In this Author POV feature, we speak with Dr. Trina Read about The Taboo Show, the provocative and deeply compassionate sequel to her award-winning novel The Sex Course. Together, the two books form what she calls the world’s first “self-help fiction”—a genre-bending blend of contemporary women’s fiction and practical insight into sexual well-being.
Humorous, heartfelt, and refreshingly honest, The Taboo Show offers a rare look at female sexuality in fiction not as fantasy, but as lived experience shaped by aging, marriage, identity, faith, and the pressures of modern womanhood. For librarians seeking contemporary titles that spark conversation around intimacy, empowerment, and personal reinvention, this novel is designed to resonate.
Can you introduce your book for librarians who may be discovering it for the first time?
The Taboo Show (Release: February 14, 2026) is the bold, emotionally rich sequel to the award-winning, The Sex Course and together they form the world's first "self-help fiction." It blends contemporary women's fiction with practical insight into sexual well-being, all through the lens of four women whose lives implode—and rebloom—over one unforgettable day.
Isabella, Amy, Claire, and Jeanette were once thrown together in a university sex course. They reunite at the Taboo Sex Show, each quietly struggling with body image, aging, marriage, intimacy, career pressures, and worthiness. What begins as a fun outing becomes a catalyst that forces each woman to confront her own story: Isabella lands in a sexy demonstration, Amy is drawn into the BDSM community, Claire finds herself transformed by a Tantra workshop, and Jeanette faces the truth about her failing marriage.
The Taboo Sex Show becomes the crucible for their personal breakthroughs—sparking major confrontations, deep self-reflection, and real-world steps toward healing: marriage counseling, mindfulness, community support, and deeper emotional honesty.
Set in contemporary Canada, the story moves between the chaotic, liberating energy of the Taboo Show and the grounded, sometimes painful realities of their homes, marriages, and careers. Themes include female sexuality, empowerment and shame, unequal emotional labor, and the quest for authenticity behind the personas women perform.
Genre: Contemporary Women's Fiction / Genre-bending with self-help elements.
Tone: Humorous, heartfelt, provocative, and deeply compassionate.
Back Cover Copy
Four women walk into The Taboo Sex Show — and walk out forever changed.
Isabella, a part-time sex columnist and full-time mom, writes about pleasure but can't find it in her own marriage. Amy, a confident, sex-positive professor, preaches empowerment yet can't stop chasing empty hook-ups. Claire, a powerhouse lawyer who dominates in the courtroom, freezes when it's time to surrender in the bedroom. And Jeanette, a devout Christian, watches her marriage crumble under secrets she can no longer pray away.
When Isabella finds herself tied up — onstage, and on display — it sparks a revolution inside her. A psychic's warning pushes Amy into the seductive world of BDSM, where control and vulnerability collide. A chance encounter with a Tantra practitioner challenges Claire to open her heart as much as her body. And as Jeanette's faith and desire awaken, she faces an impossible choice: stay trapped in her marriage or finally choose herself.
The Taboo Show is the bold, breathtaking sequel to Dr. Trina Read's award-winning novel The Sex Course. Together, these books create the world's first self-help fiction—a delicious blend of women's fiction, raw honesty, and practical insight into real-life pleasure and empowerment.
This story will make you laugh, blush, and think differently about what it means to be a woman who wants something different. It's a celebration of friendship, reinvention, and the courage to walk through the door marked taboo—and find freedom on the other side.
Perfect for fans of Nine Perfect Strangers, Sex and the City, and Eat, Pray, Love—but braver, bolder, and unapologetically sexier—The Taboo Show is a love letter to every woman who's ever asked herself, Am I allowed to want more?
What inspired you to write this book, and what core themes do you hope readers take away from it?
I wrote The Taboo Show to challenge one of the biggest lies women believe: that her sexuality simply "is what it is," and there's nothing she can do to change it. The secondary lie is equally damaging—that women are "too busy" to prioritize pleasure, when often the truth is that they don't feel worthy of putting their sexual needs on equal footing with everything else.
The book explores how different women approach sexual happiness—from faith-based guilt to perfectionism to avoidant empowerment—and how friendship can be a powerful catalyst for change. Strong, opinionated women can challenge one another, hold different ideologies, and still support each other's paths.
Character highlights
Claire: Represents the myth that being beautiful, successful, and "put together" equals great sex. Her arc shows that she's disconnected from her pleasure because of her demanding career.
Amy: A sex-positive, fluid woman who uses hook-ups to mask heartbreak. She embodies the difference between sexual freedom and emotional avoidance.
Jeanette: A devout Christian convinced she's "frigid." Her journey dismantles shame rooted in religion, age, and marriage.
Isabella: A relatable, overwhelmed mom whose marriage and libido are running on fumes. She reflects the reality for many women who are exhausted, resentful, and stuck in sexual ruts.
What kind of readers or patrons do you see this book resonating with most?
Women ages 30–55 who enjoy contemporary fiction grounded in emotional truth, humor, and female friendship. Readers who appreciate Liane Moriarty, Sex and the City, Fleabag, or novels that blend entertainment with reflection will gravitate to it.
Ideal readers may be:
- working mothers juggling everything except their own pleasure
- ambitious professionals questioning whether they've neglected intimacy
- women navigating divorce, peri-menopause, or rediscovery
- readers who want to feel seen in their messy, complicated desire
The book resonates with women who sense their pleasure has taken a backseat and want stories that validate the complexity—and importance—of reclaiming it.
What themes or discussion topics do you hope librarians highlight when recommending the book?
- Book club conversations—this novel is built for discussion around marriage, friendship, desire, identity, and reinvention.
- Female sexual empowerment
- Female sexual shame—how religion, body image, trauma, and societal expectations silence women's pleasure.
- Emotional and domestic labor—how inequity at home directly affects desire. Isabella's storyline is a powerful illustration.
- Authenticity vs. performance—the personas women adopt ("the perfect lawyer," "the dutiful wife," "the sex-positive woman") and what happens when they crack.
- Women's agency in long-term relationships—asking for what you want, and then allowing yourself to lean into it.
Are there any sensitive topics or content considerations librarians should be aware of?
Yes. This is an 18+ novel intended for adult women, especially those in long-term relationships.
The sex scenes are realistic, not gratuitous, and not written as erotica or rom-com fantasy. They exist to advance character growth and reflect the reality of women's sexual lives, including struggles with desire, shame, religious guilt, and emotional labor.
If your book were part of a library display, what topics, themes, or comparable titles would you pair it with?
Themes:
- Women's sexual wellness
- Female friendship
- Identity and reinvention
- Marriage and intimacy
- Contemporary feminist fiction
Comparable titles:
- Big Little Lies — Liane Moriarty
- Such a Fun Age — Kiley Reid
- Fleabag: The Scriptures — Phoebe Waller-Bridge
- Grown Ups -- Marian Keyes
Are there companion resources librarians should know about?
Yes.
- The Sex Course -- The first award-winning, self-help-fiction in this series.
- You. Me. Bed. NOW! — a companion workbook offering practical, accessible intimacy exercises for women.
Which formats are currently available?
- Planned formats:
- Paperback
- Ebook
- Audiobook
- Library/educational bulk pricing available upon request.
Do you offer author engagement options for schools or libraries?
Yes.
- Virtual visits
- Q&A sessions
- In-person events (based in Calgary, Alberta)
Is there anything else you would like librarians, teachers, or educators to know about your work?
My mission is to make conversations about sexuality accessible, compassionate, and shame-free. I write fiction that entertains and empowers—stories that help women see themselves not as "broken," but as deserving of pleasure, agency, and meaningful connection. My books offer both an emotional journey and realistic tools that readers can apply in their own lives.
Learn more about Dr. Trina Read and her work by visiting her website here.
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