Emma-Louise Boynton – författare

Pleasure explores the ways in which women have been systematically disconnected from their bodies throughout history and the transformative power of reclaiming that connection through pleasure. From the cultural mythology of sex as something women give and men take, to the historical demonization of female pleasure through witch trials and religious doctrine. Pleasure traces the ways in which women's bodies have been turned into religious battlegrounds. Yet, it also reveals the radical, healing power of reclaiming pleasure as an act of resistance and joy. Drawing on personal experiences, cultural analysis and interviews with experts, Pleasure unpacks the myths we've inherited - from the virginity ideal to the male-centric view of sex - and how they affect women's lives today. By weaving historical context with contemporary stories, it offers a radical yet hopeful roadmap for women to reconnect with their bodies, rewrite their sexual stories and, ultimately, cultivate more pleasure-filled lives.

'Absolutely vital reading' - Stylist'Brave, searching' - Coco Mellors'The book you didn't know you needed' - Roxie Nafousi'Brilliant' - Times Radio'I can't think of a single woman who won't read it and recognise anecdotes straight from the pages of her own life story.' - GlamourPleasure explores why so many women feel disconnected from their bodies and from sex, and what it takes to change that.Part memoir, part cultural investigation, the book traces Emma-Louise Boynton's journey from being unable to orgasm and battling a years-long eating disorder, to rebuilding her relationship with sex, desire and intimacy.The story begins in the sex therapy room, where Boynton first discovered that her struggle with bulimia was deeply entangled with her experience of sexual numbness. From there, Pleasure expands outward - drawing on expert interviews, cultural analysis and immersive research (including four days on a porn set) - to reveal that this rupture between women and their bodies is not a personal failure, but a systemic one.From narrow ideals around desirability and sexist narratives about aging, to the policing of women's pleasure, and the emotional alienation of app-based intimacy, Boynton interrogates the forces that teach women to mistrust their bodies and perform rather than feel their pleasure.Crucially, Boynton offers a clear and practical roadmap for rebuilding desire, confidence and connection. Provocative, intimate and timely, Pleasure reframes women's relationship to sex and embodiment, arguing that reclaiming pleasure is not indulgent, but essential.