Hi Wild Ones! This was a month for epic fantasy (Kushiel’s Mercy), and books with a polyamorous leaning (the Scientific Method series). Actually, they both have a polyam element, even though it’s extremely mild and very background in Kushiel’s Mercy. But Love as Thou Wilt is a core tenant of the world of Terre d’Ange, and they mean it. It’s one of the things I love about that series.
Hi Wild Ones! Didn’t get a whole lot read in January, but this was really good.
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Take Three Breaths by Kris Ripper
Amazon (print and ebook)* ~ Apple (ebook) ~ Barnes & Noble (ebook) ~ Google ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords
Continuing The Scientific Method series with this MMM novella, which doesn’t really have anything to do with science (the name is explained in book 1). Even more than the first two books, this one delves deep and heavy. But it brings the boys closer together, even though it’s a bit rough along the way. I liked that they were closer at the end.
Trigger Warning: Suicide (side character) and depression (main character).
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! This is way late, but I read some great stuff that I wanted to pass on to you, so I’m doing it now.
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Catalysts by Kris Ripper
Amazon (print and ebook)* ~ Apple (ebook) ~ Barnes & Noble (ebook) ~ Google ~ Kobo (ebook and audiobook) ~ Smashwords
I enjoyed Book Boyfriend so much that I went looking for more Kris Ripper to read. I found this delightful gem of a series, and I’m so glad I did. It has so many of the things I love in romance. It’s highly kinky, and very polyamorous. There are some queer relationships, some straight ones, all kinds of different characters, and they all support each other. I’ve always loved books and series that do that. I know the thought with publishing is to group all your similar characters into a series by themselves (all the gay men in this series, all the fem doms in that series, or even totally separate them out by pen name) but that doesn’t feel real to me. The joined approach feels more natural, when there are all kinds of people living and getting along together. I dug into the first few books right away. And hey, the first one is free so I added it to my page of recommended free books! Catalysts is MMM, and follows Will as he comes to grips with his bisexual and kinky nature. His journey is written carefully and I loved it.
Unexpected Gifts by Kris Ripper
Amazon (print and ebook)* ~ Apple (ebook) ~ Barnes & Noble (ebook) ~ Google ~ Kobo (ebook) ~ Smashwords
This is book two of The Scientific Method series, and it features Will and the woman who captures his heart. And the struggles he has with that. One thing to note about this series is that it doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. At all. They all wrestle with their inner demons, and talk about it, and get stronger along the way. That’s one of the things that makes the books so good.
Candy Cane Kisses: A Holiday Anthology edited by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
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A collection of mostly sweet holiday romance short stories that I really enjoyed. At least, the ones that I got through. I didn’t get through the whole book, but I’m going to save it for next year when I’m in the mood for holiday romance again. But I’m sure the second half will be as good as the first half. They were all great, but here’s the ones that stood out to me:
Ice Dancing and Crab Apple Sorbet by Melissa Yi – a story of two figure skaters trying to make a relationship work in the spotlight. It reminded me of the movie The Cutting Edge, but it was its own story. It packed a lot of history into one short story, and was very well done.
A Little More Aloha by Julia Vee – a fun visit to Hawaii.
Trapped Between Book Lovers by Stefon Mears – as a book lover who loves used bookstores, I loved this story!
She Wanted It to Be Perfect by Ron Collins – a touching FF romance with a bit of science fiction.
Love Hard
Netflix Original Video
This was a really fun Christmas holiday rom-com. The characters were fun, the romance felt fresh to me, I laughed, and wound up really rooting for them at the end. It even poked at some really common rom-com tropes it a way that felt so interesting. I enjoyed it a lot.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! Here’s one for those of you who like edgy kink!
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On Kink’s Edge by M.C. Roth
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I loved the edgy nature of this story. Sometimes “regular” kink just isn’t enough and you want to push the envelope – just like Keady does. The story took an unpredictable path – as indicated by the title – but had a lovely ending. If you like your kink “out there” you’ll enjoy this one.
I got the book through a Booksprout review offer, but I genuinely enjoyed the book.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! I didn’t get much finished this month, but it did enjoy this one!
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Training His Human by Renee Rose
Amazon (print, audio and ebook)* ~ Apple (ebook) ~ Apple (audio) ~ Barnes & Noble (ebook) ~ Barnes & Noble (print) ~ Google (ebook) ~ Kobo (ebook)
The third in the Zandian Masters series, which I’m still enjoying. It’s full of yummy sex, like the other books, with a good relationship that develops between Seke and Leora. It’s still primarily an erotic romance story, but the plot still continues to develop.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! I got some fun reading done this month! I hope you find something you’ll enjoy reading.
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Carnal Nights by Pinky Cockburn
Amazon (ebook)*
For those looking for MMF menage with some D/S in a quick read, this is it! It was short, hot, and left me thinking about the three of them after. I liked the premise that brought them together, that Cecelia is a travel writer who happens upon a rock concert that changes her life. The rock star angle was handled nicely, and a bit different than I expected. Fun read. It is a Kindle Unlimited book if you have that.
His Human Slave by Renee Rose
Amazon (print, audio and ebook)* ~ Apple (ebook) ~ Apple (audio) ~ Barnes & Noble (print and ebook) ~ Google (ebook) ~ Kobo (ebook)
This is the start to the Zandian Masters series, in which a group of alien men each acquires their own human female slave. In this one Lamira is purchased for the purpose of breeding. Of course she’s reluctant in the beginning, but Zander wins her over by the end! Rose is known for her spanking stories, and this one is no exception. It was hot and fun (basically erotica with romantic leanings and the start of a plot I think will go through the whole series), and I enjoyed what Rose did with Lamira’s character. It does have some non-consensual elements to it (due to that slavery aspect), so reader beware.
His Human Prisoner by Renee Rose
Amazon (print, audio and ebook)* ~ Apple (ebook) ~ Apple (audio) ~ Barnes & Noble (print and ebook) ~ Google (ebook) ~ Kobo (ebook)
I enjoyed the first one so much I read the second one! This one is a little different in that Lily isn’t Rok’s slave, she’s his prisoner. But lots of yummy sex still happens. And the plot from the first book develops more in this one, as the characters from the first book appear in this one and continue to grow.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! Happy 4th, if you’re in the US. If not, I hope your summer/winter is going well. I’ve finally gotten some time to post a new recs post. I finished that super long novel I mentioned last time and really wanted to share it with y’all.
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Kushiel’s Scion by Jacqueline Carey
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This was the looong book I mentioned before – and it really is long. It is so, so worth it though. First: some background: this is the first book of the second trilogy set in Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel universe. The Kushiel world is a fantasy re-imagining of France filled with beautiful people who just love each other and strive to enjoy all of life’s pleasures. When they’re not fighting for the crown and fending off invasions, of course. That quote comes from an article introducing the first book of the first series, Kushiel’s Dart, with some basics on the world and characters. Kushiel’s Dart focuses on Phedre, a young lady who’s a kinky, queer, courtesan spy. Yeah, it’s complicated. There’s politics and intrigue and adventure and sex (queer and het) and kink in the whole series. It’s a massive fantasy world with a deeply sexual element to it where the sex is integral to the story in surprising ways.
Kushiel’s Scion is the beginning of Imriel’s story, a young noble man coming of age and dealing with a traumatic and traitorous history at the same time – along with his own sadistic and dominant nature. It’s a gentle beginning to his story, which gets a lot more intense in the relationship area in the second book (I’ve already started reading that one). Scion has great characters, fun intrigue, and a lot of adventure. It’s a great read.
I highly recommend the world of Kushiel to anyone who likes really epic fantasy. Dart would probably be the best book to start with, but Scion can stand alone and is a great book in its own right. Either way, pick one of them up if you want to get lost in an epic read.
Smiley
I absolutely loved this. A wrong-number voicemail connects a hot bartender and a sentimental architect. It’s a lovely queer odd-couple show that’s hot, sweet, and full of other characters (both queer and het) that I really enjoyed. It’s great for when you want something light and fun with a great ending – although I hope there’s another season because one little thing felt unresolved for me with some side characters. Overall it was a lot of fun.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! My reading time has sadly been lacking this month. I haven’t gotten any steamy novels finished (though I’m reading a LONG one that’s looking to be VERY interesting – I’ll report on it when I’m done). But I did enjoy the movie I recced. And also, I was thinking I’d start mentioning non-fiction articles that I’ve enjoyed that I think you guys would also like. So that’s at the bottom.
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This was a fun romcom. It was enjoyable light viewing, with some heartwarming moments. I like Lopez as an actress. She’s fun, and charming. Also, she looks damn good, and that doesn’t hurt. But really, I got exactly what I wanted from this: Some laughs, a couple of hot moments, and a good love story at the end.
What is PolySaturation, and How Do You Know When You’re There?
This is an excellent article on Medium that discusses knowing how many partners is enough for you. I wasn’t familiar with the term, but when I read it I immediately recognized what it was and the importance of understanding it for yourself if you’re polyam. Click above for the definition, some examples, and some advice on how to handle polysaturation. A great article if you’re interested.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! Happy New Year! It’s been a few months since I did a reading post, so I’m happy to be back. Unfortunately, I also haven’t read a whole lot! I once heard a television writer say that they started writing for TV because they loved it so much, but then they were so busy at work they didn’t have time to watch TV anymore! I feel for that person, because I’m in the same boat. Whenever I have spare time at the end of the day I try and use it for writing, not reading, so I’m not reading nearly as much as I used to. Sad, but all the hard work will eventually give you guys something new to read!
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Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
Amazon* ~ Apple (ebook) ~ Apple (audio) ~ Barnes & Noble (print, audio and ebook) ~ Chirp ~ More Stores ~ Kobo* (ebook and audio)
This was such a fun, warm read. I loved Ayesha and her family, and I really enjoyed Khalid. This is really a sweet romance, but the chemistry between them was wonderful. Ayesha longing to write was a bit of her character that I enjoyed a lot! 🙂 I thought the parallels to Pride and Prejudice were well done, but not heavy-handed. A really fun book.
Indian Matchmaking
This goes really well with Ayesha at Last, as it’s a Netflix series about an Indian matchmaker and the young clients and families she works with. I watched it before I started Ayesha, and I’m glad I did. It gave me a glimpse into this part of Indian culture that I didn’t know anything about. It’s reality TV so who knows how much of it is staged or not, but it really seemed to have a genuine feel, with some good takeaways: you have to compromise in love, but you can’t give yourself away in the process. It was a delightful show.
Last Christmas
I really loved this movie. It had such unexpected humor, and the romance was not at all what I expected. I loved the musical soundtrack (all George Michael!), and the characters were totally quirky and fun. It was a great movie, and I can see myself watching it again next year.
The Next 365 Days
And now the best for last: the sexy one. This is definitely the sexy one of this set of recommendations – and the sex is probably the best part about it. I’ve previously written about the other movies, and in this one the plot thickens. Or tries to. It’s still far more flash over substance – and what gorgeous flash it is. This has probably the hottest threesome scene I’ve ever seen. I loved it. But as for plot, there are choices for Laura to make in the movie – what will she do? SPOILERS AHEAD!
That’s actually a question , because I don’t know. The ending of the movie was… a complete cliffhanger where she doesn’t choose either one of them officially. It was baffling to watch. I thought maybe I’d just completely misunderstood the ending, but nope. There basically isn’t an ending. Is there going to be a 4th movie? No one seems to know. At first I was irritated by that. Now I’m not. I’m imagining she picks both, and there’s a rough patch where the two men have to learn to get along together as her partners, but then they do and it’s hot threesomes for ever and ever. That’s the ending I want, and I’m pretty sure I won’t get it if they do a fourth movie. I kinda sorta think Netflix might go there, based on the threesome scene from this movie, but I also kinda doubt it. No one really ever takes movies into the kind of polyam/threesome type relationship like they could, so I doubt Netflix will do it. But Netflix does like to be kind of edgy, so maybe they will? We can only dream.
If this is the last movie… I’m not too sure I’m too fussed about it. I didn’t expect anything besides sex when I started the series, and the series definitely delivers on the hot sex. So I got what I wanted in that regard. I was hoping for a fun plot, and then at the end I was really hoping for some actual multi-partner screen time. The plot has been thin overall, and who knows if they’ll go the polyam rout? But I still enjoyed the hell out of the sex, so I’m ok. Did you watch them? What do you think?
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! This is for September and October, since September got away from me and I didn’t post anything. Whoops!
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Kinks and Crosshairs by M.C. Roth
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I really enjoyed this one. The kink was primal and hardcore, the suspense was fun and exciting, and the romance heartwarming. If you like your kink with a lot of rough-and-tumble chasing and claiming, this one’s for you! I got this one as a review copy on Booksprout, but honestly loved it.
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
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So much delightful humor in Boyfriend Material. I laughed throughout. I was also utterly charmed by Luc and Oliver, more than I expected to be. They are the best of the fake boyfriends trope: utterly mismatched, yet totally right for each other in all the best possible ways. I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to smish them both with hugs by the end. I actually listened to the audiobook of this and really loved it.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! I’ve got all the sexy gay men for you this month! Plus some heavy kink and a little holiday cheer.
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Kinked Up by M.C. Roth
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*
Here we’ve got consensual non-consent play, pain play, and a very yummy submissive looking for someone to take him in hand and give him the ride of his life. If you like your kink hardcore and with two sexy men, plus some relationship angst thrown in, you’ll enjoy this one as much as I did.
Single All the Way
A little Christmas in July (or August) for you. This was warm, jolly, festive, heartwarming and full of sexy men. If you’re looking for a delightful gay holiday movie, this is it. I’ve never watched a holiday movie in the summer, but it was surprisingly fun. I imagine that if you’re in the southern hemisphere you’ll appreciate a cold weather movie right now.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! Are you ready for heart-throbbing emotion, royals who want nothing more than to shower you with love, and swanky sex rooms? Read on!
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Virgin River by Robyn Carr
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Virgin River is a romance on the lightly steamy side, and a little different than my other recs so far. There’s no kink, no polyamory – nothing really non-mainstream about it. What it has are fantastic characters that are really good together, both in bed and in the rest of their lives. Carr brings an interesting angle to a romance series here. It’s small-town romance, and the town is populated with people from all ages and walks of life who are living real lives. They’ve got real issues they’re struggling with, including our main characters. Both of them have a difficult past they’re dealing with (she’s a widow and he has a difficult military past), and the book doesn’t gloss over it. It has a bit of a feel of Women’s Fiction with a really hot romance, but oh, boy – that finish packs a great swooney punch.
A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole
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A very steamy, very fun romance about a woman who just wants to get left alone by her boss and fellow students so she can get her graduate degree and pursue her career as a scientist, and a Prince who is caught between doing what’s right for his people and right for himself. It was a fun and interesting world Cole has built here, a little reminiscent of Wakanda from the film Black Panther. I really enjoyed reading about it. And also, Thabiso is hot as hell. I enjoyed their scenes together. 😉
How to Build a Sex Room
I came across this while browsing Netflix and instantly knew I had to watch it. I was not disappointed. Our designer, Melanie Rose, designs the most sumptuous, luxurious and provocative rooms meant for sex and pleasure. They are gorgeous, kinky, sometimes polyamorous or queer, and always tailored for the clients themselves. That’s the part I love. The clients come to her with their own wants and desires, and sometimes their own issues. They have things they love, and things they don’t want at all. Melanie helps them explore what they want, and maybe even what they didn’t even know they wanted, and she gives them a room perfectly suited for them. And we get to see the whole thing from start to finish – if you’re at all interested in the design or house flipping shows on HGTV you’ll love this. It’s like a mashup of Divine Design (anyone remember that show from back in the day? I loved it!) and a sex therapy session, with a dash of cheeky British humor thrown in. It’s utterly delightful.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! Oh, boy, I’ve got some fun ones for you.
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Blowback by Lyn Gala
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Another fantastic space adventure story, this one with some delicious D/s elements. Actually, more than D/s – this one dives straight into ownership and slavery. It’s FemDom and the woman is an alien, if that takes some of the sting out of it for you, but it’s the real deal. I love books like this, where the ownership is total, and yet facilitates good things for the characters involved. I don’t want to say too much, so I’ll just say that the situation is difficult, and yet gives the best possible outcome for our main character. It was a fun read.
Hate F*@k (Forbidden Bodyguards Book 1) by Ainsley Booth
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An ex-navy seal Alpha who’s not really a good guy (except when he is) and bordering on demanding-as-fuck meets a good girl who’s just trying to stay out of trouble – that’s the setup. It may not be the most original in the book, but it’s hot as hell anyway. It’s not exactly a kinky book but Cole is quite the dominant personality and there’s a bit of take-charge attitued at a few places. I ate it up.
Book of Love
I absolutely loved this movie. It’s got a writer who writes a book about love that’s so boring it barely sells a copy to anyone – until it comes up as a bestseller in Mexico. He’s required to go on a promotional tour through the country and gets stuck with a guide that’s the exact opposite of him. Classic Odd Couple trope. It’s funny, heartwarming, and totally killer at places. If you’re looking for a good RomCom, this is it.
The Story of O
And if you’re looking for a hardcore dive into a sadomasochistic relationship with deep ownership themes the 1975 version of this movie is it. (On Netflix) There’s a reason the novel is a classic in the BDSM community: it hits hard on the desires many kinky people have. Countless kinksters have read it and ached with need afterwards. The movie is of course based on the novel, but I like it better than the book. I read the book ages ago. It was probably the first kinky novel I ever read. I was totally enthralled with it, while also being very disappointed and disturbed with the ending. In my opinion, the movie keeps everything provocative and interesting about the novel while fixing the ending. The entire story is stronger and far more satisfying for it. It’s quite an erotic film, without being straight porn, and it has a wonderful softness to it at places that the book doesn’t have. Fully recommended for the kinkster looking for a good movie.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi Wild Ones! This was a fun month, with some excellent discoveries. I wound up watching a lot this month, due to being down with a cold for a few days.
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Assassins in Love by Kris DeLake
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This was such a fun space adventure story. It was steamy, and went in unexpected directions. I loved the ways the characters grew, both together and as individuals. I enjoyed the science fiction angle, and would love to read more about them. There’s a second book in the series I have my eye on, as well as some short stories.
Missing Ink by E.J. Frost
I absolutely loved the way Frost depicted the D/s relationship in this story. Mac is a wonderful Dom: older and experienced, gentle, and tough when he needs to be. He’s so loving and gentle with Brenna through much of the book and I loved that. It’s also hot as hell when they scene. So much love for a good silver fox character! 😉 Fantastically yummy book, and another series I’m eying.
Heartstopper
On Netflix. This is a coming-of-age teen drama so it’s actually not steamy at all. Instead it’s achingly sweet, in the “everything’s perfect” kind of way. If you’re looking for a hit of happy queer feels, with just a bit of angst along the way, this is your show. It’s got two boys finding each other and choosing love, along with some other interesting characters finding love also along the way (not going to say more so I don’t spoil). The only thing is that I hope there’s a second season because some side characters really need more screen time!
365 Days: This Day
On Netflix. I saw 365 Days a while ago and this one popped up so I decided to watch it while laid up. It’s gorgeously filmed, incredibly erotic, and great fun to watch. I just swoon at their kisses! It’s basically just wall-to-wall sex, with some fun shopping and bestie time with the main character’s best friend. There is a fun BDSM scene, but it’s not really a kinky film. If you haven’t seen the first one, he kidnaps her and gives her 365 days to fall in love with him. If she doesn’t fall for him, he’ll let her go. It’s pure Alpha Male fantasy. If you like that kind of thing you’ll love these. There is actually a plot, but it takes a major backseat to the sex. There was a lot more plot in the first movie. I was expecting more in this one, but I’m not sure I really missed it 😉 The plot is there, and it’s kinda interesting, but it’s basically hot and sexy guys for the win. If the Alpha Male Won’t Take No For An Answer story isn’t for you, you won’t like these movies. If you do, then sit back with a glass of wine and your B.O.B. and enjoy.
What have you read and watched this month? Hit reply and let me know if you have something fantastic!
Hi readers! I’ve decided to start a new monthly feature: the things I’ve read or watched that I’ve really enjoyed and that I think you’ll like, too. So here’s the first installment of the monthly Steamy Recs!
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Eight Kinky Nights by Xan West
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I found the most delightful comfort read in this book. It’s all about negotiating a relationship between the two main characters that fulfills them both, and meets their needs in ways no other relationship ever has. That relationship involves kink, but is so much broader than just kink. The characters are Jewish, autistic, polyamorous queer kinky women who are learning how to build a life for themselves that includes all of those parts of themselves, where they don’t have to mask or ignore parts of themselves in order to have a relationship.
This book is full of really interesting opposites: really intense sex scenes and characters discussing their non-sexual asexual preferences. Wonderful found family moments and characters recognizing their own individual strength and abilities. Deep comfort and frank discussions around trauma. Edgy kink play and fluffy slice-of-life scenes. The characters and their lives and relationships are complicated, and the book slowly peels all of that back layer by layer so that by the end I was deeply immersed in them and very satisfied by their happy ending.
I’m not autistic, Jewish or asexual, and yet so much of this book spoke to me on a deep level. Perhaps the parts that do match me (kinky, queer, polyam, with past trauma) were enough to connect with the book on, but I don’t think that’s it. I think the journey to find relationships and people that fully support us is a universal one, even if the characters are coming from a different perspective from us. The beauty of fiction is that it powerfully puts us in other’s shoes by letting us live their life for a while, and this book does that for me in full.
AJ and the Queen
Netflix – no link provided because I can’t figure out how to get a Netflix link anymore.
A couple of weeks ago I logged onto Netflix looking for POSE, which I’d started a couple of months ago but hadn’t gotten very far into. Turns out POSE apparently moved from Netflix to Amazon (available to watch for payment) so it wasn’t available for the night. Anyway, POSE wasn’t there but Netflix suggested AJ and the Queen so I gave it a shot. I’m so glad I did. It was fun and funny, totally campy, with characters that were unexpected and compelling. I’ll cop to never having watched RuPaul’s Drag Race, so I was fresh to the Drag scene. AJ and the Queen was a delightful look into life as a drag performer today. I came away loving RuPaul’s character, Ruby Red, and his performance. I loved seeing him put together each act and come out as the beautiful person he is. The last scene of the last episode is especially beautiful- the best outfit of the season, gorgeous cinematography, and a very emotional finish. *kisses fingers* Perfect. There’s a lot of comedy in the show, and it has a mainly light feel, but they slip in a lot of lived experience, and not all of it is rainbows and puppies (pun intended). Even today queer life has its hardships, but these characters are so strong and full of zest that you come away loving them. I really hope there’s another season.