In Tits Up, the author looks at mammary glands from a number of different angles. The open chapter starts in a strip club and focuses on breasts from a sexual point of view. The next chapter looks like breast feeding, including a visit to the world's oldest breast milk donation bank. Then a chapter on plastic surgery, another looking at breasts in the fashion industry by way of bra design and models and finally through the lens of different religions.

I really wanted to love this book. There is so much in this that is very interesting and has such great potential. However I found it very hard to read at times, purely from a pacing element. The chapters just felt so long and I wasn't compelled to come back and return to this. It's a pity because I read Butts by Heather Radke last year, a similar book that focuses on derrieres and feel like this one didn't quite reach the level of enjoyment as Butts.

While this book does interview many different people across a broad spectrum of life about the topic, I felt like it was missing a 'regular' point of view. It was fascinating to hear from strippers, artists, activists, surgeons, models etc but I think the topic on fashion maybe could have included 'normal' women and the trials and tribulations of being well endowed (as well as on the more flat chested side).

The breast milk bank chapter was probably my favourite, in terms of learning new things, but it is slightly problematic. While I have no doubt that formula milk companies do target low income parents and other shady activities and that there should be more support given to allow people to breast feed, this book went on further to say make it seem like formula feeding is a wrong choice. For a book that is supposed to be feminist, it left a sour taste in mine and other people's mouths. And while some of the other chapters do include a trans perspective, it is severely lacking in this chapter.

I know this book will be loved by others. For me, while it was interesting at times, it was a bit too chaotic for me and not as engaging as I'd like it to be.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Pan Macmillan | Bluebird in exchange for a free and honest review.

This was a mixed reading experience for me. I enjoyed the chapters "lifesaving jugs" and "treasure chests", which tackled breast feeding and plastic surgery (breast enlargement, reduction and reconstruction) respectively. However, I found that the author made some assumptions about social media that seems not be entirely true. With how fast the tech/ social media landscape is developing some dangers are being realised in realtime, therefore, the laws that are being produced are a reflection of this. In addition, explicit content is readily available on Twitter/ X without disclaimers. Also, some arguments made aren't well explored. I was expecting a more science heavy book. Overall, a book that is a conversation starter and may encourage further reading by readers.

This book is a fascinating exploration of a subject that is both humorous and deeply informative. It offers a thoughtful and sensitive look at breasts, blending a variety of perspectives to provide a comprehensive view of the topic. Beyond its engaging exploration of anatomy and culture, the book delves into historical and pioneering aspects of various industries, adding depth and context to the discussion. Whether you're interested in the social and cultural significance or the historical contributions related to the topic, this book is a captivating and enlightening read.

The blurb of "Tits Up" sounded a lot more interesting than what the book actually offers. Some chapters stayed rather surface-level, in my opinion, while other chapters felt somewhat judgmental.