Getting Off: One Woman's Journey Through Sex and Porn Addiction

***WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT AND LANGUAGE***

From the publisher A fiercely courageous account of one woman's unflinching, raw, and ultimately hopeful journey through sex and porn addiction. For almost two decades, Erica Garza was consumed by a singular, secret, shame-fueled pursuit that threw her life into chaos: orgasm. Back-braced, isolated, and teased in adolescence, and ambivalent about her Catholic upbringing, Garza found a secret solace in masturbation and porn--first by way of the limited softcore viewing offered by late-night cable, and, later, with the booming proliferation of online porn. In this wrenching, vivid account, Garza explores her sexual fixations and relives the series of disastrous relationships and one-night stands that haunt her as she runs from one side of the world to the other in a futile attempt to break free of her habits―from East Los Angeles to Hawaii and Southeast Asia, through the brothels of Bangkok and the yoga studios of Bali to disappointing stabs at twelve-steps, therapy, and rehab back home.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and OH BOY DID THIS BOOK MAKE ME UNCOMFORTABLE. I am not saying in any way that sex is dirty --- hell orgasms are amazing but this book was way too honest for me.

I read this book at work and my office-mate kept looking at the way my face was contorting and laughing which led to a looooooong discussion over sex and women and stereotypes of porn and additiciton. When I stated (oh this is showing my age) "When I was young I wanted to marry either Donny Osmond or Alan Alda (once I passed 7 years old)!" it led to a discussion of how young woman today don't want to marry Drake or Justin Beiber or Shawn Mendes THEY WANT TO F*CK HIM.

Instagram, Youtube, and other social media have led us to a world where girls have to have the perfect body, have to still have a six pack stomach while pregnant (!!!!!) and have to contour their faces and paint their lips and eyebrows like Kardashians. Kim Kardashian is famous because of a sex tape (as was her pre-fame friend Paris Hilton. With this kind of pop-culture around us, it is no doubt why women end up as nothing but sexual beings.

Being a sexual being is what a woman needs to be these days and Garza relates her journey through this world and her resulting addiction to porn and rehab and trips through the far east's sex clubs and brothels. There are so many graphic parts to this book that were difficult to read and stomach --- it is not for the everyday masses.I certainly would not give it to a daughter that was body-and-social-media-addicted!!!

This was a brutally hard book to read but I think I am better for it in the end as I learned so much that can apply to my work in social services.