The Adventurous Couple's Guide to Strap-On Sex - erotic book by Cleis Press Inc. - review by ScottA

When I found out that I would be reviewing Violet Blue's Adventurous Couple's Guide to Strap-On Sex, I was excited since I have long had a fantasy that my lover would strap on a dildo and peg me until I was a moaning, quivering, cum-covered jelly; but I was a little unsure how to make that fantasy a reality. I had planned to read this book slowly, but once I started reading, I devoured it in one night.

The Adventurous Couple's Guide to Strap-On Sex is concerned solely with when she straps it on and he gets it, tailoring the hints to the hopes, fears, and questions of heterosexual couples. It's a solid introduction for those who are interested in incorporating strap-on play (anal, oral, or both) into their relationship but are a bit apprehensive about how to proceed.

This book starts off with a discussion of the modern history and myths of pegging and why it feels good. Violet then gives tips on how to discuss your desire for strap-on play with your partner (of either sex). Following the talk, it moves to action with hints on anal play and foreplay. After a brief interlude to discuss choosing equipment, there's a (short) section with tips on the main event. Scattered throughout the book are four short stories featuring strap-ons.

This book is good but not excellent. There are several inexplicable omissions for a book that claims to tell you exactly how to do it. The first is the complete lack of pictures. Drawings would go a long way towards clarifying parts of the book, especially the sections on anatomy. The second big thing that I noticed was the minimal discussion of mechanics (the Art of Pegging chapter is only eight pages long). While you can find a listing of anal sex positions online or in other books, it would have been nice if Violet had touched a bit more on positions that work best for pegging especially since many guides show either the woman being penetrated or a gay couple, and this may be all the discouragement needed for someone who is unsure about strap-on play.

I give this book three stars. It's a good introduction for a couple who is new to pegging, but it seems incomplete. As someone new to pegging but familiar with some other forms of anal play, I feel like I want some more information before bending over for my baby's dildo. I would love an expanded second edition because there's plenty of good stuff here; it just could benefit from a little more.

Even with its shortcomings, I would highly recommend The Adventurous Couple's Guide to Strap-On Sex for people who are curious about strap-ons, especially if they're not sure how interested their partner is. If you already peg (bravo!), you probably won't get as much out of it, though.

As for me, I'm definitely keeping it around for when my sweetie is back in town...

Looking back on my experience with The Adventuresome Couple's Guide to Strap-On Sex I must say that my biggest disappointment was that the book leaves you hanging once you've got your dildo on. The book is pretty good about covering the things that a couple would want to know about before starting anal play. It covers anatomy, common fears and misconceptions about anal eroticism, communication hints and how to ask for anal stimulation (no matter which partner starts the conversation), and tips and techniques relating to starting anal play, anal foreplay, and choosing toys. These were great when I was inexperienced in couples anal play, especially the communications bit (as a man I found it really hard to begin that conversation that started with "honey, I'd like to try something a bit different if you're willing..."), but once we got over that hurdle and into anal play I found myself wishing that the Adventurous Couple's Guide to Strap-On Sex has a bit more content on the act of pegging itself rather than the Alison Tyler shorts - stuff like position advice for the first-timer, tricks to make the most of pegging for people who are moving from vaginal intercourse, and more detailed advanced hints. There's a bit, but it's mostly bulleted lists and short summaries, leaving me wanting more, in a way wanting Violet Blue to seduce me into trying these things with my partner.

Another thing to keep in mind is that couples, for the purposes of this book, are male/female, even though the title doesn't mention it. This is not bad in itself, as there are many hetero couples interested in male anal play, and hopefully the book's focus will encourage some "interested but scared" men to open up and explore their sexuality, but the title does sound a bit needlessly exclusionary.