Oloni's sex and dating debut won by HarperCollins in seven-way auction

HarperCollins has triumphed in a seven-way auction for The Big O, the "groundbreaking" debut book from sex and relationships expert Oloni.

Amandeep Singh, former editor for Lifestyle and Thorsons, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Matilda Forbes Watson at WME. Publication will be overseen by Thorsons editorial director Lydia Good. The Big O: An Empowering Guide to Loving, Dating and F*cking will be published on 29th September 2022.

Dami Olonisakin, better known as Oloni, is one of the UK’s biggest advocates for education and empowerment when it comes to women’s sexual rights. With more than half a million followers, she has shared her "sexpertise" and unfiltered advice for more than a decade through her award-winning blog Simply Oloni and her podcast “Laid Bare”. 

HarperCollins said: “Her platform offers a sex-positive safe space for women to discuss everything from dating dilemmas to wild sex stories and kinks. She is single-handedly changing the way that women talk about sex by addressing the double standards that exist around social and cultural attitudes to sex. Her viral Twitter threads are famous for breaking the internet with thousands of women finding the freedom to open up about their sexual history, preferences and desires, and share their experiences online.

“The Big O will guide readers through different types of sex and relationships, including ‘situationships’, polyamory, celibacy and everything in between. By relinquishing any sense of judgement or shame, the book offers an essential sex resource for anybody who wants to feel empowered while loving, dating and f*cking.”

Oloni said: “I am absolutely thrilled to publish my long-awaited debut book! This book is an amalgamation of not only my life experiences but of all the women who have shared their experiences with me. I love what I do and the best part of it is the community of women I have all around the world. I hope this book speaks to you and you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it!”

Good said the team was "delighted" to be publishing the debut. She said: “There is no one else opening up the much-needed conversations about sex, female empowerment, shame, and pleasure, in this way. Oloni is on a mission to liberate attitudes towards sex and allow everyone to own their desires, decisions, and narratives around their sexual identity. This book will be truly ground-breaking, and we can’t wait to share it.”