I didn't know exactly what I was getting into when I requested this, but I ended up loving it despite its academic tone. Each chapter was an essay from a different bi+ activist and they covered a wide range of topics, from refugeeism to fatness to trans rights, and how they intersect with bisexuality. Each of them were very eye-opening and validating. This was a perfect book to read during election season–hearing about how so many people are working to make a difference in their communities lent me a lot of hope.

DNF

Absolutely my fault, not the book. Just got caught up in moving house and didn't manage to finish it before access expired

I did really enjoy the bits I managed to read, and will seek this out in future to actually finish it!

I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.

I have rarely read a collection of semi-academic essays and I don't think I realized that was what I was getting into (this is a habit of mine apparently with ARCs.) I certainly was not expecting the collective pseudo-academic tone, so I had to adjust my expectations while reading so that I didn’t feel like I was being lectured at.

What I liked:
• Truly varied, diverse and intersectional perspectives - many of which were new to me. It felt like it was very thoughtfully curated in that way.
• Among the things that stood out to me as new and interesting were the UK-centrism and the piece about anarchism. I also loved the "Where Fatness and Bisexuality Meet" essay.
• Lots of parts where I was able to relate, understand and feel seen. A sense of solidarity with the writers in some cases.
• It was pretty readable - I certainly moved through it much more quickly than I usually do with non-fiction.

What didn't work as well for me:
• There was a fair amount of repetition within and across essays and some individual essays were particularly unpolished, which took away from the persuasion.
• I believe and understand the need for activism but there were times where I felt like some of the described marginalization felt like . . . a stretch? Almost like data hunting to prove a point that felt like it was sort of mining transphobia data for proof of bi oppression.

Overall, this book was eye opening, upsetting (because of what was exposed) and empowering and I'm glad to have read it. I'm not sure I'm the best suited to review it - for people who are coming at the subject with a more academic angle, you will probably appreciate the ample references and suggested further reading.

Fun, entertaining, light-hearted. Not my favorite, but I love the representation and seeing this offered!

This is an anthology with a plurality of voices, in the true sense of the meaning of "bi", as the editors pointed out in the introduction. It is about many topics and problems, as bi history, biphobia, people, books. Also about organizing and making things better. About bodies, sex, violence.

In summary, the essays in this book are informative, diverse, thought-provoking, well-chosen, and often personal and relatable. Being not part of this facet of the spectrum, I learned a lot. There are as many voices, angles, experiences, and views as there are bisexual people, or better, people in general. On a more personal note, this book spoke in particular to me since reading it coincided to a close family member spelling out for me that they are the "B" in LGBTQ+, heart-warming!

Everybody should browse this book and find at least one essay to learn something new from!

(Based on an ARC from NetGalley)

Lovely collection of stories with some powerful messages. Not the kind of thing I would normally read but I really enjoyed t and found ti thought provoking,

I really enjoyed this anthology! It was really nice to read the perspectives from a wide range of bi+ people and a lot of the essays made me think or feel seen in some way, and I'll definitely be seeking out more works by the authors and diving into the extensive resources that were referenced.

An important and powerful anthology with a wide array of perspectives. I felt very seen by this book as a bisexual and will be sharing this with friends. Thank you to NetGalley and Jessica Kinglsey Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

An anthology of essays by bisexual voices from the UK and US (primarily). This anthology had a great variety of voices and perspectives. The one thing for me personally was that I live in the US and most chapters were very UK specific, especially with laws and things there, that did not make as much sense to me.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

One of the top complaints in bisexual communities is how often we're erased from public view. We either don't exist or we're seen as cowards or shadows for not "picking a side". In "It Ain't Over Til the Bisexual Speaks" we get a chance to share our many voices and realities. We're not all the same but we definitely exist. Thanks for sharing some of our vivid diversity.

I really liked this anthology. I mean, as can be expected with any collection, there were some essays that I enjoyed more than others… but overall, It Ain’t Over Til the Bisexual Speaks is quite strong as a whole. Stronger than a lot of other anthologies that I have read.

One of the joys of this book is that it offers a little bit of everything related to the bi experience. There’s a lot of history, including the identification of early bisexual texts, the origin of m-spec terms, and the true meaning behind the bisexual flag colors. There’s a lot of semantic discussion surrounding the term “bisexual” itself. And, unfortunately, there are several examples of bi erasure, bi denial, and bi stigma. Even as an m-spec individual, many of these stories were eye-opening… especially those related to the denial that my sexuality is even possible. (Because spectrums and fluidity are very scary for society.)

And that brings me to another point that I really enjoyed: There were A LOT of connections drawn between the bisexual and the transgender communities - and not just the fact that many individuals hold both identities. Many of the authors discussed the breakdown of binaries, and explored this as one reason behind the rising political hatred that we are seeing. (If not everything is black & white, and we are therefore not easily identified, then ANYONE could be Queer. *gasp*)

But aside from the intersection between transness and bisexuality, this anthology also does a fantastic job of exploring the intersections of other identities & important topics: fatness, disability, classism, forced migration. All of the authors really did a fantastic job of examining oppression from multiple directions. This is a book about bisexuality — but certainly not ONLY bisexuality.

If you’re looking for an intersectional & politically Queer book to add to your bisexual library (including a story of someone creating exactly that), then I definitely think you’ll enjoy It Ain’t Over Til the Bisexual Speaks.

I really enjoyed the range of essays included here. They were personal and reflective, but they had a wide range of vantage points. The bottom line, however, felt similar - I strong support of the B in the LGBTQ+ rainbow..

An ambitious and sweeping anthology that tries to capture the sheer complexity and diversity of the bisexual experience in essays from many authors with their stories and voices.

Each essay offers a new perspective and focuses on an intersectional element of bisexuality — how experiences change based on sex, gender, race, disability, nationality, body shape and the many different facets that form our identities. It takes apart how bisexuality has been misrepresented, erased and demonised over time and the struggles still being faced today.

An amazing collection of queer voices that deserve to be heard - whether you’re looking to understand and educate yourself or find some connection with yourself I’d recommend adding this to your bookshelves.

This is the book I wish I had before I came to terms with my sexuality and in the early days of coming out! A perfect introduction to bi activism and literature

Having read a lot of research on bisexuality some parts I found to be a repetition of information I was already aware of but it is a great place to learn

I love anthologies, and when you add bisexuals in the mix..oh count me in!! Every single story was so beautiful and profound. I felt so seen in ways I never knew I needed. Will absolutely be adding this to my personal collection and recommending it to everyone I know.

This book might be very interesting but it wasn’t for me. I gave it a chance because I was interested in the topics of the book, but I fear it was too slow paced for me.

As a bisexual person, i enjoy to read more about different views and thoughts. It’s good to see representation

This collection of essays covers a wide range of topics, including the historical context of bisexuality, the intersectionality of gender, sexuality, and race, and the challenges faced by bisexual people. Each author brings their unique voice and insight, offering valuable perspectives that challenge mainstream narratives and provide a deeper understanding of the complexities of bisexuality.
I was particularly draw to the essays that explore the intersections between bisexuality and other identities, such as being working-class, Muslim, or transgender. These essays highlight the importance of recognizing and addressing the unique challenges faced by bisexual individuals within various communities and social contexts.
As someone interested in understanding the experiences of bisexuals and the impact of biphobia and bi erasure, this book was very informative. And I’m excited to see so many references and recommendations provided for further reading.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

My apologies to the publisher and the authors – I am finishing a book, this was going to be my next read, and then I saw it expires on April 30. Which is today.

It Ain't Over Til the Bisexual Speaks is a thoughtfully put together selection of essays on the bisexuality and the struggles for recognition and representation both within society as a whole but also within the LGBTQIA+ community. I am not well versed on the history of bisexuality and have noticed that many books about the queer community either gloss over bisexuality with a fleeting mention or pretty much ignore it so I was intrigued to read more and get an insight into the unique experience and struggles this section of the community faces.

What I was not expecting was how eloquently intersectionality was woven into each and every one of these essays. The majority of the essays cited numerous studies to back up their assertions and it was such an eye opener that I have been inspired to look up some of the suggested further reading.

There were, however, parts of this book that I found a bit harder to connect with, either because the writing style just wasn't to my taste or because the essay was a bit too fact heavy and I struggled to see the point the writer was trying to make.