at the end of the performance, a man in the row in front of us turned around and said, 'So ladies, do you just love your vaginas now? If I had one, I'd love it too'. One of the best things about My Broken Vagina is how Fran makes clear that one's relationship with one's body is not linear. So often memoirs end on an apparent positive note which somehow feels false so I appreciated the acknowledgement that this is an ongoing journey. Weirdly for me, my relationship with my body improved dramatically after having my first child. I looked at my son and felt amazed that my body had incubated, birthed and then fed such a miracle. It's been three years and the sense of awe has yet to fade. But it took me a long time to get here. Fran's conversations with the diary of her sixteen year-old self contrasted the abstract expectations we have about what sex will be with the practical reality. The medical profession may struggle to provide constructive advice, it may be an odyssey to find the contraception that works for you, but no matter what complications are in the way, you are not broken. And sexual intimacy with the person you love is something you deserve to feel good about.
My reflex when I requested this book to review was to read it, reflect and then never share my thoughts publicly. But I know that writers such as Fran Bushe are the kind of voices that I could have really done with hearing from back in my teenage years when I had no idea why my body was not behaving the way that society seemed to expect. I would have sobbed with gratitude to have someone tell me that I was not broken and so I wanted to explain why books like these are important. Witty, warm and approachable, My Broken Vagina tackles tricky topics with charm and candour. It is wonderful to see how conversations are starting which break the silence around women's health - I hope that this book will be but the first of many. And if Fran ever performs her stand-up show again post-pandemic, I would definitely be interested to go see it!
This is a book for vagina-havers. And Bushe makes clear what a neglected bunch we have been. In the opening pages, she rolls her eyes at how when word got round that she was writing a book about sex, most of her former lovers got in touch assuming she must be writing about them. But this very much illustrates the whole problem. The penis assumes centre stage. In school, sex education centres around how one should not be having sex but if one did choose to be so foolish, one needed to be aware that sperm was powerful stuff and the dangers of pregnancy and disease. The only aspect of women's health that I remember studying was the diagram about a woman's menstrual cycle. Like Bushe and indeed most of our generation, I was not taught that vaginismus was a possibility. Which is strange because we were also never taught anything about making sex pleasurable. The vagina never gets a look in.
This may sound like a gripe. After all, should we really expect schools to teach young people how to have sex? But I really feel that it is a lack of vocabulary around the issue which leads to the mess of poor communication between partners, another aspect highlighted by Fran (she feels like a friend). If we had an education system that had enough courage in its convictions to tackle sexual intimacy with honesty, it would go a long way to equipping young people on how to approach sex with respect and realistic expectations. It sounds like a platitude to say that things got easier for me when I met the right person, but suddenly so many things were simple which had once seemed complicated. I have said this before but the best dating advice I would give anyone is to marry the man who texts you back promptly and in full sentences. It's a good sign he's a communicator.
It would be a lie to say that all of Fran's experiences matched my own. I was never a big dater and tended to have years at a time where I was contentedly single. One of the few upsides to having my fair share of autistic behaviours is that my reflex to sexual harassment was to respond bluntly in the negative. I also spent a lot of time hanging around with Christians which meant that I still had a few problematic relationships but they were of quite a different type. The situations that Fran describes of passively allowing her body to be used were not familiar to me. But one of the really positive aspects of Fran's memoir was that she did seek out other voices and other experiences, including those from an LGBTQIA+ perspective. Again, it is so important to capture experiences of sex that go beyond simply the heteronormative. The only aspect that I did wish Fran had covered more was around sex from a postpartum point of view. This is of interest to me because the topic of secondary vaginismus is one that I have encountered frequently in conversation with fellow mothers over the past few years. What advice could be given for women who have previously enjoyed sex but whose vaginas literally feel broken? These are also important voices that need to be heard.
I remember watching The Vagina Monologues while at university and at the end of the performance, a man in the row in front of us turned around and said, 'So ladies, do you just love your vaginas now? If I had one, I'd love it too'. One of the best things about My Broken Vagina is how Fran makes clear that one's relationship with one's body is not linear. So often memoirs end on an apparent positive note which somehow feels false so I appreciated the acknowledgement that this is an ongoing journey. Weirdly for me, my relationship with my body improved dramatically after having my first child. I looked at my son and felt amazed that my body had incubated, birthed and then fed such a miracle. It's been three years and the sense of awe has yet to fade. But it took me a long time to get here. Fran's conversations with the diary of her sixteen year-old self contrasted the abstract expectations we have about what sex will be with the practical reality. The medical profession may struggle to provide constructive advice, it may be an odyssey to find the contraception that works for you, but no matter what complications are in the way, you are not broken. And sexual intimacy with the person you love is something you deserve to feel good about.
My reflex when I requested this book to review was to read it, reflect and then never share my thoughts publicly. But I know that writers such as Fran Bushe are the kind of voices that I could have really done with hearing from back in my teenage years when I had no idea why my body was not behaving the way that society seemed to expect. I would have sobbed with gratitude to have someone tell me that I was not broken and so I wanted to explain why books like these are important. Witty, warm and approachable, My Broken Vagina tackles tricky topics with charm and candour. It is wonderful to see how conversations are starting which break the silence around women's health - I hope that this book will be but the first of many. And if Fran ever performs her stand-up show again post-pandemic, I would definitely be interested to go see it!
March 13, 2021
As a long-time sufferer of vaginismus, I jumped at the chance to read Fran Bushe’s My Broken Vagina. While I don’t know if any of the more practical advice in the book will be of use to me in the near future, I found a great deal of comfort and solidarity in reading it—and laughter too.
Like me, Bushe has struggled with vaginismus all her life. But she’s been a tad more proactive and bold in trying to overcome it. She’s spoken with medical practitioners, “Sex Camp” attendees, and many fellow sufferers. She provides a compelling explanation for why we shouldn’t buy into the label “Female Sexual Dysfunction” (apparently created by Americans to sell pointless drugs, WHO WOULD’VE THOUGHT?). She sensitively navigates the semantic minefield of discussing how vaginismus makes her feel broken, while emphasising that we don’t have to feel broken.
The most painful parts of the book to read are Bushe’s experiences with doctors who dismiss her suffering, and with men who, when she tries to open up about vaginismus, respond with unkindness and defensiveness; they seem to interpret a woman’s inability to enjoy sex with them as blame.
Despite the many distressing moments in the book, there were so many times when I smiled or laughed out loud. Bushe is a comedian, and clearly a very good one (I wish I’d heard about her comedy gigs on this subject). The yoni egg chapter has to be my favourite bit. Ultimately, My Broken Vagina is not just for women with vaginismus, and indeed, I recommend it to anyone whether cishet or LGBTQIA+ (there’s a lot of representation among the people that Bushe interviews in the book). Although I’ve already read plenty of books that go over the usual statistics on women’s sexual pleasure and the massive orgasm gap between men and women, frankly, this is a subject that can’t be talked about enough. It makes me think of all the times that men I’ve been with have said the most ridiculous things about sex that simply are not true. I can only hope they know better now.
(With thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an advance version of the ebook, in exchange for an honest review.)
Like me, Bushe has struggled with vaginismus all her life. But she’s been a tad more proactive and bold in trying to overcome it. She’s spoken with medical practitioners, “Sex Camp” attendees, and many fellow sufferers. She provides a compelling explanation for why we shouldn’t buy into the label “Female Sexual Dysfunction” (apparently created by Americans to sell pointless drugs, WHO WOULD’VE THOUGHT?). She sensitively navigates the semantic minefield of discussing how vaginismus makes her feel broken, while emphasising that we don’t have to feel broken.
The most painful parts of the book to read are Bushe’s experiences with doctors who dismiss her suffering, and with men who, when she tries to open up about vaginismus, respond with unkindness and defensiveness; they seem to interpret a woman’s inability to enjoy sex with them as blame.
Despite the many distressing moments in the book, there were so many times when I smiled or laughed out loud. Bushe is a comedian, and clearly a very good one (I wish I’d heard about her comedy gigs on this subject). The yoni egg chapter has to be my favourite bit. Ultimately, My Broken Vagina is not just for women with vaginismus, and indeed, I recommend it to anyone whether cishet or LGBTQIA+ (there’s a lot of representation among the people that Bushe interviews in the book). Although I’ve already read plenty of books that go over the usual statistics on women’s sexual pleasure and the massive orgasm gap between men and women, frankly, this is a subject that can’t be talked about enough. It makes me think of all the times that men I’ve been with have said the most ridiculous things about sex that simply are not true. I can only hope they know better now.
(With thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an advance version of the ebook, in exchange for an honest review.)
May 26, 2022
If you’re sensitive to any kind of genital chat, look away now. Wait. Why are you looking in the first place? 😂 My Broken Vagina is the book I never thought I needed. It’s a frank, thought-provoking and interesting discussion about problems that the author has experienced and in general, how we need to de-mystify important topics like female sexual health.
From my own experience, I’ve always found it difficult to talk about issues “down there.” It’s seen as a bit taboo, embarrassing and don’t even get me started about trying to go and see a male GP about it - I’ve never felt as if I’m ever being really listened to or taken seriously.
My Broken Vagina is the voice women need to reassure them that what they are experiencing is not all in their head, dirty or wrong and it’s a real shame that women are made to feel this way in the first place. The author, Fran Bushe (excellent surname!) writes candidly and openly about her own struggles which includes pain that she experiences when she has sex. Shockingly, she’s been told to “have a glass of wine to loosen up,” or that “maybe she hasn’t found the right penis yet.” Additionally, she has discussions with well-meaning male friends or men she dates/meets who all insist that their penis may be the one to “fix her.”
I loved everything about this book. It made me feel more normal, more “seen” and it was fascinating to read the interview excerpts from other women which only solidified the feeling that I wasn’t alone. The Broken Vagina is a perfect mix of humour, fact and self-care for any and everyone. You’re going to have to read the Sex Camp chapter (yes, it’s a thing!) to believe it! I really think that all genders or those who identify as non-binary could get so much out of this book and I hope that they finish it feeling like I do - better informed, relieved and empowered.
Five glorious stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
From my own experience, I’ve always found it difficult to talk about issues “down there.” It’s seen as a bit taboo, embarrassing and don’t even get me started about trying to go and see a male GP about it - I’ve never felt as if I’m ever being really listened to or taken seriously.
My Broken Vagina is the voice women need to reassure them that what they are experiencing is not all in their head, dirty or wrong and it’s a real shame that women are made to feel this way in the first place. The author, Fran Bushe (excellent surname!) writes candidly and openly about her own struggles which includes pain that she experiences when she has sex. Shockingly, she’s been told to “have a glass of wine to loosen up,” or that “maybe she hasn’t found the right penis yet.” Additionally, she has discussions with well-meaning male friends or men she dates/meets who all insist that their penis may be the one to “fix her.”
I loved everything about this book. It made me feel more normal, more “seen” and it was fascinating to read the interview excerpts from other women which only solidified the feeling that I wasn’t alone. The Broken Vagina is a perfect mix of humour, fact and self-care for any and everyone. You’re going to have to read the Sex Camp chapter (yes, it’s a thing!) to believe it! I really think that all genders or those who identify as non-binary could get so much out of this book and I hope that they finish it feeling like I do - better informed, relieved and empowered.
Five glorious stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
April 10, 2021
I was provided with a free ebook copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author.
Have you ever read a book and wished it had been available to your younger self?
That's how I felt when I read this book.
I absolutely loved it. This book normalises sex as being painful and uncomfortable at times. It's definitely a problem that is more common than you would think and this book has done a great job and making me feel a bit more normal. The author was very honest but at the same time, keeping the tone light and funny. I absolutely devoured this book and think it may be the best book I have read so far this year.
I'll be pre-ordering a copy before its May release date and encouraging my friends to read it too.
Have you ever read a book and wished it had been available to your younger self?
That's how I felt when I read this book.
I absolutely loved it. This book normalises sex as being painful and uncomfortable at times. It's definitely a problem that is more common than you would think and this book has done a great job and making me feel a bit more normal. The author was very honest but at the same time, keeping the tone light and funny. I absolutely devoured this book and think it may be the best book I have read so far this year.
I'll be pre-ordering a copy before its May release date and encouraging my friends to read it too.
August 24, 2025
4.5 stars! more books about sex! i love sex education but even if i didn’t i think everyone should read this. heavy topics but written in a very digestible and entertaining way love love love
also not just written for people with vaginas?? if you’re someone that does/would ever have a partner with a vagina read this! brb gonna make my partner read it next
also not just written for people with vaginas?? if you’re someone that does/would ever have a partner with a vagina read this! brb gonna make my partner read it next
May 14, 2021
sex education in the uk has long been a topic of contention and controversy. with lgbtqia+ pupils largely marginalised from the curriculum and a prevailing message of abstinence over pleasure and protection proving ineffective. and that’s without even talking about the lack of discussion around women’s sexual health and pleasure. bushe breaks these barriers down, losing any sense of taboo or shame at the door. her book is not only an insight into her own struggles with her sexual encounters and health, but an inclusive and radical exploration into all bodies for everybody.
frank, funny and honest, there’s no shred of discretion in her writing. she lays every experience, conversation and factual figure on the table to educate and inspire others. I really appreciated bushe’s determination to be as inclusive as possible by including conversations with queer and trans couples and individuals regarding their own experiences of sex and sex education. her own stories and experiences are both shocking and powerful, and she truly lays her heart and soul out for us with her teenage diary entries.
ultimately, her journey of radical self-love and sexual pleasure doesn’t have a solid conclusion. our own bodies and experiences are a never-ending learning curve, but bushe’s message is clear. never let your own mindset stop you from exploring your body, your sexuality and your capabilities when it comes to sex and anatomy. we have to continue to fight to be heard and listened to by professionals and our peers. we shouldn’t have to go to extremes to know ourselves. and if her work can bring solace and comfort to readers who are struggling with their bodies or negative experiences, then it’s a job well done in my opinion.
A huge thank you to Hodder for the ARC!
frank, funny and honest, there’s no shred of discretion in her writing. she lays every experience, conversation and factual figure on the table to educate and inspire others. I really appreciated bushe’s determination to be as inclusive as possible by including conversations with queer and trans couples and individuals regarding their own experiences of sex and sex education. her own stories and experiences are both shocking and powerful, and she truly lays her heart and soul out for us with her teenage diary entries.
ultimately, her journey of radical self-love and sexual pleasure doesn’t have a solid conclusion. our own bodies and experiences are a never-ending learning curve, but bushe’s message is clear. never let your own mindset stop you from exploring your body, your sexuality and your capabilities when it comes to sex and anatomy. we have to continue to fight to be heard and listened to by professionals and our peers. we shouldn’t have to go to extremes to know ourselves. and if her work can bring solace and comfort to readers who are struggling with their bodies or negative experiences, then it’s a job well done in my opinion.
A huge thank you to Hodder for the ARC!
May 21, 2021
Fran’s book is the first memoir I felt emotional reading. She delivers a light hearted recollection of pain, disappointment and female sexual dysfunction (FSD) laced in humour. But for every humorous retelling, there was a very real individual who lived those embarrassing, painful moments.
I related on such a personal level and could have easily been reading my own memoir. From dismal medical support, growing confidence through research, being failed by holistic cures and settling for subpar partners and barely-consensual encounters.
My only problem - also raised in the book - is the idea that FSD is a 'broken vagina'. Sexual health education is sparse, funding for research into female sexual health is often non-existent and something as simple as dilators on prescription can require a tedious wait list referral to a specialist. Women who suffer any form of sexual pain are not broken but often left behind to carve their own blueprints. One previous book included a women ’accepting pain as fact’. As I see sexual health discussions become more mainstream, I sincerely hope we take a kinder, more understanding stance to others and ourselves.
This is a minor gripe though. The book overall is great, giving a voice to hundreds of people with vaginas. It reminds us that our bodies are complex and there is no ‘quick fix’ solution. It’s a process, but our bodies deserve time, love and patience. If we consider unwanted sexual pain a curse, perhaps we could reframe it as a blessing - it wasn’t hard when reading to identify a characters personality by their responses to Fran’s hesitation or disregarded her refusal.
The book offers a lot of useful signposting, from @yes_organics to @thevagnetwork and lists a plethora of hardly known conditions. As an avid reader of study-based vagina books, it was refreshing to read a very real human memoir.
4.5/5 (it loses .5 for the name, sorry!)
I related on such a personal level and could have easily been reading my own memoir. From dismal medical support, growing confidence through research, being failed by holistic cures and settling for subpar partners and barely-consensual encounters.
My only problem - also raised in the book - is the idea that FSD is a 'broken vagina'. Sexual health education is sparse, funding for research into female sexual health is often non-existent and something as simple as dilators on prescription can require a tedious wait list referral to a specialist. Women who suffer any form of sexual pain are not broken but often left behind to carve their own blueprints. One previous book included a women ’accepting pain as fact’. As I see sexual health discussions become more mainstream, I sincerely hope we take a kinder, more understanding stance to others and ourselves.
This is a minor gripe though. The book overall is great, giving a voice to hundreds of people with vaginas. It reminds us that our bodies are complex and there is no ‘quick fix’ solution. It’s a process, but our bodies deserve time, love and patience. If we consider unwanted sexual pain a curse, perhaps we could reframe it as a blessing - it wasn’t hard when reading to identify a characters personality by their responses to Fran’s hesitation or disregarded her refusal.
The book offers a lot of useful signposting, from @yes_organics to @thevagnetwork and lists a plethora of hardly known conditions. As an avid reader of study-based vagina books, it was refreshing to read a very real human memoir.
4.5/5 (it loses .5 for the name, sorry!)
May 5, 2021
I am so so grateful to have been given this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley!
This book is all about Fran’s journey with painful sex, with her vulva, with relationships, with masturbation, with all the things that make us sexual beings. And I am here for it!
As someone who has Vaginismus, it was so nice to read about another person who also has some difficulties with sex. Why are we so quick to talk about how sex is utterly amazing but not how messy and utterly limiting it can be?
I loved that Fran was so incredibly open about her experiences and related hugely to the thought of ‘am I broken?’... no, I am not and you never were either Fran, or anyone else who might think they are!
I particularly enjoyed the chapters on masturbation and the discussion around the definition of sex and virginity. Let’s get a few things clear, sex is not just penis-in-vagina! The ‘end goal’ of sex is not just to climax! Masturbating as a woman is not shameful, dirty or embarrassing!
Also! How had I spent 28 years of life not knowing that the vagina is different to the vulva? Vagina = internal. Vulva = external.
I wish my younger self could have had this book. I wish that young people especially, knew that sex should not be painful. I wish we as people with vulvas and vaginas were more confident to explore our likes/dislikes solo. I wish society would sack off the term ‘virginity’. I wish we could all talk more openly and freely about being sexual beings.
I HAVE A VAGINA AND I DESERVE TO ENJOY SEX (how cathartic!)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 - I related to this book so much; a refreshing, empowering, hilarious, insightful read! I believe that every person with a vulva/vagina would get something beneficial out of this book. It has great LGBTQ+ representation too!
Due to be published 13th May... May is also International Masturbation month!
This book is all about Fran’s journey with painful sex, with her vulva, with relationships, with masturbation, with all the things that make us sexual beings. And I am here for it!
As someone who has Vaginismus, it was so nice to read about another person who also has some difficulties with sex. Why are we so quick to talk about how sex is utterly amazing but not how messy and utterly limiting it can be?
I loved that Fran was so incredibly open about her experiences and related hugely to the thought of ‘am I broken?’... no, I am not and you never were either Fran, or anyone else who might think they are!
I particularly enjoyed the chapters on masturbation and the discussion around the definition of sex and virginity. Let’s get a few things clear, sex is not just penis-in-vagina! The ‘end goal’ of sex is not just to climax! Masturbating as a woman is not shameful, dirty or embarrassing!
Also! How had I spent 28 years of life not knowing that the vagina is different to the vulva? Vagina = internal. Vulva = external.
I wish my younger self could have had this book. I wish that young people especially, knew that sex should not be painful. I wish we as people with vulvas and vaginas were more confident to explore our likes/dislikes solo. I wish society would sack off the term ‘virginity’. I wish we could all talk more openly and freely about being sexual beings.
I HAVE A VAGINA AND I DESERVE TO ENJOY SEX (how cathartic!)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 - I related to this book so much; a refreshing, empowering, hilarious, insightful read! I believe that every person with a vulva/vagina would get something beneficial out of this book. It has great LGBTQ+ representation too!
Due to be published 13th May... May is also International Masturbation month!
March 24, 2022
Such an important book for anyone with a vagina, and maybe even more so for those who don't. So blatantly honest about issues, pain and insecurities related to sexual relations. Lovely writing, funny and sad at the same time. Made me realize how little good sexual education our kids really get. Absolutely wonderful.
July 18, 2022
Every single bloody person that has a vagina needs to read this book I legit could read it over and over and over again.
September 6, 2021
Bottom line: the world's a funny place and people are weird. Many of us like to think of ourselves as intelligent, open-minded, civilized, sophisticated... and similar laudable attributes. And yet we scuttle around hiding our true selves and unable to voice the things that deeply worry us. Perplexed by our emotions and the physical reactions they so often engender.
Fran Bushe gives voice to some of those worries. She brings into the open the simple fact that many people have 'unmentionable' sexual issues that plague them. Through personal anecdotes, she shows that behind the façade, lots of people live lives that don't match up to expected patterns, especially when it comes to sex.
I read this because I'm interested in psychosomatic conditions. And the topic of this book, vaginismus, is one hell of a psychosomatic condition. 'Psychosomatic', of course, doesn't mean 'you're imagining it'. It means that it is a condition that is induced by or aggravated by thoughts and emotions.
Sometimes these thoughts and emotions are very obvious: anticipation causes that feeling of butterflies in your stomach, embarrassment makes you blush, anxiety makes your heart race. The sudden fear of a near-accident while driving shoots adrenaline into your system causing your fingers and toes to tingle or hurt.
However, many psychosomatic conditions are not so easy to pin down and interpret. Long-term back pain, migraine, psoriasis, and yes, vaginismus... just about any chronic health problem can have a psychosomatic component or be entirely psychosomatic. (If you're interested to learn more about psychosomatic conditions, check out works by Dr John E. Sarno, Howard Schubiner, Steven Ray Ozanich and David Schechter.)
Which brings me back to the book in question, My Broken Vagina. I love the fact that Bushe opens up about a taboo topic. We are mealy-mouthed about sex in general and most of us are afraid to even say the word 'vagina', never mind put it on a book cover with our name blazoned across it. Well done Fran!! Five stars for courage!!
Women, and men, find it difficult to talk about vaginas and vulvas - those hidden-away genital parts. Not like penises, that flop around or stand proudly looking for attention - and getting it. So it's a brave woman who stands up in public to talk about not just female genitals, but female genitals that AREN'T DOING THEIR JOB! Seriously, Bushe does a fine job in highlighting the anguish and shame that arise in people when sex is a problem. The trouble we have in admitting it, talking about it or seeking help for it. She is to be applauded for shining a light on the fact that so many people don't have 'great sex lives', whatever that means (we don't even know, we can only guess, because nobody does know what really goes on behind closed doors).
I give this book 5 stars for its bravery and openness. Unfortunately though, I then have to remove a star or two because it left me ultimately dissatisfied (yeah, yeah, I know!). Because the book doesn't really take us anywhere. It focuses nearly all its attention on the 'what' rather than the 'why'. While Bushe does mention that there is a strong psychosomatic component to vaginismus, she doesn't dig deep into the psychosomatic aspect of the condition and she doesn't address ways to overcome it from a psychological perspective. It's largely about the physical side of it, and her search for solutions largely focuses on physical solutions. I was surprised that the psychological aspects got such little attention. But then, psychosomatic illness is another great taboo topic that the world resolutely ignores or disparages, so I guess I shouldn't be so surprised;
The messages I take away from the book are, first, that if you have a problem with vaginismus or another sexual dysfunction, you are not alone - many people have problems that they hide. No shit, Sherlock. And secondly, it would help all of us if we could be more open about sex and bring sexual dysfunction out of the bedroom and into the public forum. Yay, bravo. No, seriously, bravo, and it's well worth reading just to drive these messages home.
But of course it's not the author's fault that this book fails to meet my expectation that it would be a deep exploration of a psychosomatic condition. That's what I hoped it would be, but in fairness it's not what it promised. Instead, it recounts - entertainingly - the author's search for more knowledge about sexual dysfunction and her various attempts to find a 'cure'.
And then I give back a star because even though the book doesn't, for me, go far enough, I enjoyed reading it. It's well written. It's engaging and funny. I don't know Fran but I like her. She's standing up and speaking out, and I like that. My bad for expecting a different book.
Like this review? Why not check out my book review site: BelEdit Book Reviews?
Fran Bushe gives voice to some of those worries. She brings into the open the simple fact that many people have 'unmentionable' sexual issues that plague them. Through personal anecdotes, she shows that behind the façade, lots of people live lives that don't match up to expected patterns, especially when it comes to sex.
I read this because I'm interested in psychosomatic conditions. And the topic of this book, vaginismus, is one hell of a psychosomatic condition. 'Psychosomatic', of course, doesn't mean 'you're imagining it'. It means that it is a condition that is induced by or aggravated by thoughts and emotions.
Sometimes these thoughts and emotions are very obvious: anticipation causes that feeling of butterflies in your stomach, embarrassment makes you blush, anxiety makes your heart race. The sudden fear of a near-accident while driving shoots adrenaline into your system causing your fingers and toes to tingle or hurt.
However, many psychosomatic conditions are not so easy to pin down and interpret. Long-term back pain, migraine, psoriasis, and yes, vaginismus... just about any chronic health problem can have a psychosomatic component or be entirely psychosomatic. (If you're interested to learn more about psychosomatic conditions, check out works by Dr John E. Sarno, Howard Schubiner, Steven Ray Ozanich and David Schechter.)
Which brings me back to the book in question, My Broken Vagina. I love the fact that Bushe opens up about a taboo topic. We are mealy-mouthed about sex in general and most of us are afraid to even say the word 'vagina', never mind put it on a book cover with our name blazoned across it. Well done Fran!! Five stars for courage!!
Women, and men, find it difficult to talk about vaginas and vulvas - those hidden-away genital parts. Not like penises, that flop around or stand proudly looking for attention - and getting it. So it's a brave woman who stands up in public to talk about not just female genitals, but female genitals that AREN'T DOING THEIR JOB! Seriously, Bushe does a fine job in highlighting the anguish and shame that arise in people when sex is a problem. The trouble we have in admitting it, talking about it or seeking help for it. She is to be applauded for shining a light on the fact that so many people don't have 'great sex lives', whatever that means (we don't even know, we can only guess, because nobody does know what really goes on behind closed doors).
I give this book 5 stars for its bravery and openness. Unfortunately though, I then have to remove a star or two because it left me ultimately dissatisfied (yeah, yeah, I know!). Because the book doesn't really take us anywhere. It focuses nearly all its attention on the 'what' rather than the 'why'. While Bushe does mention that there is a strong psychosomatic component to vaginismus, she doesn't dig deep into the psychosomatic aspect of the condition and she doesn't address ways to overcome it from a psychological perspective. It's largely about the physical side of it, and her search for solutions largely focuses on physical solutions. I was surprised that the psychological aspects got such little attention. But then, psychosomatic illness is another great taboo topic that the world resolutely ignores or disparages, so I guess I shouldn't be so surprised;
The messages I take away from the book are, first, that if you have a problem with vaginismus or another sexual dysfunction, you are not alone - many people have problems that they hide. No shit, Sherlock. And secondly, it would help all of us if we could be more open about sex and bring sexual dysfunction out of the bedroom and into the public forum. Yay, bravo. No, seriously, bravo, and it's well worth reading just to drive these messages home.
But of course it's not the author's fault that this book fails to meet my expectation that it would be a deep exploration of a psychosomatic condition. That's what I hoped it would be, but in fairness it's not what it promised. Instead, it recounts - entertainingly - the author's search for more knowledge about sexual dysfunction and her various attempts to find a 'cure'.
And then I give back a star because even though the book doesn't, for me, go far enough, I enjoyed reading it. It's well written. It's engaging and funny. I don't know Fran but I like her. She's standing up and speaking out, and I like that. My bad for expecting a different book.
Like this review? Why not check out my book review site: BelEdit Book Reviews?
July 31, 2021
I feel like the world would be a better place if everyone read this book.
Seeing this book spotlighted in Waterstones, I bought and read it immediately. Initially, it would seem to be about the sexual health issues of people with vaginas (in particular, vaginismus), and whilst some readers may feel like this does not apply to them, the book goes far deeper.
Concerning pain during sex, the definition of consent, the lack of sex education, the exclusion of LGBTQIA+ sex in discussions of sex, the dismissal of women’s sexual health in medicine, the orgasm gap, how society is excessively focused on penetration and heteronormative relationships, shame surrounding masturbation, and so much more, Bushe manages to handle heavy topics sensitively whilst keeping the book light-hearted and genuinely hilarious. It is inclusive and well-researched.
Ultimately, Bushe highlights just how many of us feel like we are at fault in our sex lives, and has no conclusion to fixing ‘her broken vagina’. But she openly and honestly shares her story as well as the stories of other people to show that if we redefine sex, we will find that we are not broken at all. The impact this book had on me was immediate; I feel like I can discuss sex in a much healthier way, and I encourage everyone else to do the same.
Thank you, Fran Bushe, for writing this book!
Seeing this book spotlighted in Waterstones, I bought and read it immediately. Initially, it would seem to be about the sexual health issues of people with vaginas (in particular, vaginismus), and whilst some readers may feel like this does not apply to them, the book goes far deeper.
Concerning pain during sex, the definition of consent, the lack of sex education, the exclusion of LGBTQIA+ sex in discussions of sex, the dismissal of women’s sexual health in medicine, the orgasm gap, how society is excessively focused on penetration and heteronormative relationships, shame surrounding masturbation, and so much more, Bushe manages to handle heavy topics sensitively whilst keeping the book light-hearted and genuinely hilarious. It is inclusive and well-researched.
Ultimately, Bushe highlights just how many of us feel like we are at fault in our sex lives, and has no conclusion to fixing ‘her broken vagina’. But she openly and honestly shares her story as well as the stories of other people to show that if we redefine sex, we will find that we are not broken at all. The impact this book had on me was immediate; I feel like I can discuss sex in a much healthier way, and I encourage everyone else to do the same.
Thank you, Fran Bushe, for writing this book!
January 7, 2022
Marvellous. Relatable, funny, honest - for any gender.
A history of one woman's private parts, what they've done, WHO they've done (pardon me), and even their psychology. Or rather, their owner's.
This really does show up the differences in our health services for men and women: preconceptions, stereotypes, an unwillingness to see issues, turning a blind eye - through Fran's lifelong struggle with her sexual problems. Are they in her head? Her body? Are they real?
Going through her sexual history, partners, mistakes and graphic (don't squirm - if you don't like it, I'm not sure this book is for you, though it SHOULD be) relationship and sex problems, readers are going to laugh. They may feel uncomfortable - seeing Fran come to terms with abusive relationships she put herself through, it's one that most readers might feel empathy for. And they - we - are very likely to learn something.
One story tells more than just that. It shows what our relationship with our body can be, it can show how hard it can be to find help, the right kind of help. It can remind us that we are all various kinds of 'normal' and that we shouldn't feel ashamed of being who and what we are. And it also shows us that Sex Camp is all kinds of hilarious and eye-opening.
I laughed a lot listening to this. I highly recommend the Audible version, as Fran narrates this herself, and as a experienced stand-up comic for whom these insights have provided material, you're in safe hands navigating her journey with the lady herself. I believe I missed out on some illustrations, but as the narrator tells us, these are helpfully provided as a download anyway. Definitely listen to Fran.
We all have sexual hang-ups of one sort or another, at one time or another. You know you do. Or did. Or will. Normalising these experiences can only ever be a good thing.
Loved this, and I expect you will too.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
A history of one woman's private parts, what they've done, WHO they've done (pardon me), and even their psychology. Or rather, their owner's.
This really does show up the differences in our health services for men and women: preconceptions, stereotypes, an unwillingness to see issues, turning a blind eye - through Fran's lifelong struggle with her sexual problems. Are they in her head? Her body? Are they real?
Going through her sexual history, partners, mistakes and graphic (don't squirm - if you don't like it, I'm not sure this book is for you, though it SHOULD be) relationship and sex problems, readers are going to laugh. They may feel uncomfortable - seeing Fran come to terms with abusive relationships she put herself through, it's one that most readers might feel empathy for. And they - we - are very likely to learn something.
One story tells more than just that. It shows what our relationship with our body can be, it can show how hard it can be to find help, the right kind of help. It can remind us that we are all various kinds of 'normal' and that we shouldn't feel ashamed of being who and what we are. And it also shows us that Sex Camp is all kinds of hilarious and eye-opening.
I laughed a lot listening to this. I highly recommend the Audible version, as Fran narrates this herself, and as a experienced stand-up comic for whom these insights have provided material, you're in safe hands navigating her journey with the lady herself. I believe I missed out on some illustrations, but as the narrator tells us, these are helpfully provided as a download anyway. Definitely listen to Fran.
We all have sexual hang-ups of one sort or another, at one time or another. You know you do. Or did. Or will. Normalising these experiences can only ever be a good thing.
Loved this, and I expect you will too.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
April 26, 2021
[AD-gifted]
Fran Bushe has written a masterpiece here. My Broken Vagina is part memoir and part self help book exploring the sex and intimacy hurdles that Fran has faced. As well as this, there are many interviews that she has conducted with individuals (from a wide range of identities and sexualities!!!) to challenge the expectations and and explore the misconceptions of sex. One of the main focuses of the book is how “sexual dysfunction” is approached in women compared to men, a topic which I personally have never seen brought up in a book….until now.
I had only read about ten pages of this book before I knew that it was going to be a five star read. Fran is absolutely hilarious, and her writing style is super accessible. I wish this book had been available when I was a bit younger, as I definitely think that sixteen year old me would have benefitted hugely from this. The way Fran normalises sex as not always being all it’s cracked up to be is so important - I think as teenagers we tend to have very different expectations of what it will be like vs. what it’s actually like. Even at nearly twenty-four I still learnt new things from this book, and some of the stories from women on the absolutely despicable medical help and advice they have been offered really stood out to me.
Fran also includes all different sexualities and gender identities in her writing, something which is hugely important when it comes to sexual health. LGBTQ+ sex education definitely wasn’t a thing when I was at school and from what I have heard still isn’t taught in as much depth as it should be.
I would 100% recommend pre-ordering a copy of this (released on May 13th) and I will be encouraging all of my close friends to read it too!
March 29, 2021
I have had the pleasure of seeing Fran perform live on a number of occasions including Ad Libido which is discussed in this book. The book carries the same level of gentle humour mixed with honesty and insight, a winning combination for a memoir. Fran details her experience with her body and sex from her early teen years until her thirties and everything in between, it includes conversations with friends, a trip to a Sex Camp and interviews with others about their experiences.
I am glad that these books are being published and that conversations around pleasure for all and the intricacies of the human body are coming to the forefront, it is so important and for that I think My Broken Vagina is perfect. I really hope this book helps people and keeps these conversations going.
I am glad that these books are being published and that conversations around pleasure for all and the intricacies of the human body are coming to the forefront, it is so important and for that I think My Broken Vagina is perfect. I really hope this book helps people and keeps these conversations going.
June 14, 2023
Loved this book! I laughed, cried, and had to stop reading at times because it made me too emotional. Honestly, it was refreshing and I loved the writing.
March 22, 2021
Fran Bushe is a woman on a mission to fix her sex life, starting with her broken vagina. Part memoir, part self help book, My Broken Vagina: One Woman's Quest to Fix Her Sex Life, and Yours delves into Fran’s sex life and that of others, breaking down common misconceptions, challenging the status quo and sharing a few helpful tips along the way.
After reading only a few pages of this book I knew I was going to love it. Fran is hilarious and so relatable. It’s a joy to work through each chapter with her as she navigates her quest of trying to ‘fix’ her ‘broken vagina’.
A lot of the experiences Fran shares over the course of the book struck a chord with me, and I’m sure they will with other readers, especially how medical professionals regard a women’s right to pleasure and how ‘sexual dysfunction’ in females is approached. The book also manages to be inclusive of everyone. Fran is sensitive to different sexualities and gender identities, which means no one is left behind on this journey.
You might think that a book which tackles such a sensitive subject might be a bit heavy or bogged down in science and details, but it’s not. Each chapter features a blend of stories, reflections and recollections, cute illustrations, entries from Fran’s teenage diary, statistics, self-care tips and interviews. In my opinion, it is probably best read in bite size chunks to have time to read around a certain topic or do some research, as different parts will resonate with different people.
Aside from all the comedy - and there is a huge amount comedy gold in this book with lots of laugh out loud moments - there’s also a lot of uncomfortable truths and helpful advice to be discovered. Fran covers all manner of topics from getting comfortable with your body and masturbation to communication and consent. It is a no holds barred account of one woman’s journey to take responsibility for her own pleasure, challenge common misconceptions and fly the flag for women’s health. With that, there is an incredible sense of solidarity in this book. There’s a feeling that Fran has stumbled upon something that many of us have lived quietly with and we are now all having an ‘aha!’ moment of epic proportions. It is refreshing and (I hope) revolutionary.
In short, My Broken Vagina is a triumph of a book and I think everyone should read it. It is eye opening, sensitive, laugh out loud funny and informative all at the same time.
Thank you to Fran Bushe, Hodder & Stoughton, and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of My Broken Vagina in exchange for an honest review.
After reading only a few pages of this book I knew I was going to love it. Fran is hilarious and so relatable. It’s a joy to work through each chapter with her as she navigates her quest of trying to ‘fix’ her ‘broken vagina’.
A lot of the experiences Fran shares over the course of the book struck a chord with me, and I’m sure they will with other readers, especially how medical professionals regard a women’s right to pleasure and how ‘sexual dysfunction’ in females is approached. The book also manages to be inclusive of everyone. Fran is sensitive to different sexualities and gender identities, which means no one is left behind on this journey.
You might think that a book which tackles such a sensitive subject might be a bit heavy or bogged down in science and details, but it’s not. Each chapter features a blend of stories, reflections and recollections, cute illustrations, entries from Fran’s teenage diary, statistics, self-care tips and interviews. In my opinion, it is probably best read in bite size chunks to have time to read around a certain topic or do some research, as different parts will resonate with different people.
Aside from all the comedy - and there is a huge amount comedy gold in this book with lots of laugh out loud moments - there’s also a lot of uncomfortable truths and helpful advice to be discovered. Fran covers all manner of topics from getting comfortable with your body and masturbation to communication and consent. It is a no holds barred account of one woman’s journey to take responsibility for her own pleasure, challenge common misconceptions and fly the flag for women’s health. With that, there is an incredible sense of solidarity in this book. There’s a feeling that Fran has stumbled upon something that many of us have lived quietly with and we are now all having an ‘aha!’ moment of epic proportions. It is refreshing and (I hope) revolutionary.
In short, My Broken Vagina is a triumph of a book and I think everyone should read it. It is eye opening, sensitive, laugh out loud funny and informative all at the same time.
Thank you to Fran Bushe, Hodder & Stoughton, and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of My Broken Vagina in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2021
I read this book as a digital review copy provided by Netgalley.
My Broken Vagina is an open, honest and utterly fantastic book about people with vaginas. Fran Bushe conveys her own experiences in an amusing way and, at the same time, interviews and shares the opinions of people from different genders and sexualities in order to provide a more complete and diverse picture of how people with vaginas understand and experience sex.
Her writing is as compelling as it is hilarious, communicating the message that everyone has issues in bed and no one truly knows what they’re doing, and that’s okay. In particular, she focuses on how people with vaginas find it difficult, if not impossible, to find help within the medical community when they have problems with their sexual relations or libido, yet there is a lot more research and even medication for people with penises. This is an important issue, because “the only thing that really causes distress is that feeling of not fitting in and not being able to see yourself represented anywhere,” she writes.
Bushe discusses pain during sex, desire, consent, masturbation, the concept of sex itself, how society is excessively focused on penetration and heteronormative relationships, and how finding what works best for you can be a messy, endless journey. And, obviously, talks a lot (and I mean A LOT) about vaginas in all their shapes and forms.
This is the book I wish my 16-year-old self had read. It would have saved her a lot of self-doubt and insecurity, helped her see that sex doesn’t have to be heteronormative and focused on male pleasure, helped her discover and ask for what she liked in bed and to learn to say no when something felt uncomfortable. This is an important story that, hopefully, will pave the way towards a more open conversation about sex both within society and with our sexual partners.
I encourage you to read this irrespective of your gonads, I think there is useful information and reflections for everyone of us here. If you’re looking for an authentic and funny story narrated in a sincere, no-bullshit way, you will love this one as much as I did.
My Broken Vagina is an open, honest and utterly fantastic book about people with vaginas. Fran Bushe conveys her own experiences in an amusing way and, at the same time, interviews and shares the opinions of people from different genders and sexualities in order to provide a more complete and diverse picture of how people with vaginas understand and experience sex.
Her writing is as compelling as it is hilarious, communicating the message that everyone has issues in bed and no one truly knows what they’re doing, and that’s okay. In particular, she focuses on how people with vaginas find it difficult, if not impossible, to find help within the medical community when they have problems with their sexual relations or libido, yet there is a lot more research and even medication for people with penises. This is an important issue, because “the only thing that really causes distress is that feeling of not fitting in and not being able to see yourself represented anywhere,” she writes.
Bushe discusses pain during sex, desire, consent, masturbation, the concept of sex itself, how society is excessively focused on penetration and heteronormative relationships, and how finding what works best for you can be a messy, endless journey. And, obviously, talks a lot (and I mean A LOT) about vaginas in all their shapes and forms.
This is the book I wish my 16-year-old self had read. It would have saved her a lot of self-doubt and insecurity, helped her see that sex doesn’t have to be heteronormative and focused on male pleasure, helped her discover and ask for what she liked in bed and to learn to say no when something felt uncomfortable. This is an important story that, hopefully, will pave the way towards a more open conversation about sex both within society and with our sexual partners.
I encourage you to read this irrespective of your gonads, I think there is useful information and reflections for everyone of us here. If you’re looking for an authentic and funny story narrated in a sincere, no-bullshit way, you will love this one as much as I did.
June 30, 2021
I host a podcast called 'The Meaningful Life with Andrew G Marshall' and I thought Fran would make a good guest and an interesting topic for the show. I am a marital therapist so I also read the book as I thought it might be something to recommend to clients. Despite reading for professional reasons, I found myself enjoying the book much more than I ever imagined.
The book takes us on quite a journey from 16 years old and full of hope – Fran still has her teenage diary – to a resolution at 30 to finally be honest with her partners and stop faking orgasms and finally ending up at Sex Camp in the Love Lounge. I don't think I've enjoyed a chapter of a book quite so much before. She captured a heady mix of fear, memorable characters at sex camp and the wonder of breaking down your barriers.
My Broken Vagina is simply brilliant. Really relatable – because Bushe has captured all the awkwardness of this topic but has thrown in great research and it has jokes too! And I recommend it to men as well as women – even though it shows that we have a LOT to learn about giving women sexual pleasure.
The book takes us on quite a journey from 16 years old and full of hope – Fran still has her teenage diary – to a resolution at 30 to finally be honest with her partners and stop faking orgasms and finally ending up at Sex Camp in the Love Lounge. I don't think I've enjoyed a chapter of a book quite so much before. She captured a heady mix of fear, memorable characters at sex camp and the wonder of breaking down your barriers.
My Broken Vagina is simply brilliant. Really relatable – because Bushe has captured all the awkwardness of this topic but has thrown in great research and it has jokes too! And I recommend it to men as well as women – even though it shows that we have a LOT to learn about giving women sexual pleasure.
May 2, 2022
'Half of all women have felt pain during sex'
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 -
Did you know the above statement? I didn't! This book covers the authors frustrating sex journey from being a mis-guided teen to a better informed adult.
Who knew men could be so callous! But in all honesty being a gay woman I've known women that are just the same. Those that think they are gods gift when it comes to sex.
This book tells us that it's completely normal for sex to be uncomfortable and painful, it also tells us that we can be completely aroused but still have difficulty with lubricating and thay using products is completely okay!! I felt so much more 'normal' after reading this!
The author covers serious topics but makes it light hearted and very funny.
I enjoyed the interviews with other people as it added that bit more to the book showing us as readers that many women experience issues with sex.
I loved the sex camp lol like I didn't even know there was such a thing to be honest!!
My book has already been borrowed by a friend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 -
Did you know the above statement? I didn't! This book covers the authors frustrating sex journey from being a mis-guided teen to a better informed adult.
Who knew men could be so callous! But in all honesty being a gay woman I've known women that are just the same. Those that think they are gods gift when it comes to sex.
This book tells us that it's completely normal for sex to be uncomfortable and painful, it also tells us that we can be completely aroused but still have difficulty with lubricating and thay using products is completely okay!! I felt so much more 'normal' after reading this!
The author covers serious topics but makes it light hearted and very funny.
I enjoyed the interviews with other people as it added that bit more to the book showing us as readers that many women experience issues with sex.
I loved the sex camp lol like I didn't even know there was such a thing to be honest!!
My book has already been borrowed by a friend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 31, 2021
This was such a hilarious but honest book to read, and I feel like there really isn't enough books like this.
In this book Fran declares her vagina as 'broken' due to the constant problems she was having with sex, including painful sex. Though the conclusion being that she of course was not broken at all. She also includes honest conversations with a diverse range of people and all their different experiences.... We are literally getting the sex education we should already be having at schools from this one book!
Fran's complete honesty throughout the book was so refreshing to read, and she describes her experiences with doctors, ex partners, self pleasure and her vagina (alot ) in such a brilliant and funny way.
This is a sex-positive read that I will definitely be recommending to every woman I know!
In this book Fran declares her vagina as 'broken' due to the constant problems she was having with sex, including painful sex. Though the conclusion being that she of course was not broken at all. She also includes honest conversations with a diverse range of people and all their different experiences.... We are literally getting the sex education we should already be having at schools from this one book!
Fran's complete honesty throughout the book was so refreshing to read, and she describes her experiences with doctors, ex partners, self pleasure and her vagina (alot ) in such a brilliant and funny way.
This is a sex-positive read that I will definitely be recommending to every woman I know!
June 18, 2022
Im very grateful for this book. It described many experiences which i have found few opportunities to express or address in my own life. I found the humour of the first two chapters intrusive however, as i was being triggered by content and the humour felt wounding at times. But mostly, the humour was great and warm and certainly assisted with the message of normalising the difficulties of sex aversion or painful sex. Fran does not claim to solve any problems, but rather shares wisdom and information she has gathered in her own journey. The best bits for me were the details of the sex camp, which sounded wonderful! However, i couldn’t help feeling that she didnt truly appreciate the value of that experience; she seemed determined to undermine its value. All in all i loved reading this and am so grateful for the honesty and warmth of this book.
March 20, 2021
This book was joyously funny, honest and kind. If you have a vagina and a sense of humor, it's for you. There were a couple of scenes, for example the yoni egg, that had me laughing out loud. If you've ever found yourself falling short of the mainstream media version of handsfree, missionary, simultaneously orgasmic encounters, it's for you. And if you have a 16 year old in your life, it's probably the most realistic chat about the way it can be that they or their friends are going to get. Even if their experiences turn out to be different to Bushe's, they will all have friends whose encounters are similar. I love Fran's willingness to embrace the taboo of unsatisfactory sex.
I was lucky enough to have access to an early copy, in exchange for an honest review.
I was lucky enough to have access to an early copy, in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2021
This had me LOL so hard on many occasions. I genuinely want Fran to be my best friend. With diagrams galore, I found this thoroughly entertaining. There was something on nearly every page that made me want to take a photo and share it with all my friends. Not sure I'll look at goats in the same way ever again.
But at the heart of it is a very serious women's problem and she's absolutely right to share it and raise awareness and tackle (excuse the pun) head on. The message is not taken away from all the hilarious sections throughout. A brave and fresh insight in a 30 something women's life. So relatable. Read this.
But at the heart of it is a very serious women's problem and she's absolutely right to share it and raise awareness and tackle (excuse the pun) head on. The message is not taken away from all the hilarious sections throughout. A brave and fresh insight in a 30 something women's life. So relatable. Read this.
May 2, 2021
This book focuses on Fran trying to ‘fix her vagina’. Stories from Fran exploring intimacy and all the hurdles that she faces in the process. It also includes interviews and comments from an array of other people to get diverse and differing experiences.
This book was great, it made me laugh and cry. Fran writes in such an accessible and hilarious way. This book normalises that sex isn’t always as great as everyone makes it out to be. It address all the misinformation out there and how harmful that can be for those who have vaginas.
I was gifted a proof of this book by the publisher, Hodder Studios
This book was great, it made me laugh and cry. Fran writes in such an accessible and hilarious way. This book normalises that sex isn’t always as great as everyone makes it out to be. It address all the misinformation out there and how harmful that can be for those who have vaginas.
I was gifted a proof of this book by the publisher, Hodder Studios
January 29, 2022
I loved this book! I would 100% recommend to everyone.
This was funny and easy to read, it was filled with Fran’s own experiences with painful sex which she starts out thinking means she’s ‘broken’ and goes about trying to ‘fix her vagina’.
It’s an enlightening read which includes referenced research and interviews with people of different genders and sexualities about their own experiences.
I was so astounded by how much I didn’t know about my own body; I must have read at least 80% of this book aloud to my fiancé because I was just in disbelief, maybe I should be an audiobook narrator...
I’d honestly recommend that everyone reads this book, it was just that good.
This was funny and easy to read, it was filled with Fran’s own experiences with painful sex which she starts out thinking means she’s ‘broken’ and goes about trying to ‘fix her vagina’.
It’s an enlightening read which includes referenced research and interviews with people of different genders and sexualities about their own experiences.
I was so astounded by how much I didn’t know about my own body; I must have read at least 80% of this book aloud to my fiancé because I was just in disbelief, maybe I should be an audiobook narrator...
I’d honestly recommend that everyone reads this book, it was just that good.
July 27, 2023
What a book. Ms. Bushe has such a refreshing honesty (and humor) that you empathize with her from page one. Her love of life leaps out from every page, as does her tenacity.
But this is no po-faced, woe-is-me dirge. Instead Bushe takes you on her journey (and those of her partners) with clear-headedness and intelligence.
Most of all, she uses the word from the title and shows but does not tell that it is okay to say the word "vagina." Many of us have one and yet many of us are too coy or nervous or ill-informed to either say the word or fix what ails it.
Thanks, Fran Bushe, for an entertaining and sobering trip with you along the road to recovery.
But this is no po-faced, woe-is-me dirge. Instead Bushe takes you on her journey (and those of her partners) with clear-headedness and intelligence.
Most of all, she uses the word from the title and shows but does not tell that it is okay to say the word "vagina." Many of us have one and yet many of us are too coy or nervous or ill-informed to either say the word or fix what ails it.
Thanks, Fran Bushe, for an entertaining and sobering trip with you along the road to recovery.
May 10, 2021
A funny and easy read that is considerate and mindful of the reader. I enjoyed the pace of the story line as we learnt more about Fran’s condition as she did. I liked that she was open to research and take control of her sex life. The light-hearted approach makes the book accessible to everyone who wants to have better sex. I would recommend this book to anyone whether they think they have sexual dysfunction or not.
Thank you to Fran Bushe, Hodder & Stoughton, and Netgalley for the ARC of My Broken Vagina.
Thank you to Fran Bushe, Hodder & Stoughton, and Netgalley for the ARC of My Broken Vagina.
September 18, 2022
This book was so much fun and so enlightening and empowering that I read it greedily and lustily while sick in bed with a cold this weekend. For anyone who's ever felt diminished or "broken" or pathologised for 'failing' at penetrative sex (which is all about achieving a man's pleasure, after all), read this book. It will give you a completely different perspective and hopefully the confidence to go out there with a keener knowledge of and love for your vulva/vagina and how to assert your own needs and wants.
October 29, 2023
Shelving this a few months late. This was a very unusual perspective to get, an intimate account of Fran Bushe’s struggle with vaginismus. What’s more interesting than the vaginismus itself is the orgasm gap between men and women, her experience of feeling “dysfunctional” in a society where a high value is placed in women’s ability to please men sexually, and how she navigates her sexual relationships. Overall a good listen though occasionally weird to have vaginas talked about in such depth while you’re on listening on the bus or playing the book out loud with other people home.
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