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A Con Affair
Romance, sex and spandex all collide in this romantic drama that considers if love and career can co-exist, or are they always just a crisis waiting to happen.Arran Wilson is an aspiring comic book writer. Cameron Perkins is an avid cosplayer. When they meet at a London comic con, the pair hit it off immediately, in every sense. As they start hooking up at comic cons all over the country, what at first seemed like a bit of fun starts turning into something more.
Then Arran gets his first major publishing contract. Suddenly, his noisy mind is filled with new concerns. As he gets swamped by all these questions and fears, Arran has to learn if he can have it the dream career, the hot lover and romance too. Or is that just as colourful a fiction as the superheroes he writes about…
Then Arran gets his first major publishing contract. Suddenly, his noisy mind is filled with new concerns. As he gets swamped by all these questions and fears, Arran has to learn if he can have it the dream career, the hot lover and romance too. Or is that just as colourful a fiction as the superheroes he writes about…
329 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2024
13 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Joe Glass
38 books54 followersJoe is a GLAAD Award winning writer from the deepest, darkest South Wales Valleys in the UK. He is mostly known for his ComiXology Originals, LGBTQ+ superhero series, The Pride (now published in print by Dark Horse Comics as The Pride Omnibus). He’s also the writer behind various self-published and crowdfunded comics work such as Acceptable Losses, Glitter Vipers and The Miracles. He won his GLAAD Award for the m/m romance anthology he co-edited for A Wave Blue World, Young Men in Love.
Joe has worked in the past a comics news reporter and critic and has previously worked with Bleeding Cool, Gay Times, WhatCulture and more. Joe remains a staunch advocate of LGBTQ+ representation in media.
He lives in Wales to do his writing, and is a very soft boi.
Joe has worked in the past a comics news reporter and critic and has previously worked with Bleeding Cool, Gay Times, WhatCulture and more. Joe remains a staunch advocate of LGBTQ+ representation in media.
He lives in Wales to do his writing, and is a very soft boi.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 6, 2024
A Con Affair: A Rom Con
There is so much heart and soul put into this book and it will affect you emotionally. From their first meeting Arran, a comic book author and Cameron an accountant into cosplay, at the London Comic-con event it is evident that there is something remarkable and wonderful between them even if Arran has major problems accepting it.
What follows is a, sometimes deeply introspective, progression of their developing relationship. As someone who has chronic depression I can sincerely empathise with Arran’s negative feelings, insecurities and crippling self esteem.
Joe knows from where he is writing.
Writing is a lonely profession and taking into account that this is Joe’s first full length book it is an extraordinary achievement. I sincerely hope that Joe has more stories to tell and I look forward eagerly to reading them.
There is so much heart and soul put into this book and it will affect you emotionally. From their first meeting Arran, a comic book author and Cameron an accountant into cosplay, at the London Comic-con event it is evident that there is something remarkable and wonderful between them even if Arran has major problems accepting it.
What follows is a, sometimes deeply introspective, progression of their developing relationship. As someone who has chronic depression I can sincerely empathise with Arran’s negative feelings, insecurities and crippling self esteem.
Joe knows from where he is writing.
Writing is a lonely profession and taking into account that this is Joe’s first full length book it is an extraordinary achievement. I sincerely hope that Joe has more stories to tell and I look forward eagerly to reading them.
August 26, 2024
Leyendo A Con Affair he sentido que es un libro muy personal para el autor, pues además de ser un romance gay bastante ardiente con muchísimo porno es una radiografía de la industria del comic, la vida de los autores de comics, las comic cons y cómo el sistema impuesto con la industria tritura a los autores en un ambiente y unas condiciones muy hostiles. En cierta forma se siente como una autobiografía, pero Joe Glass solo ha cogido elementos de su vida y los ha pasado por un filtro de ficción para hacer una novela de romance spicy más que recomendable.
Los personajes son monísimos, se nota que el autor es tremendo homosexual y que se conoce el juego del ligoteo gay. Hay muchísima diferencia cuando leo romance M/M escrito por autores gays que reflejan situaciones y experiencias realistas a cuando leo romance M/M escrito por personas que no son queer. De vez en cuanto, una novela así entra muy fresca.
El libro va directo al grano, con los protas conociéndose, sexo en la primera cita y bastantes momentos wholesome sin ninguna complicación real para los personajes más allá de la salud mental del protagonista. Parece que la trama no arranca pero el autor va añadiendo elementos que complican la situación de los personajes, poco a poco el libro se vuelve cada vez más interesante y al final todo desemboca en uno de esos climax narrativos que te tienen pegado al libro dando gritos.
La estructura del libro es curiosa, porque la mayor parte del libro ocurre en convenciones de comics que ocurren a lo largo de los años y cada capítulo es un día de dicha convención a excepción de varios capítulos que actúan como interludio. El libro es cortito, va bastante al grano, específica bien los saltos temporales para no perder el hilo, la prosa es fluida y los diálogos creíbles. Bastante wholesome, como he dicho antes, pero se nota que Joe Glass quería dejar los malos rollos al mínimo para que sea una lectura relativamente cómoda, haciendo que las situaciones que son realmente malas acaben teniendo mucho más impacto.
Le podría sacar pegas, pero es un proyecto indie escrito desde la experiencia personal y con apenas pretensiones mas allá de hacer una novela de romance gay bonita con mensajes muy positivos sobre la salud mental y realistas sobre lo que significa pertenecer a una industria tan dura como la del comic. Simplemente me ha gustado mucho y me ha venido muy bien como libro entre lecturas bastante duras.
Espero que Joe Glass siga vendiendo novelas así.
Los personajes son monísimos, se nota que el autor es tremendo homosexual y que se conoce el juego del ligoteo gay. Hay muchísima diferencia cuando leo romance M/M escrito por autores gays que reflejan situaciones y experiencias realistas a cuando leo romance M/M escrito por personas que no son queer. De vez en cuanto, una novela así entra muy fresca.
El libro va directo al grano, con los protas conociéndose, sexo en la primera cita y bastantes momentos wholesome sin ninguna complicación real para los personajes más allá de la salud mental del protagonista. Parece que la trama no arranca pero el autor va añadiendo elementos que complican la situación de los personajes, poco a poco el libro se vuelve cada vez más interesante y al final todo desemboca en uno de esos climax narrativos que te tienen pegado al libro dando gritos.
La estructura del libro es curiosa, porque la mayor parte del libro ocurre en convenciones de comics que ocurren a lo largo de los años y cada capítulo es un día de dicha convención a excepción de varios capítulos que actúan como interludio. El libro es cortito, va bastante al grano, específica bien los saltos temporales para no perder el hilo, la prosa es fluida y los diálogos creíbles. Bastante wholesome, como he dicho antes, pero se nota que Joe Glass quería dejar los malos rollos al mínimo para que sea una lectura relativamente cómoda, haciendo que las situaciones que son realmente malas acaben teniendo mucho más impacto.
Le podría sacar pegas, pero es un proyecto indie escrito desde la experiencia personal y con apenas pretensiones mas allá de hacer una novela de romance gay bonita con mensajes muy positivos sobre la salud mental y realistas sobre lo que significa pertenecer a una industria tan dura como la del comic. Simplemente me ha gustado mucho y me ha venido muy bien como libro entre lecturas bastante duras.
Espero que Joe Glass siga vendiendo novelas así.
February 15, 2024
A Con Affair is such a great story! First, I always am on the lookout for any books about relationships set at comic cons, so I was beyond thrilled when I saw that Joe Glass, whose comic series The Pride I love, had written a book, set in that world. And A Con Affair did not disappoint!! Arran, a comic book writer who dreams of getting picked up by a major publisher, meets Cam, a cosplayer, during a convention. They both hit it off immediately, and the story follows their relationship, as it ebbs and flows at different conventions.
What I really loved is how real Cam and Arran's relationship feels on the page. It's messy, it's loving, it's emotional, there's humor, they make mistakes. It's a relationship in all it's in and outs, and ups and downs, and it was very refreshing to see so many things touched on. I also loved that the experience of being a comic book writer wasn't glossed over in the character of Arran.
A Con Affair is perfect if you enjoy comics, cosplay, conventions, romance, humor, and relatable main characters that make mistakes, own them, and you root for!
What I really loved is how real Cam and Arran's relationship feels on the page. It's messy, it's loving, it's emotional, there's humor, they make mistakes. It's a relationship in all it's in and outs, and ups and downs, and it was very refreshing to see so many things touched on. I also loved that the experience of being a comic book writer wasn't glossed over in the character of Arran.
A Con Affair is perfect if you enjoy comics, cosplay, conventions, romance, humor, and relatable main characters that make mistakes, own them, and you root for!
April 1, 2024
3.5 stars
March 17, 2024
fun, funny & touching
this writer did so much that I actually think he threw away a few brilliant ideas - an OnlyFans convention?!?!? - but what most got to me was the learning process. yeah, guys get turned on by guys too at Comic Cons (duh!) despite the fact that many of us are only waiting for the next Sexy Velma. That and the possibility that real love, like Arran & Cam’s, can spring up anywhere.
this writer did so much that I actually think he threw away a few brilliant ideas - an OnlyFans convention?!?!? - but what most got to me was the learning process. yeah, guys get turned on by guys too at Comic Cons (duh!) despite the fact that many of us are only waiting for the next Sexy Velma. That and the possibility that real love, like Arran & Cam’s, can spring up anywhere.
July 15, 2025
Just finished this book and I’m so glad I’ve found it!
This was STEEEEEAMYYYYYY!!!
Joe Glass doesn’t mince words when it comes to spicy scenes and they are sooooo… ehm… enjoyable!
The book goes by fast, it’s a perfect reading for the summer. Sometimes there are some British slangs that require a quick google search to understand, but overall, I liked the discursive style. It allowed the author to give us some funny lines moments, some really hilarious scenes, but also introspection and deep reflections on the character’s feelings.
There are a couple of things that I liked less.
The love interest Cam sometimes comes off as too perfect to be credible: until you accept him as he is, you might not enjoy the interactions between the characters.
This book is set in various comics conventions, which makes sense for the characters. However, sometimes there are way too many drown out descriptions of the comics industry or the logistics of a comic con that took me out of the story completely. I really needed to actively focus to follow through.
Overall, this was a fun story to read. Solid 4/5! Absolutely recommended to queer folks who love queer stories out of the ordinary.
Special mention to the physical description of the main character. In all the queer/gay books I’ve read so far, all characters look the same: ripped or very thin. This character was way more realistic and relatable: he’s someone with a bit of a belly, sometimes clumsy, not really athletic, but still attractive and interesting. He made me feel seen ‘cause that’s me! Never forget that representation always matters.
This was STEEEEEAMYYYYYY!!!
Joe Glass doesn’t mince words when it comes to spicy scenes and they are sooooo… ehm… enjoyable!
The book goes by fast, it’s a perfect reading for the summer. Sometimes there are some British slangs that require a quick google search to understand, but overall, I liked the discursive style. It allowed the author to give us some funny lines moments, some really hilarious scenes, but also introspection and deep reflections on the character’s feelings.
There are a couple of things that I liked less.
The love interest Cam sometimes comes off as too perfect to be credible: until you accept him as he is, you might not enjoy the interactions between the characters.
This book is set in various comics conventions, which makes sense for the characters. However, sometimes there are way too many drown out descriptions of the comics industry or the logistics of a comic con that took me out of the story completely. I really needed to actively focus to follow through.
Overall, this was a fun story to read. Solid 4/5! Absolutely recommended to queer folks who love queer stories out of the ordinary.
Special mention to the physical description of the main character. In all the queer/gay books I’ve read so far, all characters look the same: ripped or very thin. This character was way more realistic and relatable: he’s someone with a bit of a belly, sometimes clumsy, not really athletic, but still attractive and interesting. He made me feel seen ‘cause that’s me! Never forget that representation always matters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2024
3.5 stars - Rarely have I been as conflicted while reading and later while rating a book. Last month I read a comics anthology that this author contributed to, and his 8 page comic about the panny-d and depression and the holiday season and hope was one of my very favorites from the collection and gets a five star on its own. I was super excited to see a longer work from this author.
While there is a lot to like here, both in content and form, I did have trouble with just how often we have to go over the same ground to the same level of granularity. I fully accept that people with depression have cycles and their mind lies to them and they are susceptible to believing the worst of themselves, but the way the arguments cycled here was more frustrating in a narrative sense. Luckily, there was other stuff that moved the plot along, but every time we returned to this same issue about how it was unprofessional of him to sleep with/date a cosplayer when he was a comics creator . . . it got more and more ridiculous.
This was an non-traditional romance that still had romance in it, and an HFN ending that one can interpret as being very hopeful for the future. Thought it was a bit rocky to get there, I am still glad to have read this book and plan to check out more by this creator.
While there is a lot to like here, both in content and form, I did have trouble with just how often we have to go over the same ground to the same level of granularity. I fully accept that people with depression have cycles and their mind lies to them and they are susceptible to believing the worst of themselves, but the way the arguments cycled here was more frustrating in a narrative sense. Luckily, there was other stuff that moved the plot along, but every time we returned to this same issue about how it was unprofessional of him to sleep with/date a cosplayer when he was a comics creator . . . it got more and more ridiculous.
This was an non-traditional romance that still had romance in it, and an HFN ending that one can interpret as being very hopeful for the future. Thought it was a bit rocky to get there, I am still glad to have read this book and plan to check out more by this creator.
August 28, 2024
loved this!
October 10, 2024
Una decepción.
Le tenía mucha fe a este libro y empecé leyéndolo con muchas ganas, pero definitivamente no fue para mí. Quiero empezar con el único punto positivo que le encontré (razón por la que no le pongo solo una estrella) y es que hubieron cosas que me hicieron identificar bastante con Arran, el personaje principal. Me gustó la manera en la que describía esa sensación de "no haber logrado nada" a una determinada edad, o el tener ideas preconcebidas con respecto a trabajar en industrias artísticas grandes como, por ejemplo, Marvel.
Lamentablemente, fue mucho más lo que no me gustó. En primer lugar, el libro se me hizo un fic de Wattpad larguísimo. Es la típica historia del chico con baja autoestima, según él mismo feo, pero tiene al chico perfecto, lindo, atento, detrás de él. Ahí entra mi otro problema con el libro, y es que me falta el punto de vista del interés amoroso, Cam. No se entiende por qué este personaje lo quiere, o qué le ve. Simplemente, lo adora y lo ama desde el primer momento cuando Arran no se preocupa ni un poco por él. Literal un fic. Además de estar lleno de otras situaciones clichés y predecibles.
No hay romance para mí, ni siquiera hay tensión porque se conocen y dos páginas después tienen sexo y listo ya son almas gemelas. Por último, no disfruté nada la cantidad excesiva de escenas sexuales. Entiendo que esto ya es un tema de gustos míos que no me suelen llamar la atención los libros con tanto contenido sexual y éste tenía muchísimo.
Le tenía mucha fe a este libro y empecé leyéndolo con muchas ganas, pero definitivamente no fue para mí. Quiero empezar con el único punto positivo que le encontré (razón por la que no le pongo solo una estrella) y es que hubieron cosas que me hicieron identificar bastante con Arran, el personaje principal. Me gustó la manera en la que describía esa sensación de "no haber logrado nada" a una determinada edad, o el tener ideas preconcebidas con respecto a trabajar en industrias artísticas grandes como, por ejemplo, Marvel.
Lamentablemente, fue mucho más lo que no me gustó. En primer lugar, el libro se me hizo un fic de Wattpad larguísimo. Es la típica historia del chico con baja autoestima, según él mismo feo, pero tiene al chico perfecto, lindo, atento, detrás de él. Ahí entra mi otro problema con el libro, y es que me falta el punto de vista del interés amoroso, Cam. No se entiende por qué este personaje lo quiere, o qué le ve. Simplemente, lo adora y lo ama desde el primer momento cuando Arran no se preocupa ni un poco por él. Literal un fic. Además de estar lleno de otras situaciones clichés y predecibles.
No hay romance para mí, ni siquiera hay tensión porque se conocen y dos páginas después tienen sexo y listo ya son almas gemelas. Por último, no disfruté nada la cantidad excesiva de escenas sexuales. Entiendo que esto ya es un tema de gustos míos que no me suelen llamar la atención los libros con tanto contenido sexual y éste tenía muchísimo.
February 14, 2024
Well, I can safely say I ADORED this book! This was my first LGBTQ+ romance, and I sincerely hope, not my last by this author.
This was definitely an incredibly unique read that I will never find again; Comics, Comic-cons, MM romance, SPICE, and humour in abundance! It had some real laugh out moments!
The story is centred around Arran, a comic writer, and Cam, a cosplayer who begin a relationship that has as many trials and tribulations as they have heart warming moments. I connected with Arran the most, and found myself rooting for him the entire time. I absolutely loved the range of issues portrayed in this book; Low self confidence, neurodivergence, mental health to name a few. All things that are never talked about enough, in my opinion. I loved the romance, the spice, and how Arran and Cameron interacted with each other. Love, love, LOVE it!
So to sum up, READ THIS BOOK, ITS AMAZING!
This was definitely an incredibly unique read that I will never find again; Comics, Comic-cons, MM romance, SPICE, and humour in abundance! It had some real laugh out moments!
The story is centred around Arran, a comic writer, and Cam, a cosplayer who begin a relationship that has as many trials and tribulations as they have heart warming moments. I connected with Arran the most, and found myself rooting for him the entire time. I absolutely loved the range of issues portrayed in this book; Low self confidence, neurodivergence, mental health to name a few. All things that are never talked about enough, in my opinion. I loved the romance, the spice, and how Arran and Cameron interacted with each other. Love, love, LOVE it!
So to sum up, READ THIS BOOK, ITS AMAZING!
March 6, 2024
I picked this book up as it was recommended by a friend, they know I love gay romance books like Heartstopper, Red, White & Royal Blue etc, and figured I’d like this one. And oh boy, I really did! I cannot recommend it enough! A very spicy book at times, but there’s an underlying heart to it, so that it all adds to the emotional story.
January 31, 2024
Excellent! Highly recommended!
November 18, 2025
I liked this novel and the main character throughout. The last chapter or so with a futuristic time jump was kinda jarring.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews