The Grrl Genius Guide to Sex (with Other People): A Self-Help Novel

by Cathryn Michon

Who better to advise you on sex and relationships than a woman who has consistently failed at both? In this laugh out loud funny "self-help novel", self proclaimed genius and author Cathryn Michon provides a how not to guide for anyone tackling the daunting task of finding romance in today's world (or at the local fire station.)

Chock full of instructive relationship tips-such as the Pros and "Cons" of dating a man in prison- The Grrl Genius Guide to Sex (With Other People) is hilarious and right on the money both as an instructional guide and an endearingly romantic story about a woman and her four best friends who form The Grrl Genius Club. Armed with the information from Cathryn's Wild Sexual Animal Kingdom research and her "Love is Important but Chocolate is Essential" Chocolate Fun Facts, her posse of Grrl Geniuses struggle with singlehood, married life, sexual preferences, widowhood, and friendship. Cathryn's journey veers from a "nails-on-chalkboard-scratchingly-awful" divorce and the botched kidnapping of her own dog, to pretending to be a lesbian, seeing her old lingerie sold on her old front lawn by her ex-husband's girlfriend, losing her job, and a tragic industrial accident-level bikini wax. And through everything, Cathryn searches for the answer to the most important relationship question of why are all the best men gay?

If you've ever been tempted to have sex with another person, this is an essential read. If you've ever felt inadequate to a task or a failure at love or in any way anything less than a genius and you've sunk so low that even a new pair of cute shoes won't help, Cathryn Michon can show you the way to relationship happiness-all you have to do is learn from her very funny mistakes. However badly you think you've done anything, Cathryn has done it even worse, and reveals lessons learned in the wryly witty and devastatingly honest style that has made her the favorite of aspiring geniuses everywhere!

Genres: Self Help, Fiction, Humor

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 24, 2004

About the author

Cathryn Michon has an eclectic career as a filmmaker, actor, comic, nationally bestselling author, animal advocate and TV host. She is perhaps most proud of being a screenwriter on the films A Dog's Purpose, A Dog's Journey, A Dog's Way Home, all made from the #1 NYT bestselling novels written by her husband, W. Bruce Cameron. Having met thousands of people who have loved and lost a dog, she dreamed for ten years of doing a gorgeous graphic book told from the point of view of an Angel Dog who wants you to know they are still *here* watching you and loving you, but they are also *there* where all the people and animals you have loved run free and without pain. Thus I'm Still Here: A Dog's Purpose Forever was born.

As a writer/director of feature films and television she's written a lot of characters, but she enjoys writing the character of a dog almost more than any other. Who wouldn't want to write a character who loves you unconditionally for all time and who is always happy to see you? Dogs are teachers of joy and Cathryn is so here for that.

Tucker, who is both her muse and her best friend, kindly agreed to model for the paintings of the angel dog in the book, but he would also like people to know that he basically dictated it to her during his many naps. He is that talented, but since he doesn't have opposable thumbs, he graciously allows his Mommy to be his typist.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fresh off of a recent divorce, self-proclaimed "Grrl Genius" Cathryn Michon doesn't think things could get much worse. Her soon-to-be ex-husband is a lazy, money-hungry alcoholic who is trying to claim half of everything they own - even though he's never had a job or tried to work. He's kept the dog - even though he doesn't take care of him and couldn't care less about the dog's wellbeing. He and his new girlfriend, "Triceratops," are living it up in Michon's house on her dime.

"The Grrl Genius Guide to Sex (with Other People)" explores Michon's "fictional alter ego" and all of the less-than-wonderful things that happen to her post-breakup. Michon's character goes on a quest for true love - not necessarily sex - and finds a sense of self-worth. Her friends - also "Grrl Genuises" - suffer from problems with their love lives, as well.

Cathryn Michon tells her story in a humorous, goofy way that will make the reader laugh out loud. In between sections of her story, she has added charts and facts relating to relationships and love, also presented in the same over-the-top manner.

Witty, humorous, and realistic - I would recommend this to any woman looking for a laugh.

[Mystary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Uncontrollably-laugh-out-loud funny. Michon's use of unnecessary "quotation marks" was super annoying at first, but I came to overlook it as the rest of the book was amazing and the quotation marks only showed up within the "The Grrl Genius Wild Sexual Kingdom", "A Grrl Genius Crazy Sex Fact", and "A Grrl Genius "Love is Important But Chocolate Is Essential" Handy Chocolate Fun Fact" blurbs.

I think only women who have been seriously mistreated by terrible, unloving, selfish men can truly enjoy this book to its full potential. However, other women will probably enjoy it too.

This sounds so cliche, but you'll walk away from it with a smile on your face and a tear in your eye. Whether that tear is still hanging on from all the laughter or the sentimentality of the end of the book got to you, I'll leave for you to decide (and defend).

Happy Reading!

[Kelly M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that was brought into my work and left. I read various snippets over the course of several months because the author had different pages with factoids about different things and that fed my 15 minute interest at a time.
When I actually sat down and read the book it was a very charming tale of a comedy writer during a divorce and her search(or lack thereof) for her perfect mate.
Cathryn is a very talented writer and I enjoyed reading her take on life--if slightly skewed by the world of Hollywood.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me after a particularly hard breakup. It's hilarious. I don't know if I'd call it a self help novel, but it certainly makes you feel better about your breakup after reading about hers.

Like I said, it's hilarious and definitely a good read.

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The absolute funniest book I have ever read!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife is a huge fan of this woman, so I read the book expecting to hate it, and loved it. Funny, and a really interesting and surprising story.

[Lydia Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly funny, and despite the title, not really all that much about sex, but romantically about love. As a divorced woman, I love reading about how love can be better on a second try.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hilarious book, and then very romantic and touching. Not at all what I would have thought from the crazy title. Pay no attention to the title, and read this!

[TL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, funny, funny. It had me laughing out loud.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel, part fiction, part non-fiction, details Cathryn and her coterie’s attempts to find love, sex and marriage—not necessarily at once or in that order. She’s going through a difficult divorce, one of her friends has been in mourning for her dead husband for the last ten years, another hasn’t had sex with her husband in over a year, another isn’t sure which side of the sexual fence she’s on and her sister is using The Rules as a guideline to get married (or to get her commitment phobic boyfriend to come to the boil). None of them are happy and she wonders why all the fabulous Grrl advice she’s clung to in the past doesn’t seem to be working. This book is filled with fun facts about relationships, self-help books, men, sexual practices between humans and among the various fauna around the world. Just the sort of book you want when you’re trying to make light, funny dinner conversation.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impulse pick from the library based purely on the cover and name alone. I found the book overall light and charming, like a late night romcom.

Not being a fan of chocolate (or The Rules for that matter!) left me feeling ill for portions of the book. I've also worked with firefighters, so that whole fantasy was a bit lost on me.

Oh! Pages 335 - 338 were ripped out of the copy I had! Guessing it may have been recipes.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not actually about sex, this semi-biographical book tells the hilarious story of Michon's divorce struggle and search for love. Some of her situations are painfully funny and all of the lists and tips are hysterical. I highly recommend this book if you're struggling with relationships or just want a laugh.

[Cheryl Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really funny book. Got me stressed out at times. How could so much bad happen to one person? But was well worth all the frustration because of the constant laughing. I do not normally laugh out loud with books, but this one I did.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this last week. My friend gave me a copy, and I am forever thankful. Yay, Grrl power!

[chrissy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why did I think it was ok to buy a book with the word girl spelled G-R-R-L in the title?

[Mandy Gann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very funny look at life during & after divorce. She doesn't sugar-coat anything! Also, she kidnaps her beloved doberman from her ex-husband's home. That was hands down one of my faveorite parts!

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilariously entertaining

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another funny sarcastic, a bit crass at times kind of read.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok read. Dragged on and on. However I really hate her ex husband, Kurt, so much! What an asshole.

[Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really funny and easy to read. Took some time to get into it, but once I did I really liked it.

[Lorena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great. Not as silly fantastic as the first, but I appreciated its reality. And I'm a sucker for a good love story. ( :

[Fletchasketch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one, especially as knowing who these people were and hearing the story of how they got together not just from the book, but from my family as well, was quite fun. It’s a rather infuriating book at points, not for how it’s written but for the rather appalling loss of resources and possessions in the first act in such a short time. The third act was a very satisfying recovery, though I do wonder how much was real vs. exaggerated. Michon has a style of writing that isn’t exactly my sense of humor, but was still very fun and clever throughout. It’s always interesting to read books from earlier this century and see what’s changed in popular discussion (Shout out to Cathryn Michon for predicting the rise of “Gaslight”ing)

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book club friend gave this to me for an entertaining read during the coronavirus "stay home" times. If you are looking for something lightweight and fun, The Girl Genius Guide is for you. And despite the title and the fancy panties, there isn't really any sex in the book. It's the story of a woman divorcing a deadbeat husband, and trying to move on while being financially drained by him. There are funny lawyer stories, funny dog stories, and funny girlfriend stories. And of course, a possible new relationship but will that self-destruct? The book is full of "fun facts" about both sex (in the wild, as in animal, kingdom) and chocolate. And of course it has a happy ending ...

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly funny!

[Kimiko Omura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me laugh out loud. It's also interesting because it's based on the author's true life divorce and experiences.