‘Although schools do talk about consent, it still feels like it’s not going far enough’

Jenna Adams’ new novel is one of changing perspectives, growing up, and the often blurred boundaries of consent.

Can I Stray sees 14-year-old Brook, a hopeless romantic, meet 18-year-old Matt when they are cast as romantic leads in an amateur production of Romeo and Juliet.

Brook and Matt begin a relationship which quickly becomes unhealthy, culminating in events one night that Brook later learns were illegal after having a sex education lesson.

We revisit the characters at different points in their young adult lives. The ethics of the relationship are pulled into question as the characters take turns to reflect on their experience years down the line.

The book is based on personal experiences. Jenna, who is from Bristol, started writing the book when she was 14 and had her own “crush” on an older boy. As she got older and revisited the manuscript at various points in her life, her understanding of consent and the boundaries of sexual relationships became clearer.

The result is a subversive romance that begs questions about the extent of consent.

When asked if she thinks sex education has changed since she was at school, Jenna acknowledges things are slightly better, but still believes schools have a long way to go.

“Although schools do talk about consent, it still feels like it’s not going far enough. Relationships education comes first.”

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“If you are laying down the ground rules for understanding how gender roles might affect relationships, how power dynamics affect relationships, then that is a much easier frame to understand consent and the logistics of consent,” says Jenna.

“It’s much harder to give genuine free joy of consent if you don’t feel like you truly have a choice.”

Can I Stray puts relationships at the centre of conversations about sexual consent and education.

Relationship education in 2021 became mandatory in primary schools and relationship and sex education became mandatory in second schools.

Adams has been working with sexual health and wellbeing charity Brook, who are driving the campaign for legislative change to advocate for better relationships and sex education in schools.

For Jenna, better sex education is about taking away the ‘don’t’ narrative that pervades sex education, and bringing in more inclusive and empowering conversations about pleasure, gender identity, body image issues, LGBTQ+ sexual relationships, and more.

Adams hopes the book will start conversations in education settings about ethical sex.

“As children and teenagers we tend to accept the reality that is given to us, and then when we are older, and we get sex education, we look at things in a different way,” says Jenna.

“We want to prevent that happening to people younger than us, and we want to make sure they have the education they need to be making the right choices for themselves to be armed with sexual autonomy and be able to be a truly active sexual decision maker in their own lives.”

Jenna Adams’ debut novel, Can I Stray will be published on October 11 and will be available to buy at Waterstones in Bristol.

Main photo: Jenna Adams

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