Secret Sex: An Anthology

by Russell Smith (editor)

New risky fiction — with no names attached.

If authors could write their sex scenes anonymously, would they be less reticent? Would they include the stuff they didn’t want their mom, or the newspapers, to read?

Here are twenty-four original short pieces of fiction on the theme of sex, by twenty-four prominent authors living in Canada. Heather O’Neill, Lisa Moore, Michael Winter, Zoe Whittall, Pasha Malla, francesca ekwuyasi, Drew Hayden Taylor, Tamara Faith Berger, and Susan Swan are among these. But we won’t tell you who wrote what.

The pieces are uncensored, unpredictable; they veer from graphic to subtle to surreal. There is straight sex and gay sex. There is frustrated sex. There is sex that happens entirely through text messages. Secret Sex is a book of erotic imaginings by some of Canada’s most sophisticated and respected writers, working in total freedom, secretly.

Featuring Angie Abdou, Jean-Marc Ah-Sen, Tamara Faith Berger, Jowita Bydlowska, Xaiver Campbell, K.S. Covert, francesca ekwuyasi, Anna Fitzpatrick, Drew Hayden Taylor, Victoria Hetherington, Marni Jackson, Andrew Kaufman, Michael LaPointe, Pasha Malla, Sophie McCreesh, Lisa Moore, Heather O’Neill, Lee Suksi, Susan Swan, Heidi von Palleske, Aley Waterman, Zoe Whittall, David Whitton, Michael Winter

A RARE MACHINES BOOK

Genres: Erotica, Canada, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Sexuality

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 2, 2024

About the author

Russell Claude Smith is a Canadian writer and newspaper columnist. Smith's novels and short stories are mostly set in Toronto, where he lives.

Smith grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He attended the Halifax Grammar School and Queen Elizabeth High School, and studied French literature at Queen's University, the University of Poitiers, and the University of Paris III. He has an MA in French from Queen's.

Russell Smith is one of Canada’s funniest and nastiest writers. His previous novels, including How Insensitive and Girl Crazy, are records of urban frenzy and exciting underworlds. He writes a provocative weekly column on the arts in the national Globe and Mail, and teaches in the MFA program at the University of Guelph. He hates folk music.

Reviews

[The Bibliophile Doctor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sex is a life force, a physical act that is spiritual with its power of creation and destruction.

An introduction from Russell Smith says that most authors redact the sexual scenes because their family or partners will be going to read it. Some feel that they might see themselves in those characters or that the characters was inspired by them. Many readers he says assume sexual proclivity of author from the sex scene they have written, also can imagine author writing his own fantasies.

I for one , do not agree with this Statement. Not a single time in my life I have entered any world with that presumption in my mind or even felt this while reading the sex scene. And to be honest I read a lot of smut when I'm in slump, otherwise I don't.

Coming to the stories, like Russell Smith said these are not erotica but all related to sex one way or other. Either there is direct sex in the story or sexting or some other kind of sex story. To be honest I was quite intrigued with the blurb of the book and even when I read it introduction I was mostly thinking — oh yes bring it on. But sadly stories are not that great or shocking. Some are really boring while others are just normal short stories without anything really standing out. Even then I tried to finish the book and I'm glad I did because some stories at the end were one of the good ones.

* Sext - Sext is what the title claims it is, sex texting between a man and a woman and it goes just the way it goes in real. So that's what made me like it. But just okay.
Rating : 2.5/5

* Tulip - "Love was glued on to sex,
just a salty veneer. Sex was the zenith, the rainbow, the ring." Tulip is a story of a young girl who works as sex worker naming herself Tulip.
Rating : 3/5

* Comets - It is about a couple who are sex addicts and like to shoot themselves while doing it. Didn't see the point of the story at all if there was any.
Rating : 2.5/5

* Niche parade hotel maid compilation - Compiled entirely from the titles of the videos on pornhub. This was creative if there had been an underlying story or something but without that it felt like a very lazy author's work in my opinion.
Rating : 2/5

* At the wreckers - a very normal story with one sex scene in between which was not even implicit, it really felt out of the place to me.
Rating : 3/5

* Restoration - "Edna X was thIrty- four years older than me" that's how story starts, a young man of 22 having affair with a much older and quite prominent lady with amputed leg. And him getting aroused about it & fantasizing even. There was a yuck factor to the story but that's what makes it fit to this compilation for me. This is one of the most interesting story in the compilation.
Rating : 4/5

* Timeless sophistication - " I need rest. A time that excludes me from myself, one filled with realistic dreams of improvements to my life, or simply escapades of joy. Sleep is my best chance for that, to avoid the hovering blow from your indifference. And waiting is like a slow high. I think of ways to change my life. An exit from myself and the people I interact with, measuring their motivations until I’m too tired to do it anymore, until I’m too tired to try and find someone good."
A girl in a toxic relationship but something she can't escape. A story of many relationships in today's world. The most Realistic one. Not my favorite yet I couldn't stop thinking of about it.
Rating : 4/5

* The politics of passion - A story of passion that takes two lawyers of opposite parties attracted to each other in an instant coz of the confidence oozing from both and intelligence that was unmistakable. How that instant attraction makes them draw closer to each other and ending up having sex. Frankly this felt like a story from a Hollywood movie.
"It was, after all, treaty negotiations. Somebody was bound
to get fucked." Interesting story and very well written.
Rating : 4/5

* Bite - Dominance and submission. Sadism and mosaicism. Bondage. BDSM. Now this was a story that definitely belonged here.
Rating : 3.5/5

* Watching you watching me - " In some marriages, energy trickles away, each year a little less spark — as if a relationship is a well- used string of Christmas lights."
A couple. A divorce after many years. A man blaming woman for everything, his failures his loss of dreams. Woman on path of sexual escapades but realising in the end "being with him — being with anyone — required the invention of an unreal version of myself."
Ain't that true with almost every woman on this earth? A woman loses so much in companionship, a man doesn't except what "they feel" is loss of their freedom. But a woman loses everything including her identity. One of the stories told through a pov of a woman, most relatable.
Rating 4.5/5

* Praying mantis - " I’ve been in pain over loving you, I’ve debased myself, destroyed my days and my solar system, removed my sleep, focused solely on getting you back, on trying to stir something, and I made myself tragically unhappy. But now that we’re here, and now that I’m thinking about it, I know that my mistake was thinking that it was transactional, that it needed to be returned. It doesn’t.
I don’t need anything from you anymore. I don’t need you to show up, I don’t need to convince you. The gift is in me loving
you, in being capable of loving this deeply and tragically, yes, but ultimately, this gift is freedom — no one can forbid me loving
you, not even you. This is the power of love — it can exist independently of the parties involved. " This was one of my favorite from the whole collection. Weird and totally worth the attention.
Rating : 5/5

* Cloudburst - a weird story, a story of raining dicks. And those too perfect ones but what does every dick wants? You know the answer and that's the correct one. This was again a story of liberation of woman in my opinion.
Rating -3.5/5


* After Nicolette - This is the longest story in the collection. Written with a beautiful prose this story tells us how different being over a relationship for the partners can be. The one who has moved on doesn't even look back while the other keeps thinking about where the things went wrong.
Rating - 3.5/5


* Calliope- This was an interesting story. There's a doctor and there's Rene in his lab of some sorts. Doctor falls in love with calliope but something awful happens. You will never guess the end of the story.
Rating : 4/5

* An Archive "Sex with perfect- looking people is boring. You can’t have an earth- shattering orgasm while thinking
about your angles." An archive was some sex tales written by the protagonist when a friend asks— So tell me about your
best sex. There are very short 5 stories.
Rating 2.5/5

* My skin isn't what it used to be
Another one long story of a professor cum author who is obsessed with a form and tattoos. The ending was sad though.
Rating 3/5

* Party party sex party I don't even know what really happened except the guy had threesome at a party while being high.
Rating 2/5


* Maria - internet can make your life hell with just one mistake and that's what this story tells you. Rating 2.5/5

* Labefactions of a Thwarted Patootie
I have no idea what this was
Rating -1/5

* Patience - "In silence, she covers me with herself, all woman. She made me a man. My pleasure saved me, and she floated above me like a dream." A detailed sexual encounter. It's quite bold.
Rating 2.5/5

* Gold star - This was saddest story in the collection. A complex relationship between three friends Jessa, Teddy and Guy. One of my favourite.
Rating -5/5

* Content farm confidential- A startup, which deals with content creation and legality of it all. It can soon be a reality from where the world is actually headed.
Rating: 3/5

* Mirror mirror - This was one of the most erotic stories in my opinion. A girl stalking her neighbour everyday until something unexpected happen.
Rating 5/5

* Portrait of a lady
"Men went through life having the objects in their life derived somehow from women."

Finally a vampire story. A good one.
Rating : 4/5

Overall it was good but not great. I have read even darker and bolder stories that this collection so I was a bit disappointed. Some stories are great while other drag and brings the whole book down.

Overall rating 3.5/5


Thank you Netgalley and Dundurn press for ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept of this book more than the result. I liked the idea that the authors were able to create these short stories about sex and remain anonymous so that they wouldn’t feel judged or exposed but I ended up being bored and not having the energy to finish it. DNF at 60%

Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn press for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Sonja · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the introduction by Russell Smith states, this is not a collection of erotica. Twenty four published Canadian authors, in complete anonymity, submitted short stories about sex or involving some amount of sex, the premise being that they would be less inclined to sensor themselves when they know friends and family won't know who wrote what.

The stories were quite varied, and like many anthologies, some stories were bad, others great, and still more were thought provoking. I quite enjoyed most of this collection. There were a few surprising ones, including a vampire story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of 24 stories written anonymously by select Canadian writers.

Most of the stories are only a brief snippets of people’s love lives 💕 so don’t expect a traditional novel structure. I would recommend the book as a quick pick-up-put-down since stories are short and not too complex. I especially enjoyed reading it while traveling!

I was truly fascinated by the variety of stories! Some of my favorites are:

Watching You Watching Me - recently divorced woman weaving a story of her rebounds and meaning of relationships

Sext - man crawls for woman & she likes it until…

Niche Parade - stories fully compiled from titles on P**nhub

Some stories are quite jarring with sad revelations but all together present different types of love 🏳️‍🌈

Thank you to the publishers for the ARC!

[Blair Moch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting anthology of 24 stories about sex from an impressive list of Canadian authors. The premise that humans (authors) will redact their true intent when writing about sex because it could be read by partners, family and friends. Readers assuming that the actions of the characters are the proclivities of the author. And while they may, they may just be the embodiment of the characters themselves. The goal here was to allow authors to write about sex anonymously. I will mention that I do not typically read short stories. I prefer to read longer character and plot driven stories personally. I did enjoy reading this collection. The stories are not necessarily erotic in nature. Some barely touch on the sex. Others feature graphic and sometime humiliating outcomes. The stories cover love, and lust. Passion and need. Some stories focus on more traditional sex (human to human) so enter into the world of the supernatural and beyond. I would recommend this book for someone who wants to experience of the experiment and love interesting Canadian literature. And of course, sex! ;)

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this collection from Russell Smith was a really interesting read. Because of the way the essays/stories are gathered, Secret Sex was easy to read, pause and come back to. The anonymous submissions read almost like a Whisper thread and were an intriguing view into each author’s subconscious. Overall I liked it and think it would be a great addition to your coffee table stack or home library.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dundurn Press and Russell Smith for an early review copy. These are my honest thoughts.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

|| SECRET SEX ||
#gifted @dundurnpress
#raremachines
✍🏻
Love love loved this collection! Canadian writers semi anonymously writing about sex, such a great concept for a book! Yes we know the authors included in the collection but not who wrote which stories. I tried to guess but who knows. These stories range in length, form and intensity. It was so refreshing! Some stories moved me more than others but as a whole this was wonderfully edited and is thoroughly enjoyable!


For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong

[Thea · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun n’ funny

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird but I fw it

[Not Sarah Connor Writes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the Literary Review of Canada for sending me a copy of this book to review for them! You can read my full review on their website, and in print!

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.5 of 5

From Canada comes this anthology of anonymous sex fiction. The premise is that because we (the general reading public) still have hang-ups about sex, writers tend to write gently around the theme of sex, but if given the opportunity to write about sex and remain anonymous, how much more open, explicit, and erotic would the fiction be? Twenty-four "prominent authors living in Canada" have stories here, centrally themed around sex. (Side note: I didn't recognize any of the names of the authors included here.) As editor Russell Smith notes in the introduction:

Writing sex scenes is notoriously difficult: one walks a tightrope between the crude and the laughable (especially in English, a Germanic language that lends itself to the silly or the ugly). When describing body parts, one must choose between the correct word — which can sound clinical, as if one is reading a medical textbook — and a slang word, which almost always sounds more crass than the rest of the language one’s character is using.

Add to that the anxiety over coming out to one’s family and mortifying one’s mom. And add to that an anxiety over being mocked for imagining sex at all. A particular strain of conservative critic tends to imagine the authors themselves in all the positions described, because that’s almost always amusing.

As with almost any anthology, I found some of these stories very well written and entertaining and some of them were dull and dry and not at all interesting.

The first story that I enjoyed was "Comet" which begins with the sentences: "A home movie of us making love. The bedroom back on Mercer Avenue." It is a story of reflection. Of remembering. Of rekindling.

"Watching You Watching Me" was a really great short story. Stronger, more graphic sex in this story compared to "Comet" but the introspection (again, reflection) was powerful. The story begins:

My lawyer laughed when you stipulated that I couldn't write about you after the divorce. [...]
She'd never represented a writer before. [...]
After twenty-three years of marriage, you did not understand my career, my process, or me. I only wrote about subjects that interested me, people I wanted to understand, themes I felt like thinking about.
I did not feel like thinking about you.

Of course the oddity is that the story is absolutely about the person the writer doesn't want to think about.

"Cloudburst" was odd, but in a fun way. It was like something from the 1960's/1970's that Harlan Ellison or Phil Dick or Thomas Disch would have written.

"Calliope" was also quite odd, but I did not enjoy it at all. In large part I didn't care for the second person narrative.

"An Archive" was another strong story. How can you go wrong with a story that includes sentences such as:

"The song playing on the radio was on so many stations that we eventually gave in and decided to like it."
"We only dated for three months but it took me three years of therapy to get over it."
"The sexiest moment of my life wasn’t even sex."

I enjoyed the story "Maria" - though it was probably the raunchiest of the stories that I liked. There was something that seemed very 'real' about the characters that appealed to me.

With the exceptions above, most of the stories here were fine, though not particularly memorable. There were only a handful that I felt were anonymous for good reason and generally it wasn't because of the sex, per say, but the ferocity or violence of the sex.

The authors represented here are: Angie Abdou, Jean Marc Ah-Sen, Tamara Faith Berger, Jowita Bydlowska, Xaiver Michael Campbell, K.S. Covert, francesca ekwuyasi, Anna Fitzpatrick, Drew Hayden Taylor, Victoria Hetherington, Marni Jackson, Andrew Kaufman, Michael LaPointe, Pasha Malla, Sophie McCreesh, Lisa Moore, Heather O’Neill, Lee Suksi, Susan Swan, Heidi von Palleske, Aley Waterman, Zoe Whittall, David Whitton, Michael Winter.

The contents here are:
Introduction
"Sext"
"Tulip"
"Comets"
"Niche Parade: Hotel Maid Compilation"
"At the Wreckers"
"Restoration"
"Timeless Sophistication"
"The Politics of Passion"
"Bite"
"Watching You Watching Me"
"Praying Mantis"
"Cloudburst"
"After Nicolette"
"Calliope"
"An Archive"
"My Skin Isn’t What It Used to Be"
"Party, Party, (Sex) Party"
"Maria"
"Labefactions of a Thwarted Patootie"
"Patience"
"Gold Star"
"Content Farm Confidential"
"Mirror, Mirror"
"Portrait of a Lady"

Looking for a good book? The anthology Secret Sex edited by Russell Smith suggests that if an author can remain anonymous, their writing about sex can be more explicit and daring. Few of the examples here show that to be true. The best short fiction included is still about people - about people having sex, about people thinking about sex, about people remembering sex. The stories about sex are less interesting.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 52% - interesting concept, but the stories were mediocre and most of which were pretty tame even despite the anonymity

[Yolanda | yolandaannmarie.reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Secret Sex releases January 30, 2024

2.5

This anthology brings together 24 stories by 24 different authors, which are all anonymous — you know the collaborators but not who is tied to a specific piece of writing.

Sex is a normal thing but can be viewed as taboo, stigmatized, or can be embarrassing to share publicly because of how intimate it can be.
In Secret Sex, the anonymity takes away that barrier and gives the writer liberty to create something without the pressure of judgement.
Having said that, I expected there to be more creative risk within the content but a lot of the stories were tame in my opinion. And it’s not even that these had to be overly erotic or graphic to be enjoyable, but there was such a lack of desire felt when the whole theme of the anthology is based on sex. A lot of them used the wrong form of cum/come which is also a pet peeve.

I give 5/5 for the concept here, but the stories itself fell short. Averaging out my ratings for each landed me with 2.5 stars.

My favourites were hands down: After Nicolette, Mirror Mirror, Praying Mantis, Cloudburst.
(I would love to know who wrote these ones so I can read more of their work!)


Sext
A conversation told entirely through sexts. I found it funny in an awkward way.

Tulip
Set before cellphones and the internet. FMC puts herself for hire as a sex worker in the classified ads and gives herself the name Tulip. She calls her cunt an infrared geyser…

Comets
Main character reflecting on the sex within their years of marriage: home sex tape, toys, in a canoe, any brief moment they can get during the day, etc.

Niche Parade: Hotel Maid Compilation
Compiled entirely from video titles on pornhub. Creative in theory, but the execution wasn’t quite there.

At the Wreckers
I mean… if you’d rather read about a Chevette car.

Restoration
A guy having an affair with a woman 34 years older than him and he’s particularly aroused by the stump of her amputated leg… Immediate no.

Timeless Sophistication
Way too vague. The main character watches a sex tape of themselves with the person they were just with. Are they just a fwb fling… a side piece?

The Politics of Passion
An unlikely pairing between an Indigenous man and the opposing counsel representing the government, who happens to be a white woman. After a day of land treaty negotiations, they hook up and “decolonize each other”.

Bite
Vampire + bondage + marking. Little to no depth.

Watching You Watching Me
A writer going through divorce. Uninspiring? Dull? Where’s the desire?

Praying Mantis
One of the better stories in this anthology. The writing style was so distinctly different from the rest that it actually piqued my interest.

Cloudburst
Erect dicks fall from the sky and are drawn to one woman. They form three lines and fuck all three of her holes at once until there are no more dicks left. Think Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs but… not meatballs. Very unusual but stands out as being different and whimsical.

After Nicolette
Hunger — both literal and metaphysical. I loved this one!! I wanted more!

Calliope
I don’t even know?? I think the narrator was a specimen in a jar and their soul or remnants get transferred to an octopus. Reminded me of The Host by Stephanie Meyer.

An Archive
A reflection on the thrills of public sex.

My Skin Isn’t What It Used to Be
Academics and tattoos.

Party, Party, (Sex) Party
Disgusting. Too much unhygienic anal activities between multiple people, and I did not sign up to read in detail about some guy having to publicly shit because he ate discounted grocery store sushi.

Maria
Online dating app turns to sexting which leads to being blackmailed and threatened with your nudes!

Labefactions of a Thwarted Patootie
I don’t even know…..

Patience
An observant main character playing the long game and letting the woman take control.

Gold Star
A round of never have I ever in which one of the participants is a gold star (a gay man who has never slept with a woman), and they’re both grieving the loss of a close friend.

Content Farm Confidential
Workplace fantasies between a woman who sucks at her copywriting job and her CEO boss.

Mirror, Mirror
A neighbour regularly and unashamedly watches the man across from her through their windows as he pleasures himself. She is an artist and uses him as her muse.

Portrait of a Lady
A serial killing vampire meets her demise.

[Mish Middelmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sensible premise! Sex is part of life, but awkward to speak or write openly about.* As the author says, it is much more socially acceptable to ridicule bad writing about sex, than to admit that some writing turns us on. And then the space for erotica shrinks, while porn - largely consumed in secret - continues to rake in the big bucks.

So kudos to Smith for inviting good writers to share their writing about things that are often taboo, with a clever promise: While readers can see the anthology contains quality authors, nobody knows for sure, who wrote what. I found only a few that I really didn't like, more that were mildly interesting or titillating, and several that I found either really hot or very interesting or both.

The nice thing about it all being written by good published authors, is that you don't have to turn your mind off to turn your body on, while reading the book. Some of the interesting insights I enjoyed:

You can't always tell the difference between nervousness and excitement in your body; they both incite a racing heart and queasiness in your gut.

Is it just me or do others sometimes feel this kind of mix while anticipating some exciting sex? Another contribution to the anthology was not very sexy for me, but really insightful about "content farms" where people are (or were before AI took over) employed to write

staggeringly long articles thousands of words long, stuffed with keywords to trick Google into vaulting their website to the very top of organic searches.

This is nothing to do with sex, but as the writer points out, we surrendered something vital when we accepted the term "content" to describe what rightfully should be creative expression. I think it is analogous to the loss that happens to sexual beings when mind-numbing porn engulfs erotica.

After all this you probably wonder if I am going to reveal myself at all. Well yes, my favourite story was "After Nicolette." And I don't know who wrote it.

*My own book Beyond Erections: Sexual pleasure and intimacy with erectile differences deals with the decidedly undiscussable subject of erectile differences and navigating good ways of being sexual with aging and changing bodies. So I particularly appreciate Russell Smith for braving Canada's polite culture to put this book out there.

[Kay West · Rating 4 out of 5]

A voyeurs wet dream of a book.

Award-winning and emerging Canadian authors were given the opportunity to write about sex, love and intimacy without attaching their name to their specific story. The idea put forward by editor, Russell Smith, was that with anonymity came a freedom to write without feeling the need to self-censor, while giving authors permission to push-boundaries on everything from gender to genre.

Anthologies are difficult to review because some voices resonate louder than other. But on the whole, I love the concept, and I enjoyed starting each story without knowing the setting, tone or even the 'type' of erotica I'd be getting myself into. Sometimes it took a while for our main character to reveal their gender, so I'd be enjoying the love story both as queer and straight at the same time, which was a new experience for me - and I highly recommend.

My favourite short story of the collection, 'Sext' is written entirely by text messages between two people. The format was novel, but also of my generation. The tone was a perfect balance of playful and erotic, and the way the author ends the conversation was so on point and unexpected at the same time (how?!)

I also loved 'Mirror Mirror', about an artist watching and drawing the person living across the courtyard, in their most inmate moments. "Every model is aware of my pencil, my easel, and my unflinching gaze. But my man across the courtyard is different. He is real. There is no artifice in his posing. No premeditation in his movement. This is not a body offered but a body stolen."

A bit about my reading preference that differentiates me from the typical fic-lit audience, is that I read a lot of spicy romance/smut/erotica. I'm used to authors pushing the boundaries of sex, and with that in mind it felt like some authors were still pulling their punches and approaching this topic on slant. I wish a few of the stories/authors were as willing to engage in the topic as openly and vulnerably others.

This book is best read at an art gallery, while the author who wrote, "Niche Parade: Hotel Maid Compilations", a short story written entirely from video titles on PornHub, displays AI artwork based on the titles.

[Mia (orchardstreetbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Dundurn Press for this e-ARC!

In this collection, a wide range of authors are given the chance to anonymously write a short story based around the topic of sex, with their anonymity providing them with the freedom to write scenes they perhaps wouldn't ordinarily publish.

Though the premise of this is interesting, I have read similarly interesting and literary depictions of sex without the need for anonymity — not all depictions of sex are in erotica or badly written ‘billionaire’ or fifty shades of grey-style books, as is presented as the central issue in the editor’s note. That said, I’m sure anonymity was freeing for some of these authors, and there were some really interesting and creative explorations of the topic.

The stories were quite hit and miss for me, with some being creative, insightful and well-written, and some falling a little flat in imagination and writing, with a few resulting in the sort of mindless smut that the editor’s note promised to avoid. The best stories were without a doubt the ones with elements of surrealism or a unique take that dug deep into character. My favourite stories were 'Comets', 'Cloudburst', and 'Mirror, Mirror,'.

[The Bourbon-Sipping Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Secret Sex, an anthology of erotic short stories edited by Russell Smith, twenty-four Canadian authors take on the challenge of writing about sex with the freedom of anonymity. The premise is tantalizing: liberated from the constraints of public perception and the fear of judgment, these writers can explore the full spectrum of sexual experiences and desires. Yet, while the concept is brilliant, the execution leaves something to be desired.

Concept Over Content:
The idea of anonymous authorship in erotic fiction is intriguing. It promises bold, uninhibited storytelling free from the usual reticence. However, despite the promise of unfiltered creativity, many of the stories in Secret Sex remain surprisingly tame. The anthology's potential for pushing boundaries and exploring taboo subjects often falls short, resulting in a collection that lacks the anticipated intensity and passion.

Anonymous Authors:
The anthology features contributions from well-known Canadian authors, including Heather O’Neill, Lisa Moore, Michael Winter, Zoe Whittall, Pasha Malla, francesca ekwuyasi, Drew Hayden Taylor, Tamara Faith Berger, and Susan Swan. However, the anonymity means readers are left guessing who wrote what, which can be a fun game but also a frustrating one when trying to connect with the writing styles of specific authors.

The Good, The Bad, and The Forgettable:
As with any anthology, the quality of the stories varies. Some pieces are well-crafted and engaging, offering unique perspectives on sex and relationships. Highlights include:

- "Watching You Watching Me": A recently divorced woman navigates the world of rebound relationships, exploring the complexities of desire and connection.
- "Sext": A man’s obsession with a woman’s sexual demands takes a dark turn.
- "Niche Parade: Hotel Maid Compilation": A creative piece compiled entirely from titles on a popular adult website, showcasing the bizarre and humorous aspects of online sexual fantasies.

On the flip side, several stories are disappointingly dull and lack the emotional or erotic charge expected from such a collection. The inconsistent quality makes for a somewhat uneven reading experience.

Writing Style and Execution:
Smith acknowledges the difficulty of writing sex scenes, particularly in English, where the choice of words can make the difference between the erotic and the laughable. This struggle is evident in the anthology, with some stories striking a perfect balance while others veer into the clinical or crass. The frequent misuse of "cum" and "come" is a notable pet peeve that detracts from the reading experience.

Overall Impression:
While Secret Sex scores high on concept, the stories themselves often fall short of their potential. The anthology provides a mix of straight and gay sex, frustrated sex, and even sex via text messages, but the expected creative risks and explicitness are often missing. The most compelling stories are those that delve into the human aspects of desire, rather than merely focusing on the act itself.

Perfect for Quick Reads:
Despite its shortcomings, Secret Sex is an interesting anthology for those looking for short, varied glimpses into people's love lives. It's a good pick for quick, casual reading, especially while traveling. The diverse range of stories ensures there's something for everyone, even if the collection as a whole doesn't quite live up to its daring promise.

Themes of Secret Sex:

Anonymity and Liberation:

The core theme of the anthology is the liberation that comes with anonymity. By removing the fear of judgment, authors are free to explore and express their deepest desires, fantasies, and experiences. This theme is central to the collection, highlighting how anonymity can lead to creative freedom and authenticity in discussing sex.
Sexual Diversity:

The anthology showcases a wide range of sexual orientations and experiences, including straight, gay, and frustrated sex. It explores different facets of human sexuality, emphasizing that sex is a multifaceted and universal aspect of life.
Desire and Intimacy:

Many stories delve into the nature of desire, exploring how it manifests and affects individuals. The theme of intimacy is closely tied to desire, examining how physical connections can lead to emotional vulnerability and deeper understanding between partners.
Taboos and Stigmas:

The collection confronts societal taboos and stigmas surrounding sex. By bringing these themes to the forefront, the stories challenge readers to reconsider their own perceptions and the cultural norms that dictate what is considered acceptable or shameful.
Vulnerability and Identity:

The act of writing about sex anonymously allows authors to reveal vulnerabilities that they might otherwise hide. This theme is explored through characters who grapple with their sexual identities and the impact of past experiences on their present lives.
Power Dynamics:

Several stories address the power dynamics inherent in sexual relationships. Whether through dominance and submission, consent, or the negotiation of boundaries, the theme of power is a recurring element that adds depth and complexity to the narratives.
Technology and Modern Relationships:

Some stories incorporate modern technology, such as text messages, to depict how contemporary relationships and sexual interactions are mediated through digital communication. This theme reflects on the changing nature of intimacy in the digital age.
Memory and Nostalgia:

A number of pieces explore the role of memory in sexual experiences. Characters reflect on past relationships and encounters, revealing how memories shape their present desires and perceptions of intimacy.
Humor and Absurdity:

Despite the serious nature of some stories, humor and absurdity are also prevalent themes. The anthology includes playful and satirical takes on sex, reminding readers that sex can be both a profound and a lighthearted experience.
Cultural and Social Commentary:

The stories often provide commentary on cultural and social issues related to sex. They explore how societal expectations, cultural backgrounds, and personal histories influence sexual behavior and attitudes.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🔥🔥🔥

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book is what drew me in: what if literary fiction authors could write sex scenes without their names attached? Freed from the potential judgment and taboo by the promise of anonymity, the authors experiment with content, tone, and form.

I think that someone who is a fan of short story collections and interested in this premise would really enjoy this book. I read a lot of smutty romance novels, and ultimately, I DNF'd this because I struggled to really get invested in these stories with so little character development/plot attached. I want to stress that I think this is a 'me' issue rather than a 'the book' issue.

As other reviewers have noted, it's a bit of a mixed bag, and I enjoyed some stories more than others. Generally speaking, I preferred the ones with more experimental formats – for example, the one comprised entirely of text messages – to the more traditional short stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of the book for review.

[Kaitlan Sharpe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley and Dundurn Press in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts below are of my own reading experience.

I initially requested an ARC of this book as it sounded super interesting! The concept sounded amazing-a guessing game of what author wrote what erotic short story-sign me up! The description of the book said the stories were of erotic nature (or 'risky fiction') and I expected them to be quite risqué, but it turned out to be more of slow burn literary fiction than anything. Of course there were some spicy elements but it wasn't what I was expecting.

I loved the mystery of trying to guess what author penned each story. I found it very exciting and I struggled to work out who wrote what, so it was done pretty well!
While I loved the concept, I did think that the execution was a little bit flat. I did feel like I lost interest quite a bit and I struggled to finish it.
Of course there are a handful of stories I loved, but I was hoping for a bit more spice and flair in how the stories were delivered.

"Secret Sex" was quite unique and does blur the line between erotica and literary fiction which was interesting to say the least. Again, I loved the guessing game but the overall execution could use a little more spice.

[B.S. Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not usually a reader of erotic fiction but I also appreciate how beautiful, sexy or simply poetic it can be.

And I also know a bad sex scene when I read it - and I read them a lot. But as Smith addresses in the introduction, many authors censor themselves through fear of judgement, fear of revealing their sexuality, fear of sharing their innermost desires, so through this book each writer isn’t attributed directly to their piece to allow complete freedom and there is something beautiful about that. But sex is natural, it’s fun and it’s a key part of a lot of relationships even ones with our own bodies - and we should definitely be able to talk and write about it without fear.

From subtle sexuality, to evocative and meaningful, to slapstick, graphic and intense, to fantasy, to even one just made out of pornhub titles, there is such a range of different moods, themes and styles - it is not just about sex, but the way we feel, think and talk about all the different incarnations of sex.

[Enid Wray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well - that was different.

I appreciate the concept, Indeed I enjoyed the introduction - but the pieces themselves I’m not so sure about.

I found them to be very uneven, and frankly, they wore thin after a while. It was a struggle to read the last 50 or so pages. I’d had more than enough by then.

The real problem here is a lack of context for the individual pieces themselves.

Let’s face it, sex is mostly a head game… and it’s all about desire, and an-ti-ci-pa-tion. These pieces exist in isolation and mostly they are pretty ‘mechanical’ lacking any of the mystique or build-up that would get the reader to feel involved/invested in what is happening to the characters.

The most interesting part of the reading was trying to match-up the pieces with the authors. I’m pretty sure I managed to get at least ten (10) or so figured out.

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of stories by redacted authors. The hype unfortunately did not live up the expectation of an erotic collection of short stories. The stories were really tame in comparison to some of our current romance authors.

I can see what Russell Smith was trying to do with the collection and with a little more finesse and authors who really want to let loose from dipping their toes in PG-13 style of writing, and letting their inhibition let go, it would be great. There is a market for this style of book with people who don't read dark romance and morally grey books on a daily basis.

Secret Sex (limited) explores different sexual appetites from bondage to sadism without causing the novice reader to blush to much.

Favourite story of the collection is Portrait of a Lady and the most erotic story was Mirror Mirror.

Will keep an eye for other collaborations from Russell Smith.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an eARC in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

While I enjoyed this book, I recognize that there is a specific group of people who would enjoy or gain something from these stories. I appreciated the range and how different everything was - from something similar to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs but cocks, to horror, contemporary fiction, fantasy, thriller, etc. every story was very, very different. There were few stories I didn’t care for, but I understand the motive behind them. Overall, I highly recommend this book for the sexually free, the sexually curious, those who see sex as a vital form of expression. I look forward to hearing this anthology being discussed.

[Jenn (burlingtonbiblio)]

Book Review
Secret Sex

Genre:
Anthology Of Novellas, stories, conversations

Topics:
Intimacy and relationships that are commonly Taboo to write about
Sexual acts (which is not the same as love)
Human connection versus physical need and desire

What its got:
Spicy scenes
Open door
Closed door
Erotic scenes
Essence
Explicit
LGBTQIAP +

Food for Discussion:
Why do authors/publishers censor the writing and reading of the most natural human act? Why does society smut shame people who enjoy reading about physical intimacy?

*** Read the introduction- research that brought about this publication is quite interesting. Its fun to guess which authors wrote what…

Thanks to Dundurn Press and Rare Machines for my Copy in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review on my blog: https://literarytreats.com/2024/02/23...

Like any anthology, some really good pieces, some just meh.

It's literary rather than sexy or erotic, and as someone who usually prefers sexy romance and erotica to lit fic, it was surprising to me that I actually ended up enjoying quite a number of these stories.

Not for their sexiness; there's like one story in the whole thing I actually found sexy. But a lot of the stories were actually fun or funny.

All my personal opinions of course, it's possible others will enjoy more the stories I skimmed over or downright yawned at, and will dislike my personal faves.

I'll also recommend dipping into this a story at a time rather than reading it through like I did. There was a stretch near the end where I was underwhelmed by a lot of the stories, and I don't know if it's coz those stories really weren't my thing or if I was just fatigued by what I'd read so far.

+

Thanks to Dundurn Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[marteficent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, the editor, authors and publishing house for an advanced copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

First things first: I loved the premise of this book. Real stories but without knowing who wrote which… sounds like a lot of fun!

However, it fell a bit flat. While some of the stories are incredibly beautiful, or raw, or intense; most were just okay. And maybe there were too many stories in total, and it gets hard to push through the last ones.

Still, I loved how every author was so distinctly unique in their writing, the styles and narrative voices are so clearly personal, I think it could be a really interesting game to try to match them to the writers.

[Emi Yoshida · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of shorts comes from a talented range of established Canadian contributors, some with Jamaican, Polish and Nigerian roots, many with experience in a vast array of genres, and none of them identified here as the writer of their own story. I was surprised that their blurbs didn't mention erotica specifically, and I liked seeing the inclusion of achievements like opera librettist, film actor, and award winning journalist. All this to say that I found this to be a more thoughtful anthology than many of its ilk. From story to story I never knew what to expect, the surprises were entertaining and a few of them prompted me to google authors and add books to my To Read list.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with any anthology, some inclusions are more interesting than others. From an erotic perspective, quite a few are tame, more talking about relationship types of things than what I would consider writers unleashing their hidden fantasies. Some barely touched on sex, almost as an afterthought. These stories look to be extracted from a novel. There are some exceptions, of course. I especially enjoyed the short, whimsical "Cloudburst", and "Mirror, Mirror" which is in the spirit of the title's promise (it also reminded me of a Barbara Gowdy short story from "We So Seldom Look on Love", "93 Million Miles Away").
I wonder which were written by the couple of writers I know.

[Taylor English · Rating 5 out of 5]

“So what would happen, I wondered, if I gave a selection of published literary writers the opportunity to write sex scenes, or reflections on sex, and share them, without any fear of identification? Would they write more explicitly, more openly about desire if they knew that their parents and their exes and Twitter would not be able to tell which of the scenes they were responsible for?”

The concept of this book and the GLOWING list of Canadian authors lured me in and it didn’t disappoint. Each story was so unique and special. There was heartbreak, yearning, love, friendship, and some deeply steamy scenes.

I think I was pretty good at guessing who penned what (…sometimes)!

[Anannya Das · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting anthology from several Canadian authors, writing on taboo topics not seen in the public eye. I found each short story to be quite different with each authors’ unique voice and quite artistic in the use of tone and how each character was developed. This was a book that required me to take several breaks due to the intensity of each short story, but I found it to be a refreshing take on what fiction can and cannot be sold to the common reader. I would recommend this book for people who want to see the limits of fiction and to see how taboos can be explored in a safe and entertaining way.