'Evocative and realistic; captures the tangled feelings of young love and lust.' Kirkus Reviews Magazine

Northern Italy, 1993. Teenage Lee and Nico have been circling each other since childhood: enemies, best friends, and finally, a couple. But while fifteen-year-old Nico is ready for sex, gender confused Lee has never even dated anyone.

When is the right time to take that monumental next step? And how do you navigate the pressure when you’re still trying to figure out who you are?

Beneath the surface of teenage drama, Lee is fighting a quieter, deeper battle. Trapped in a female body while harboring a male soul, Lee must navigate a labyrinth of self-acceptance, eating disorders, and identity before ever truly embracing intimacy. From the breathtaking backdrops of Northern Italy to Southern France, Lee’s journey toward the first time becomes a candid, messy, and comically honest debacle that is as educational as it is deeply relatable.

Sometimes, figuring out who you love means first figuring out how to love yourself—can you truly trust the bad boy you’re falling for, or is he just bad news, like everyone insists?

Written and narrated by the author, Gaia B. Amman brings their own lived history to life with an unmatched, intimate emotional depth that will have you laughing out loud and holding back tears.

Why listeners love S(ex)-O-S:

• An Honest Look at Intimacy: A refreshing, unglamorous, and deeply funny take on the realities of adolescent sexuality.
• 90s Nostalgia with the grit of European youth culture.
• Chosen Family & Identity: A powerful, nuanced exploration of gender identity and body image.

S(ex)-O-S is the fourth installment of The Italian Saga, but can be enjoyed completely as a standalone memoir.

Perfect for fans of Sex Education and I’ll Give You the Sun, this is a funny, emotional, and fiercely honest audio experience about survival, identity, and the courage it takes to grow up.