Never Have the Same Sex Twice - book discontinued by Cleis Press Inc. - review by GS28

Alison Tyler is funny and honest throughout the book. It's refreshing to read her personal stories and to see how some "fantasies" have played out in real life. There are also several other authors in this book who are great erotica writers!

Alison Tyler's "Never Have the Same Sex Twice" is written for monogamous couples who want to avoid (or get out of) sexual doldrums.

This book lies somewhere between a sex advice guide and erotica. Even though full length erotica stories accompany each chapter, there are quite a few erotica excerpts in each chapter, too. For me, the sexual advice was a bit standard, maybe even dull, and the accompanying full-length erotica didn't always feel completely in sync with the chapter. The erotica excerpts sometimes provided good examples for the chapter points, but I was less than thrilled with only a snippet of a story. In fact the excerpts, including several of Tyler's own, kind of felt like a promotion instead of a help.

The stories from Tyler's real life and excerpts from responses to her website were often much more on target than the erotica was. That said, the full length stories can stand alone are really good.

Although the book is for monogamous couples, the stories include one night stands, exhibitionism, orgylike scenarios, and a BDSM "den," as well as a few couple-focused stories ranging from sensual to light BDSM. Anyone uncomfortable with those kinds of stories might want to skip the erotica sections.

The advice covers many areas: Using food, sexy notes, lingerie, setting, fantasies, oral sex, flirting, and more. Like I said before, the advice is a bit standard; but all of the chapters get back to knowing yourself, accepting your sexual being, communication with your partner, and taking new (sometimes small) risks to spice things up. It will definitely get you thinking about those days in the back seats of cars when each touch and kiss was new and exciting.

This book is really geared toward couples new to sexuality and long-term sexual relationships, couples who need guidance in opening sexual communication, or more mature couples who want to find that "fun" they had in the beginning of the relationship.

The 202 page, softcover book is divided into 17 chapters and 17 full-length erotica stories. The Table of Contents lists the Chapter titles, and the stories are listed as subheadings to each chapter.

The general make-up of the books is Chapter Intro, Tip and Erotica Excerpts or personal example, Full Length Story.

The cover is kind of glossy and clearly displaces the title, and the black and white photography of a couple is inviting without being too sexual. They look happy which makes you feel like this book will make your sex happy, too.

There are no images, photographs, or charts in the book.

I feel that the book is well made. The pages have a good weight and no pages came loose from the binding while I read my copy. The cover developed a minimal bend at the spine as I was reading.

Because the book included things that my partner and I already do, we didn't get to "experience" much of it. However, it did remind us to clean up our bedroom to make it a more sex friendly environment. It also opened us up to talk about light BDSM, like blindfolds and cuffs, which we had never really discussed before. And I think that's where this book really helps -- it's written in such a way to make your fantasies and kinky ideas easier to share with your partner.