February 2023 is for lovers
time for some smut, kinda
I'm not the kind of person who is ever going to start an OnlyFans or anything that's based on my sexual prowess or attraction. I hope I don't have to explain that I'm not a person who judges anyone for taking that path in life; it's just extremely low on my list of interests. I don't have anything to prove to anyone about my sexuality, and I certainly don't need any members of my family privy to my desires or literal naked body.
No one said, "hey Jess, when are you going to start an OnlyFans?" so why am I talking about this? Because this month's bookletter is themed. Every single year, I wish I'd read a lot of romcoms in February and a lot of spooky books in October, and Christmasy books in December, but I never plan it very well! But this month! I did it! With a caveat. When I joked that everyone was selling their tits online, I said out loud to a friend, "how can I make completely booked sexier?" and the answer came (lol) quickly: I'd read smut all month! But it turns out I find "smut" to be boring. If I'm entering what I think is smut, it should have a plot just to make it easy to follow the characters' motives. Otherwise, it should have a lot of good, well-written, saucy sex scenes. I found so few of those! And ended up reading a combination of non-racy romcoms, nonfiction books about sex, and some graphic novels. Paid subscribers will get my racier takes on racier content, like my full take on Lipstick Hustla and what I think good smut actually is. Regardless, this was fun, and maybe I'll make smutuary an annual celebration.
[Books I read]
For the Love of God, Marie! by Jade Sarson (2016) | Quick summary: A graphic novel that follows free-spirited, sexually open Marie from the 1960s to the 1990s.
I went to the library and grabbed a bunch of books that seemed cute to photograph for a Valentine's Day-inspired book picture and ended up thoroughly enjoying this. What a bonus! Judging books by their covers is fine. Covers should be interesting and appealing, and this one was. It also doubled up as a Book Riot challenge. I'd never really read anything quite like Sarson's style, a fusion of British roots with Japanese influences.
[fiction, graphic novel, sex positivity, written and illustrated by a white, nonbinary illustrator and comic artist, medium-length read]
Butts: A Backstory by Heather Radke (2022) | Quick summary: A history of butts that interweaves personal story, race, fashion, and pop culture.
This isn't "smut," but the cover caught my eye because it is a glorious, centered illustration of a peach against a bright yellow background. And the book says "Butts" on it, so you know what? It fits the bill this February. Radke's book on asses—and that's the padding, not the anus—is a delight. Written in style reminiscent of Mary Roach's pop-nonfiction style and Leslie Jamison's brilliant weaving of personal and historical. I really appreciated that Radke is a white woman (with an ass) but spent the majority of this book detailing the racist history of The Butt. And she does it well! Some of this (pop culture stuff) was review for me—I've spent plenty of time thinking about Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Beyonce, and basically any famous woman's ass. There was plenty I didn't know, though, including the story of Sarah Baartman.
[nonfiction, cultural study, memoir-ish, written by a white contributing editor, reporter, and writer, medium-length read]
Room for Love by ILYA (2015) | Quick summary: A middle-aged, single romance novelist suffering from writer's block meets a young boy who changes her life.
Pamela Green is an unhappy writer, feeling restless and unsettled in her life. She meets an attractive homeless-seeming young dude who needs some stability and shelter. For some reason, Pamela invites him to come home with her, and a lot of confusing and sometimes sexy things happen from there. I think the boy is underage, though? which isn't my favorite.
[fiction, graphic novel, romance, sex, written by a white comic-book writer and artist, medium-length read]
If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich (2021) | Quick summary: Ruben and Zach are members of a very famous boy band. And they're in love!
This doubled up as a Book Riot challenge about bisexual representation, which was maybe the only reason I fully finished it. This was very cute (please note: these are teens, and this is not smut), but ultimately, novels fully focused on boys, even cute gay boys, just aren't for me. But shoutout to boy bands.
[fiction, YA novel, romance, written by a duo: a white young adult queer contemporary fiction writer and a white YA devotee, lifelong gamer, and tragic pop punk enthusiast, medium-length read]
Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson (2022) | Quick summary: A true crime scholar ends up having to let her guard down when she falls for a sexy neighbor.
I became friends with Alicia Thompson because we played in a virtual spelling bee trivia game during the early part of the pandemic. I stayed friends with Alicia Thompson because she's funny, witty, engaging, and nice to me!! Even if the aforementioned wasn't true, I would have thoroughly enjoyed Love in the Time of Serial Killers. Most of y'all know I'm not a true crime person, but even if you don't have murder podcast merch, you'll enjoy the excellent tension between Sam and Phoebe. (Also, I related too much to Phoebe too many times!)
[fiction, novel, romance, true crime, written by a white writer, reader, and Paramore superfan, medium-length read]
[Books I heard]
Lipstick Hustla by Allison Hobbs, read by Karma Johnson (2010) | Quick summary: Misty, a savvy and fierce businesswoman does whatever it takes to get what she wants.
This was my first attempt at erotica for completely booked this month, and one of the two books I'm reviewing as a paid feature. If you want my full review of Lipstick Hustla, which includes my take on sex scenes in books, upgrade your subscription.
[fiction, erotica, written by a Black national bestselling author of more than thirty novels. medium-length listen, not read by the author]
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur, read by Lauren Sweet (2020) | Quick summary: An astrologer agrees to fake a relationship with someone who seems nothing like her—until they fall in love!
I really disliked the narrator of this audiobook, reminding me that this is why I don't listen to fiction audiobooks very often. The awkward dialogue featured in most romcom novels is a tough sell in audio, especially when read by someone who sounds like she's delivering the local news. No one needs to hear the word clit in that voice.
[fiction, contemporary romance, LGBTQ+, written by a white bestselling, award-winning author "of swoony contemporary romance often featuring loveable grumps and the sunshine characters who bring them to their knees," medium-length read, not read by the author]
Neon Girls: A Stripper's Education in Protest and Power by Jennifer Worley, read by Eileen Stevens (2020) | Quick summary: The true story of a radical group of dancers who band together to unionize and run their strip club on their own terms.
This was badass. I frantically searched for an audiobook that could at all fit into my month of sex reading and didn't expect this to be as good as it was. Jennifer Worley shares her ample experience of not only being a stripper in the 90s but how she and the other dancers joined together to unionize. One of the things I want to read more about this year is unionizing, so this doubled up for me.
[nonfiction, economics, feminist history, memoir-ish, written by a white professor and writer, shorter listen, not read by the author]
Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again: Women and Desire in the Age of Consent by Katherine Angel, read by Cat Gould (2021) | Quick summary: An analysis of desire, consent, and sexuality.
Cat Gould is a lovely narrator, which is why I kept listening to this book after I wasn't sure if it could hold my attention. I was wrong, and it did! I could be mistaken because I was listening and not reading, but I don't think this particular book focused enough on the gender binary. Regardless, I enjoyed learning the biological aspects of sex that I don't always think about—like wetness.
[nonfiction, economics, psychology, and sexuality, written by an acclaimed white writer of nonfiction, shorter listen, not read by the author]
Been There, Done That: A Rousing History of Sex by Rachel Feltman (2022) | Quick summary: The history of sex! With lots of reminders that homosexuality isn't new!
Loved this weird book that leans slightly more anecdotal than truly historical. I thought about my friend Becca and her newsletter a lot while listening to this book. It only takes one or two weird bug sex facts to conjure up Becca in my mind.
[nonfiction, sex and sexuality, history, written by a white infamously speedy and meticulous writer, shorter listen, read by the author]
[What I recommend]
- If you’re an assman: Butts: A Backstory by Heather Radke
- If you enjoy lighthearted, relatable romance: Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson
- If you’re pro-union and pro-sex work, as you should be: Neon Girls: A Stripper's Education in Protest and Power by Jennifer Worley
- If you like weird facts/weird sex fact: Been There, Done That: A Rousing History of Sex by Rachel Feltman
