Sexpectations: Sex Stuff Straight Up by Craig Murray and Leissa Pitts
Short Summary
Sexpectations: Sex Stuff Straight Up by Craig Murray and Leissa Pitts is a no-nonsense, teen-friendly guide to sex that delivers clear, factual information without porn, fear, or fluff. Written by Australian sexual health educators, it focuses less on puberty basics and more on what sex actually is, why people have it, how to stay safe, and how to think about sex in a healthy, respectful way.
Age Group
Suitable for children aged 15 to 18 years.
Topics Discussed
Sex Education | Teenage Boys | Teenage Girls
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Buy a Copy
Buy a copy of Sexpectations: Sex Stuff Straight Up by Craig Murray and Leissa Pitts from Amazon.
What this book is about
- Sexpectations is designed so teens can access the information that’s relevant to them, without wading through content that feels unnecessary or awkward.
- The flip-book format means one cover leads into girl-focused content, while flipping the book over gives boy-focused information.
- Both sections follow a similar structure, which keeps the messaging consistent while still being body-specific where needed.
- The book focuses primarily on sex rather than puberty, although puberty is briefly covered for context.
- Topics include what sex is, why people choose to have sex, expectations vs reality, and the emotional and relational aspects involved.
- It covers body parts, pleasure, masturbation, sexual desire, arousal, and the idea of virginity in a grounded, factual way.
- There is discussion about what makes a good relationship, including communication, respect, and boundaries.
- Basic sexual techniques are mentioned in an educational, non-graphic way – enough to inform, not to titillate.
- Safer sex is a strong focus, including contraception and STI prevention, with clear illustrations showing how to use a condom.
- The book also tackles harder topics such as sexual violence, alcohol, assault, termination, and sexual difficulties.
- There isn’t a dedicated section on porn, which makes sense given the original 2011 publication date – but the core messages still hold up well.
- Visually, it’s laid out like a magazine, with bold colours, varied fonts, illustrations, and quotes from real people.
- This is the kind of book teens will actually pick up, flick through, and revisit when questions pop up.
I hope you find this book review helpful!
Happy talking!
❤️ Cath