Author: Read with Pride

Let’s be honest, there’s something ridiculously hot about the idea of getting caught. Whether it’s a stolen kiss in a darkened alley, a heated moment in a secluded office, or two characters who just can’t wait until they get home, the thrill of semi-public intimacy has been lighting up the pages of MM romance books …

The Thrill of the Risk: Adrenaline, Public Spaces, and the MM Romance FantasyRead More

Welcome to the final instalment of our series on sex, intimacy, and the queer community! If you’ve been following along, you know we’ve covered everything from sexual health to intimacy tips and navigating tricky topics like sex addiction and ChemSex. Now, let’s talk about something that can be absolutely thrilling, but also requires some serious …

Beyond One-on-One: Setting Boundaries for Group Sex and ThreesomesRead More

Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get enough honest conversation in our community: ChemSex. If you’ve been around gay clubs, apps, or party scenes, you’ve probably encountered it, or at least heard whispers about it. At Read with Pride, we believe in having real, authentic conversations about all aspects of queer life, including the complex …

Navigating the Highs and Lows: A Guide to ChemSex Safety and AwarenessRead More

Let’s talk about something we don’t often see in gay romance books or MM romance novels: the complicated reality of when sexual expression crosses into territory that hurts rather than heals. At Read with Pride, we celebrate queer sexuality in all its forms. We publish LGBT romance books that honor our desires, our connections, and …

When the Party Stops Being Fun: Understanding Sex Addiction in the Queer CommunityRead More

Let’s be real, if you’ve been reading enough spicy MM romance on Read with Pride, you’ve probably encountered some pretty creative bedroom scenes that made you think, “Hmm, maybe I should try that?” And honestly? Good for you. Exploring pleasure, whether solo or with a partner, is a beautiful part of self-discovery and intimacy. But …

Elevating Your Intimacy: A Beginner's Guide to Sex Toys for Gay MenRead More

Let’s talk about something that shows up in plenty of steamy MM romance novels but sometimes feels intimidating in real life: sex toys. Whether you’re flying solo or sharing the experience with a partner, introducing toys into your intimate life can be a game-changer for pleasure, self-discovery, and connection. At Read with Pride, we’re all …

Elevating Your Intimacy: A Beginner's Guide to Sex Toys for Gay MenRead More

Let’s talk about something that exists in plenty of spicy MM romance books but rarely gets a real-world guide: gay sex parties. You know the scene, our favorite characters from those steamy gay romance novels end up at an exclusive club or a friend’s apartment where the champagne flows and inhibitions drop. It’s hot on …

The Modern Guide to Gay Sex Parties: Etiquette, Consent, and Having FunRead More

Let’s talk about something we don’t discuss enough: what it feels like to be in the majority. For most of us, we’ve spent our lives being the gay friend, the only queer person in the room, the one who has to calculate safety before holding hands in public. We’ve mastered the art of code-switching, of …

Beyond the Horizon: Why Every Gay Man Needs a Cruise Adventure at Least OnceRead More

We’ve all read that scene. Two guys, one hotel room, a reservation mix-up, and, oh no!, there’s only one bed. Cue the stammering, the “I’ll take the floor” chivalry, and the inevitable 3 AM accidental spooning that changes everything. It’s a classic MM romance setup for a reason: forced proximity + sexual tension = pure …

The "Only One Bed" Trope in Real Life: Surviving the Tiny Cabins of a Gay CruiseRead More

There’s something irresistibly romantic about the open ocean. Maybe it’s the sunset views from the deck, the way a ship feels like its own little world, or the fact that you’re basically trapped with a hot stranger for days on end (in the best possible way). Whatever the magic ingredient is, cruise ship settings have …

From Steamy to Sweet: The Best MM Romance Books Set on Cruise ShipsRead More

If you’ve ever read an MM romance book where the protagonist boards a cruise ship and suddenly everything changes, the anxiety, the excitement, the overwhelming possibility of it all, then you already know the emotional journey of a first-time gay cruiser. Spoiler alert: it’s pretty much exactly like that, except with better buffets and actual …

A First-Timer's Guide to Gay Cruises: What to Expect When You Set SailRead More

Picture this: You’re stuck on a ship in the middle of the ocean with your best friend who you definitely don’t have feelings for (spoiler alert: you do), a guy who ghosted you last summer is suddenly your cabin mate, or worse, your mortal enemy just got assigned as your dining partner for the next …

Love on the High Seas: Why Gay Cruises Are the Ultimate MM Romance SettingRead More

We need to talk about that moment. You know the one, when the character finally discovers who’s really been messaging them all this time. The stomach-drop reveal. The “Oh no, it’s you” recognition scene that makes you want to throw your Kindle across the room (but also keep reading because you absolutely need to know …

Catfishing vs. Character: Why We're Obsessed with Secret Identities in MM RomanceRead More

Let’s be real: we’ve all done it. You’re scrolling through Instagram, maybe you clicked through from someone’s story, and suddenly you’re three years deep in a cute guy’s feed, examining his brunch photos and vacation pics like you’re a detective on a case. Next thing you know, you’re crafting the perfect response to his story …

Is Instagram the New Tinder? The Pros and Cons of 'Dating' via DMsRead More

Remember the sound of a dial-up modem connecting? That screechy symphony of beeps and static wasn’t just your internet coming online, for many LGBTQ+ folks, it was the sound of possibility. Before Grindr grids and Instagram DMs, before “hey” became the laziest pickup line in history, there was a whole era of digital cruising that …

The Digital Cruise: A History of Gay Chat Rooms, Social Sites, and How We Connect NowRead More

Remember when meet-cutes involved bumping into someone at a coffee shop, reaching for the same book at a library, or locking eyes across a crowded bar? Those tropes still exist in MM romance books, but nowadays they’re just as likely to start with a notification ping and a carefully curated grid of six photos. Welcome …

Love in the Time of Algorithms: How Dating Apps Changed MM Romance (and Real Life)Read More

Let’s be real for a second: if you’ve ever opened Grindr hoping to find your next best friend or maybe a cute coffee date that doesn’t immediately involve the question “your place or mine?”, you’ve probably been disappointed. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with hookup apps (we’re sex-positive here at Read with Pride), but sometimes you …

Beyond Grindr: The Best Gay Social Apps for Making Actual Friends (and More)Read More

Let’s be honest, there’s something weirdly romantic about missing someone. That ache in your chest when you see a notification from them. The way you count down days (or hours, or minutes) until you can be together again. The late-night video calls where you fall asleep watching each other’s pixelated faces. Long-distance relationships are objectively …

Miles Apart but Heart to Heart: 10 MM Romance Books That Prove Long Distance is Worth the WaitRead More

Let’s be real for a second: we’ve all fantasized about being swept off our feet by someone with a penthouse view, a black Amex, and a jawline that could cut glass. The billionaire romance trope isn’t just alive and well, it’s practically its own food group in the world of MM romance books. But while …

The Billionaire Fantasy vs. Financial Reality: 10 MM Romance Books Where Power Imbalance Actually WorksRead More

There’s a particular kind of heartache that comes with loving someone you can’t fully claim in public. The stolen glances across crowded rooms. The careful distance maintained at family gatherings. The ache of dropping someone’s hand when you round a corner and see familiar faces ahead. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, the closet isn’t …

Public Love vs. Private Struggles: 10 MM Romance Books That Handle 'The Closet' with Grace and HonestyRead More