April 15, 1999
Cox is a popular provider of sex advice in Australia. Her how-to is an enthusiastic, slangy, and comprehensive guide primarily for twenty- and thirtysomething heterosexuals. The sections on foreplay, intercourse, oral sex, contraception, and STDs are outstanding, and much of the rest of the book is direct and on target. Unfortunately, Hot Sex is marred by occasional bad editing and sloppiness, notably in a dictionary with grossly inadequate definitions. There are unpredictable shifts in point of view and some incomplete or confusing descriptions of body parts and techniques. Australianisms like STI instead of STD are not translated. A few illustrations and a short bibliography or resource list would also have helped. These shortcomings do not seriously compromise the books value for large collections, but smaller libraries can stick with Sari Lockers Mindblowing Sex in the Real World (HarperPerennial, 1995; Sex Texts Come out of the Closet, LJ 10/1/97, p. 5356.) for the same age group.Martha Cornog, Philadelphia