Welcome to Shelf Control — an original feature created and hosted by Bookshelf Fantasies.
Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books on our shelves. Pick a book you own but haven’t read, write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up! For more info on what Shelf Control is all about, check out my introductory post, here.
Want to join in? Shelf Control posts go up every Wednesday. See the guidelines at the bottom of the post, and jump on board!

Title: Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady’s Guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners
Author: Therese Oneill
Published: 2016
Length: 307 pages
What it’s about (synopsis via Goodreads):
Have you ever wished you could live in an earlier, more romantic era?
Ladies, welcome to the 19th century, where there’s arsenic in your face cream, a pot of cold pee sits under your bed, and all of your underwear is crotchless. (Why? Shush, dear. A lady doesn’t question.)
UNMENTIONABLE is your hilarious, illustrated, scandalously honest (yet never crass) guide to the secrets of Victorian womanhood, giving you detailed advice on:
~ What to wear
~ Where to relieve yourself
~ How to conceal your loathsome addiction to menstruating
~ What to expect on your wedding night
~ How to be the perfect Victorian wife
~ Why masturbating will kill you
~ And moreIrresistibly charming, laugh-out-loud funny, and featuring nearly 200 images from Victorian publications, UNMENTIONABLE will inspire a whole new level of respect for Elizabeth Bennett, Scarlet O’Hara, Jane Eyre, and all of our great, great grandmothers.
(And it just might leave you feeling ecstatically grateful to live in an age of pants, super absorbency tampons, epidurals, anti-depressants, and not-dying-of-the-syphilis-your-husband-brought-home.)
How and when I got it:
I picked up an e-book copy of this book in 2017.
Why I want to read it:
I really don’t remember where I first came across this book, but doesn’t it sound amazing? As a fan of Victorian era fiction, I know I’ve found myself daydreaming about an idealized version of life in those times, with all the complicated clothes and social niceties and balls and courting rituals.
But oh, the reality! Just reading the description of this book makes me cringe (and makes me super thankful for running water, modern medicine, and the freedom to dress comfortably). I’m so curious about this book, and look forward to diving in and learning about the cold heart facts of intimate Victorian life.
Have you read this book? Would you want to?
Please share your thoughts!

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I read it last year during #NonficNov, it’s an interesting and fun read though if you are a huge fan of historical romance it might suck some of the joy out of them for you 🙂
That’s okay, a little reality check might be healthy!
I read this one earlier this year and it was fun! I think it’s a good introduction to the subject. I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!
Thanks! I have this one plus one more on daily Victorian life — looking forward to both!
I remember a lot of bloggers talking about this when it came out. I’m fascinated by Victorian life, but I wouldn’t want to live in those times!
I hear you — I love reading about that era, but the reality would be way too much for me!
Wondering the same thing as the earlier comment; hope it doesn’t put your off your ideal victorian life.
There are so many things and times I love in fiction that I wouldn’t want to experience in real life, and I’m sure daily life in Victorian times would make that list. 🙂
I just bought this book! It sounds awesome. Hopefully I’ll get to read it next year.
Hopefully both of us will!
Sounds like a fun read!
I think so too! Looking forward to it!