Actually, a very large part of the book has been written not by the author but by her patients and respondents, telling her (and us) of their various experiences of, and fantasies about, human sexuality in the early years of the 21st century.
In this regard, it is very like many others of its ilk trailing all the way back to Masters and Johnson, although I suspect it is rather more revealing of contemporary American mating habits than any others.
The author's purpose seems to have been to reinforce the proposition that anything is permissible at any age providing you don't feel guilty about it and nor does your co-operating partner (should there be one), and it doesn't break the law.
On the whole, this kind of information may be enlightening to some and, therefore, the book may be privately helpful.
As the title suggests, this is an extremely sensitive topic, which has also been well traversed in other books, but I think Monro has sufficient perception not to treat the experiences related here gratuitously; quite the reverse. Furthermore, she has canvassed a very wide age group.
Again, the same tired old formula is used, with individuals - male and female - recounting their experiences and Monro tidying up with observation and reflection.
For most cited here, the experience seems to have been largely negative, although that viewpoint is always from hindsight enriched by the acquisition of later knowledge and skills.
One of her conclusions is, however, relevant today and therefore perhaps valuable to worried parents: "... people feel just as insecure now as they ever did. No matter that we have sex education and parents who are willing to talk." Peer pressure and unrealistic expectations, it seems, have not changed much across the generations.
• Bryan James is the Books Editor.
