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Seeing Strangers
A stylish novel of obsession set in a world where sex is just a swipe away.
Life is going well for Greg Kelly. He's married to Cristian, a Spanish-born artist who is handsome, kind, and can even cook. Greg's work as a translator for an IT startup allows them to live comfortably in a chic Bushwick two bedroom and enjoy just about all NYC has to offer―including sleeping with other men. Greg and Cristian's marriage has been open for the past few years, and this arrangement has been particularly appealing to Greg due to his voracious sexual appetite. But as they approach their mid-thirties, fatherhood and adulthood call and they enlist a friend to act as surrogate.
In order to focus on building a family, Greg and Cristian decide to close their marriage when the baby arrives. Greg is going to miss his hookups, but he has the summer for one last hurrah. He methodically plans his connections via Grindr and Tinder, carefully coordinates train routes for lunchtime trysts, and scouts potential candidates anywhere, anytime.
As their baby's due date draws closer, anxiety sets in over Greg's impending parental responsibilities, the loss of his sexual freedom, and even his marriage to Cristian. But before he can sort out his feelings, an old hookup reappears―Russell, an arrogant tv producer, who Greg spurned. And the problem is, Russell just won't go away, infiltrating himself into Greg's life in the worst ways possible, threatening his marriage and sanity. But what Russell doesn't know is that Greg will stop at nothing to protect both.
Life is going well for Greg Kelly. He's married to Cristian, a Spanish-born artist who is handsome, kind, and can even cook. Greg's work as a translator for an IT startup allows them to live comfortably in a chic Bushwick two bedroom and enjoy just about all NYC has to offer―including sleeping with other men. Greg and Cristian's marriage has been open for the past few years, and this arrangement has been particularly appealing to Greg due to his voracious sexual appetite. But as they approach their mid-thirties, fatherhood and adulthood call and they enlist a friend to act as surrogate.
In order to focus on building a family, Greg and Cristian decide to close their marriage when the baby arrives. Greg is going to miss his hookups, but he has the summer for one last hurrah. He methodically plans his connections via Grindr and Tinder, carefully coordinates train routes for lunchtime trysts, and scouts potential candidates anywhere, anytime.
As their baby's due date draws closer, anxiety sets in over Greg's impending parental responsibilities, the loss of his sexual freedom, and even his marriage to Cristian. But before he can sort out his feelings, an old hookup reappears―Russell, an arrogant tv producer, who Greg spurned. And the problem is, Russell just won't go away, infiltrating himself into Greg's life in the worst ways possible, threatening his marriage and sanity. But what Russell doesn't know is that Greg will stop at nothing to protect both.
257 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2022
10 people are currently reading
1714 people want to read
About the author
Sebastian J. Plata
3 books31 followersSebastian J. Plata was born in Poland and raised in Chicago. He spent his twenties in Japan, his thirties in New York City, and is now based in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 18, 2022
Sebastian J. Plata's debut novel, SEEING STRANGERS is literally a gay relationship's worst nightmare coming true.
Full disclaimer before picking this book up, this book is for a niche market (specifically the gay community) and may not be understood otherwise, so if you are not part of the LGBTQ+ community and pick this up, go in with full understanding that it will be different from what you expect.
Greg Kelly and his husband Cristian are married and preparing for their first child together via surrogacy. Living in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Greg is a translator at an IT startup and Cristian is an artist who Greg met while living in Spain in their early 20s. Greg's sexual appetite is a lot more intense than Cristian's and the two decided to open their marriage so the two can explore their sexuality with other people. As they approach fatherhood and their mid-thirties (Greg being 34 and Cristian being 35), the couple decides to forge a path of monogamy once the baby arrives. Greg's escapades begin to cause havoc onto the couple—especially when one fling chooses to take matters in his own hands.
This book messed me up. Before I begin and people decide to butt into my personal life, my marriage is monogamous. That being said, I do know people in open relationships, and it's had varying levels of success for them. I think every gay relationship has a moment in their lives where they question if polyamory would be for them—whether they'd actually want to do it or not. This book scared the F outta me because having trysts with people who could potentially seek and destroy what you love most is my worst nightmare. This book is steamy AF and juicy as hell, and when the book turns upside down, you'll be on the edge of your seat. I read this book in two sittings because sleep got in the way. However, I will be closely tuning into what this author has next for readers.
Full disclaimer before picking this book up, this book is for a niche market (specifically the gay community) and may not be understood otherwise, so if you are not part of the LGBTQ+ community and pick this up, go in with full understanding that it will be different from what you expect.
Greg Kelly and his husband Cristian are married and preparing for their first child together via surrogacy. Living in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Greg is a translator at an IT startup and Cristian is an artist who Greg met while living in Spain in their early 20s. Greg's sexual appetite is a lot more intense than Cristian's and the two decided to open their marriage so the two can explore their sexuality with other people. As they approach fatherhood and their mid-thirties (Greg being 34 and Cristian being 35), the couple decides to forge a path of monogamy once the baby arrives. Greg's escapades begin to cause havoc onto the couple—especially when one fling chooses to take matters in his own hands.
This book messed me up. Before I begin and people decide to butt into my personal life, my marriage is monogamous. That being said, I do know people in open relationships, and it's had varying levels of success for them. I think every gay relationship has a moment in their lives where they question if polyamory would be for them—whether they'd actually want to do it or not. This book scared the F outta me because having trysts with people who could potentially seek and destroy what you love most is my worst nightmare. This book is steamy AF and juicy as hell, and when the book turns upside down, you'll be on the edge of your seat. I read this book in two sittings because sleep got in the way. However, I will be closely tuning into what this author has next for readers.
November 19, 2022
Ooof. Not good. Considered giving this one star but as it’s the author’s first novel and it is LGBT, didn’t want to affect the score too much.
Where do I begin? Positives - I liked the beginning when we’re setting up the story and the world we’re meeting Greg in. That’s about it.
The book reads like it was written by a 18 year old who is struggling with their feelings. Many of the issues could have been solved if the characters (Greg and Cristian) just spoke to one another or went to therapy (the latter happens somewhat but the characters don’t really talk about it until they’ve reached rock bottom). The relationship is just so toxic. The most thriller / horror thing to happen is that these two don’t talk more honestly about what they’re feeling until it’s too late.
The writing is pretty terrible - very pedestrian at times (again, is the narrator 34 or is he actually 18). And that ending? Cannot believe the author is trying to allude to something as silly as what he is.
If you’re in the mood for a gay thriller, please read “Yes, Daddy” or “Bath Haus”. They’re both far better than this.
Where do I begin? Positives - I liked the beginning when we’re setting up the story and the world we’re meeting Greg in. That’s about it.
The book reads like it was written by a 18 year old who is struggling with their feelings. Many of the issues could have been solved if the characters (Greg and Cristian) just spoke to one another or went to therapy (the latter happens somewhat but the characters don’t really talk about it until they’ve reached rock bottom). The relationship is just so toxic. The most thriller / horror thing to happen is that these two don’t talk more honestly about what they’re feeling until it’s too late.
The writing is pretty terrible - very pedestrian at times (again, is the narrator 34 or is he actually 18). And that ending? Cannot believe the author is trying to allude to something as silly as what he is.
If you’re in the mood for a gay thriller, please read “Yes, Daddy” or “Bath Haus”. They’re both far better than this.
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September 13, 2022Not for me
August 2, 2022
4.5 F’D UP ⭐️
This is really hard to review because I could not put it down…. I read this book in one night !!! The plot was disturbing for me, the MC - Greg- was selfish and so unlikeable Yet I was addicted. The writing did not pull any punches. Wow great shocker
This is really hard to review because I could not put it down…. I read this book in one night !!! The plot was disturbing for me, the MC - Greg- was selfish and so unlikeable Yet I was addicted. The writing did not pull any punches. Wow great shocker
December 15, 2022
Sometimes hot AF. Creepy enough to get me to turn the pages. Ridiculous ending. Not so well written. And yet the only thing my brain was able to accomodate today.
September 18, 2022
Even though this book is described as a thriller, to me it was mostly general queer fiction which is fine I did enjoy it but I went into the book with wrong expectations. I though this would be something like Bath Haus but that wasn’t the case.
March 21, 2023
Dude, fuck Greg. He has the emotional intelligence of a condom wrapper.
November 10, 2022
In the thriller SEEING STRANGERS, Greg and Cristian have been together for eleven years and are happily married in New York City expecting their first child from a surrogate. They have an open relationship where they can sleep with other people, but they plan to close their marriage when the baby arrives. Until that time, Greg intends to spend as much time on dating apps as possible and seeing as many guys as he can.
This book is a gay thriller that could only exist at this time as open relationships and dating apps have become more commonplace. This book is fast paced following Greg as his jumps from guy to guy. At first I didn’t think this was as much a thriller as the story of a sex addict, but about half way though the novel the plot starts to unfold as the pieces fall into place. I flew through the second half of the book full of twists, turns, and reveals. I wanted to scream at Greg for all his terrible decisions, yet I also felt bad for him and wanted him and Cristian to stay together. In some ways, the plot is not believable because so many pieces would have to fall together perfectly. Yet, I loved this book. It was scandalous and tantalizing and terrifying and so of the moment.
This book had excellent writing combined with a thrilling plot. I first saw this recommendation from @scaredstraightreads and it did not disappoint. If you’re looking for a twisty, gay sex thriller, this is for you.▪️
This book is a gay thriller that could only exist at this time as open relationships and dating apps have become more commonplace. This book is fast paced following Greg as his jumps from guy to guy. At first I didn’t think this was as much a thriller as the story of a sex addict, but about half way though the novel the plot starts to unfold as the pieces fall into place. I flew through the second half of the book full of twists, turns, and reveals. I wanted to scream at Greg for all his terrible decisions, yet I also felt bad for him and wanted him and Cristian to stay together. In some ways, the plot is not believable because so many pieces would have to fall together perfectly. Yet, I loved this book. It was scandalous and tantalizing and terrifying and so of the moment.
This book had excellent writing combined with a thrilling plot. I first saw this recommendation from @scaredstraightreads and it did not disappoint. If you’re looking for a twisty, gay sex thriller, this is for you.▪️
July 27, 2022
Wow. Just wow.
I devoured this novel in less that 24 hours. “Seeing Strangers” is one of those novels that will stick with you for days, weeks, and months after you read it. The delicate yarn that Sebastian Plata weaves creates an intricate web of passion, deceit, anger, and revenge. Without spoiling too much, if you are searching for a modern day gay version of the “Count of Monte Cristo” mixed with “Fatal Attraction” with a delicious helping of spice, I would highly recommend this novel.
I devoured this novel in less that 24 hours. “Seeing Strangers” is one of those novels that will stick with you for days, weeks, and months after you read it. The delicate yarn that Sebastian Plata weaves creates an intricate web of passion, deceit, anger, and revenge. Without spoiling too much, if you are searching for a modern day gay version of the “Count of Monte Cristo” mixed with “Fatal Attraction” with a delicious helping of spice, I would highly recommend this novel.
December 19, 2022
This was a WILD read, and an intro into a world that as someone on the Ace spectrum I didn’t realize was a thing. The book was intense with its suspense, twists and turns, and the cast of characters, including the revolving door of men that Greg was involved with, kept the book interesting from start to finish, especially with the the darker thriller aspect.
October 15, 2023
This felt more LGBTQ+ drama vs thriller but! I enjoyed it regardless! It was a really quick read that had characters that you just wanted to shake! Great for an afternoon. Big thanks to the author for sending me a copy!
November 13, 2022
Frustrating. I feel like it could have been cooked longer.
April 27, 2025
found it so hard to put down, really gripping, read this in one evening! 😚
September 19, 2025
read this book in two days… i know author didn’t insinuate that at the end ??
April 15, 2024
This book is very captivating, great storyline, I disliked Greg and am disappointed that he got his happy ending despite being a narcissist douchbag
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2022
This erotic thriller packs a wicked punch, a sinister twist, and enough steamy moments to have you sweating by the end of the first chapters.
Greg Kelly has a great life, if you ask him. His marriage to his husband Cristian is rock solid, they have a baby on the way, and, until she arrives, Greg and Cristian are allowed to have LOTS of fun all over NYC. Greg is meeting gentlemen, having his way, and heading home to the man he loves. The guys' open relationship is exactly what Greg needs in order to feel physically satisfied. But as the due date approaches and the guys decide to close up their relationship, Greg's anxiety, insecurity, and appetite are all giving him cause for concern. And as his sexual spree is reaching an end, a new flame makes it hard to stop, and another one seems to be unwilling to let go. When his marriage, and personal safety, are compromised, Greg must grow up and take control of what matters most to him. The question is, who is that?
This debut thriller from Sebastian J. Plata is a sexy slow burn. There's room to develop the plot in SEEING STRANGERS a bit sooner; the back half is packed with action and moments worth gasping over, while the first half sort of takes its time to get there. Plata is clearly having fun writing about sexual conquests, but could also spend a bit more time digging into the steam of the experience. But when the thriller takes shape, the book really picks up. Like BATH HAUS, this book blends a queer lifestyle with more traditional domestic thriller energy. Like YES DADDY, this book offers some sinister energy that will terrify the gay men who read it, especially. And Sebastian J. Plata is well on his way toward building a career and a following with this genre of soapy, sexy drama that will keep you flipping the pages.
Greg Kelly has a great life, if you ask him. His marriage to his husband Cristian is rock solid, they have a baby on the way, and, until she arrives, Greg and Cristian are allowed to have LOTS of fun all over NYC. Greg is meeting gentlemen, having his way, and heading home to the man he loves. The guys' open relationship is exactly what Greg needs in order to feel physically satisfied. But as the due date approaches and the guys decide to close up their relationship, Greg's anxiety, insecurity, and appetite are all giving him cause for concern. And as his sexual spree is reaching an end, a new flame makes it hard to stop, and another one seems to be unwilling to let go. When his marriage, and personal safety, are compromised, Greg must grow up and take control of what matters most to him. The question is, who is that?
This debut thriller from Sebastian J. Plata is a sexy slow burn. There's room to develop the plot in SEEING STRANGERS a bit sooner; the back half is packed with action and moments worth gasping over, while the first half sort of takes its time to get there. Plata is clearly having fun writing about sexual conquests, but could also spend a bit more time digging into the steam of the experience. But when the thriller takes shape, the book really picks up. Like BATH HAUS, this book blends a queer lifestyle with more traditional domestic thriller energy. Like YES DADDY, this book offers some sinister energy that will terrify the gay men who read it, especially. And Sebastian J. Plata is well on his way toward building a career and a following with this genre of soapy, sexy drama that will keep you flipping the pages.
August 29, 2024
I enjoyed this book! I wouldn’t say it’s a thriller, but there are certainly moments of fear and discomfort. I liked pace of the writing, the sex scenes, and Cristian. Greg was hard to like for me but made a good narrator. Unexpected and fun.
January 13, 2026
A long pause. Then : ''You really would do anything for some dick, wouldn't you, Greg ?''
Seeing Strangers tells the story of Greg, happily married and in a relationship with his husband Cristian for the past 11 years. In the last 4, they've opened their relationship, but with their surrogate mother's due date looming over the horizon, they've decided to close their relationship once again when the baby arrives. That gives Greg, the one who takes advantage of their arrangement the most, one last summer to fulfill all his fantasies. What he doesn't realize is that as he's letting all these different men into his life, one has been waiting for exactly this opportunity...
Was anyone else Team Stalker for most of this book ?
Greg is a wildly toxic and unlikeable main character. Deceitful (to both his husband and his lovers !), superficial and inconsiderate. The shit he pulls on his would-be stalker was frankly irredeemable (
What ?! 🤯 Like that's our protagonist ?!
Also, Greg constantly meets with his stalker to discuss the stalking, as one does 🙄, and his stalker always gleefully admits to everything, only for Greg's entourage to not believe him. I don't mind that last part, but you're telling me, in the age of cellphones, that Greg NEVER thinks to record his stalker and that his stalker never worries about being recorded ??? Give me a break.
Finally, the main mystery is mindlessly easy to solve, even for me who never guesses anything in thrillers... But ! The author throws one last curveball in the ending that is so unhinged that I cackled and it got me to add a whole ass star to my review.
Seeing Strangers tells the story of Greg, happily married and in a relationship with his husband Cristian for the past 11 years. In the last 4, they've opened their relationship, but with their surrogate mother's due date looming over the horizon, they've decided to close their relationship once again when the baby arrives. That gives Greg, the one who takes advantage of their arrangement the most, one last summer to fulfill all his fantasies. What he doesn't realize is that as he's letting all these different men into his life, one has been waiting for exactly this opportunity...
Was anyone else Team Stalker for most of this book ?
Greg is a wildly toxic and unlikeable main character. Deceitful (to both his husband and his lovers !), superficial and inconsiderate. The shit he pulls on his would-be stalker was frankly irredeemable (
What ?! 🤯 Like that's our protagonist ?!
Also, Greg constantly meets with his stalker to discuss the stalking, as one does 🙄, and his stalker always gleefully admits to everything, only for Greg's entourage to not believe him. I don't mind that last part, but you're telling me, in the age of cellphones, that Greg NEVER thinks to record his stalker and that his stalker never worries about being recorded ??? Give me a break.
Finally, the main mystery is mindlessly easy to solve, even for me who never guesses anything in thrillers... But ! The author throws one last curveball in the ending that is so unhinged that I cackled and it got me to add a whole ass star to my review.
January 22, 2024
This is supposed to be a thriller but, ultimately it felt more like a soap opera. There was never enough suspense, and it never once felt edge of your seat. The opening chapter held promise with a sort of creepy foreshadowing, and then there was just nothing from there. A whole lot of not communicating, over the top antics, and in the end no real pay off. I was not thrilled or suspended.
While I don't personally need to like my protagonist to enjoy a narrative, this protagonist was utterly horrible. A horrible husband, a really bad best friend, a crap boyfriend, without a doubt going to be a lousy father. Just overall not someone I am rooting for in any way. Not to mention that while there is clearly supposed to be an antagonist in the story, every single character was just so horrible. I struggled to connect with any of the characters which just never allowed me to have any stakes in the game.
Ultimately what turned me off the most was this book came across to me being very anti open-relationship and anti hook up culture. It showcased both of these in really cliche and icky ways, without really adding any sort of nuance to them.
Nothing about any of the relationships in this narrative are positive, and so the stalker element didn't even have that much of a punch because it was just another relationship in the midst of bad relationships on display here. Sometimes when the narrator was talking about how much he loved his husband it almost felt like the author was trying to convince himself by convincing us. You are telling me that these two are in love but you aren't showing me that, and it all feels too forced.
Overall, this one was a miss for me.
While I don't personally need to like my protagonist to enjoy a narrative, this protagonist was utterly horrible. A horrible husband, a really bad best friend, a crap boyfriend, without a doubt going to be a lousy father. Just overall not someone I am rooting for in any way. Not to mention that while there is clearly supposed to be an antagonist in the story, every single character was just so horrible. I struggled to connect with any of the characters which just never allowed me to have any stakes in the game.
Ultimately what turned me off the most was this book came across to me being very anti open-relationship and anti hook up culture. It showcased both of these in really cliche and icky ways, without really adding any sort of nuance to them.
Nothing about any of the relationships in this narrative are positive, and so the stalker element didn't even have that much of a punch because it was just another relationship in the midst of bad relationships on display here. Sometimes when the narrator was talking about how much he loved his husband it almost felt like the author was trying to convince himself by convincing us. You are telling me that these two are in love but you aren't showing me that, and it all feels too forced.
Overall, this one was a miss for me.
October 9, 2022
1.5 stars
This was an impulse grab from my local library as I was browsing through the books they had recently added. I saw this listed as an lgbtq+ thriller and thought the premise looked interesting. First let me say, this is definitely not a thriller. What it was: a short-ish surface exploration of shallow sexual conquests.
I am going to be honest here. I did not like the main character, Greg. None of the characters were very well developed, but I could see myself liking a few of them had they author spent more time on their perspectives. What this book focused on was the unrelenting, hollow, sexual conquests of an unlikable narcissist. Every page seemed to have been written solely to point out how attractive the main character was, how he could get anyone at any time, and how the extremely slight "conflicts" he faced were all because he was so irresistibly desirable. His constant quest for the next sexual encounter, his tendency to lie and conceal the truth of his relationship, his inability to see beyond is own nose, never resulted in any actual consequences for him. There was simply no growth. I enjoy a good, sexy romp as much as the next person, and had this book not tried to be something it wasn't, it might have worked, it might not.
I will say that the prose was easy to follow and I managed to start and finish this book in a single day. I was anxious to see where the thriller part of the book would show up, so it kept me reading, unfortunately without the payoff I'd hoped for.
This was an impulse grab from my local library as I was browsing through the books they had recently added. I saw this listed as an lgbtq+ thriller and thought the premise looked interesting. First let me say, this is definitely not a thriller. What it was: a short-ish surface exploration of shallow sexual conquests.
I am going to be honest here. I did not like the main character, Greg. None of the characters were very well developed, but I could see myself liking a few of them had they author spent more time on their perspectives. What this book focused on was the unrelenting, hollow, sexual conquests of an unlikable narcissist. Every page seemed to have been written solely to point out how attractive the main character was, how he could get anyone at any time, and how the extremely slight "conflicts" he faced were all because he was so irresistibly desirable. His constant quest for the next sexual encounter, his tendency to lie and conceal the truth of his relationship, his inability to see beyond is own nose, never resulted in any actual consequences for him. There was simply no growth. I enjoy a good, sexy romp as much as the next person, and had this book not tried to be something it wasn't, it might have worked, it might not.
I will say that the prose was easy to follow and I managed to start and finish this book in a single day. I was anxious to see where the thriller part of the book would show up, so it kept me reading, unfortunately without the payoff I'd hoped for.
January 12, 2025
Had me hooked from the very first page, it just unbuckles and unzips straight into gay hookup culture - and it’s very clear the author knows what he’s writing about.
LOVED the character Greg, and his manic obsession with hooking up feels both outrageous and heartbreakingly relatable. The chaos, the clown show, the highs and lows of his encounters - Plata bangs it all out (literally) with unflinching precision, making him a fascinating (if not always likable) lens through which we see the messiness of human connection. Lots of laugh out loud moments.
But a desperation with him too. A wound there. A mania.
While the story kept me hooked from start to finish, I hesitate to call it a thriller. To me, it felt more like a high-stakes gay drama, with the emphasis firmly on the drama. The twists and turns are undeniably entertaining, though I was a little let down that the book didn’t fully embrace a full blown Fatal Attraction-style spiral.
I don’t know if I needed someone to die, but even Russell… he wasn’t THAT bad. Really. No pet bunnies were boiled.
That said - maybe that would have been too obvious. The back of the book said something about it being a crime novel - and unless banging and sneaking around town via grindr is a crime - there wasn’t a whole lot of crime in these pages. So that could mislead people, though it didn’t bother me.
Ultimately, Seeing Strangers is a fun, slutty read that doesn’t shy away from exploring the complexities of open relationships. Someone once told me “gay men do things a bit differently” - and if you understand that - this book is all VERY familiar territory.
While I would’ve loved the story to lean further into its darker potential, I appreciated its humor, honesty, and flair for drama. Christian was sexy. Elijah was just FLAT OUT SOOOOO HOT, I adored Kate ….and Russell… Damn. That final scene.
A solid 4 out of 5 for me.
LOVED the character Greg, and his manic obsession with hooking up feels both outrageous and heartbreakingly relatable. The chaos, the clown show, the highs and lows of his encounters - Plata bangs it all out (literally) with unflinching precision, making him a fascinating (if not always likable) lens through which we see the messiness of human connection. Lots of laugh out loud moments.
But a desperation with him too. A wound there. A mania.
While the story kept me hooked from start to finish, I hesitate to call it a thriller. To me, it felt more like a high-stakes gay drama, with the emphasis firmly on the drama. The twists and turns are undeniably entertaining, though I was a little let down that the book didn’t fully embrace a full blown Fatal Attraction-style spiral.
I don’t know if I needed someone to die, but even Russell… he wasn’t THAT bad. Really. No pet bunnies were boiled.
That said - maybe that would have been too obvious. The back of the book said something about it being a crime novel - and unless banging and sneaking around town via grindr is a crime - there wasn’t a whole lot of crime in these pages. So that could mislead people, though it didn’t bother me.
Ultimately, Seeing Strangers is a fun, slutty read that doesn’t shy away from exploring the complexities of open relationships. Someone once told me “gay men do things a bit differently” - and if you understand that - this book is all VERY familiar territory.
While I would’ve loved the story to lean further into its darker potential, I appreciated its humor, honesty, and flair for drama. Christian was sexy. Elijah was just FLAT OUT SOOOOO HOT, I adored Kate ….and Russell… Damn. That final scene.
A solid 4 out of 5 for me.
July 6, 2024
After the mediocre BATH HAUS and the total disaster that was YES, DADDY, I was hoping this would finally be a gay domestic thriller I enjoyed - and I'm happy to report that I did :D (Though it's more drama than thriller up until the 75% mark or so.)
The first half of the book is basically just Greg hooking up with countless Gindr dates. (This part was a lot less steamy than some reviews let me to believe.) Greg isn't always the nicest person, and at times I felt sorry for his wonderful husband, Cristian. Once we get past the 50% mark, the pacing picks up noticeably. There are some good twists and turns and the final 50 pages were sooo gripping. Good character development too.
Note:
Initially, I wanted to get the ebook (which is how I read most of my books), but for some reason, it was taken off the market shortly after publication. Now, unfortunately, it looks like the publishing house is going out of business, which is really unfortunate. The hardback is gorgeous though, so I recommend getting it. This is my favourite gay thriller thus far.
The first half of the book is basically just Greg hooking up with countless Gindr dates. (This part was a lot less steamy than some reviews let me to believe.) Greg isn't always the nicest person, and at times I felt sorry for his wonderful husband, Cristian. Once we get past the 50% mark, the pacing picks up noticeably. There are some good twists and turns and the final 50 pages were sooo gripping. Good character development too.
Note:
Initially, I wanted to get the ebook (which is how I read most of my books), but for some reason, it was taken off the market shortly after publication. Now, unfortunately, it looks like the publishing house is going out of business, which is really unfortunate. The hardback is gorgeous though, so I recommend getting it. This is my favourite gay thriller thus far.
December 8, 2022
I want to give the author credit on his first thriller and that it is an LGBTQIA+ story. It was a very easy read and got through it in two sittings.
I picked this up as the premise resonates familiarity with my own life as a thirty-something married gay man. Unfortunately, it becomes less about a married couple and more about an immature man.
The POV character is constantly getting infuriated by the actions of others when he is doing the exact same thing. I’m not even sure if it was intentional because that never is addressed by the end. It seemed like such an integral part of the plot too.
I felt no connection to any of the central characters in this story. They were all unlikable and one-dimensional and their relationships were pretty toxic. I found myself actually rooting against these characters and their relationships.
If you’re looking for recent LGBTQIA+ thrillers, I’d recommend Bath Haus and Yes, Daddy.
I picked this up as the premise resonates familiarity with my own life as a thirty-something married gay man. Unfortunately, it becomes less about a married couple and more about an immature man.
The POV character is constantly getting infuriated by the actions of others when he is doing the exact same thing. I’m not even sure if it was intentional because that never is addressed by the end. It seemed like such an integral part of the plot too.
I felt no connection to any of the central characters in this story. They were all unlikable and one-dimensional and their relationships were pretty toxic. I found myself actually rooting against these characters and their relationships.
If you’re looking for recent LGBTQIA+ thrillers, I’d recommend Bath Haus and Yes, Daddy.
January 15, 2023
Seeing Strangers by Sebastian J. Plata was my first binge-in-a-day book of the year. Thrillers are my forever love and when a unique plot comes along, that book will have my full attention.
In this unnerving stalker story we meet a married couple, Greg and Cristian, a few months before their first child is due to be born via surrogate. Their marriage has been open for the past few years and they’ve agreed to close back up once they begin their parenthood stage. The impending change has Greg anxious and seeking frequent hook-ups, leading him to one persistent man, Russel.
Russel infiltrates Greg’s and Christian’s lives, and things go off the rails fast. It was a tense ride that I could not put down and I basically shirked all responsibilities for a day. I’ll admit the poor communication between characters frustrated me at times, but it stayed bingeable until the last page.
Thank you to @scaredstraightreads (on IG) for the recommendation – this was a gay, steamy, thriller indeed! I couldn’t find this in my library system so I’m donating my copy next time I go there. This is a great book and I hope more people find their way to it.
Content warnings: Sexual content (moderate), Stalking
In this unnerving stalker story we meet a married couple, Greg and Cristian, a few months before their first child is due to be born via surrogate. Their marriage has been open for the past few years and they’ve agreed to close back up once they begin their parenthood stage. The impending change has Greg anxious and seeking frequent hook-ups, leading him to one persistent man, Russel.
Russel infiltrates Greg’s and Christian’s lives, and things go off the rails fast. It was a tense ride that I could not put down and I basically shirked all responsibilities for a day. I’ll admit the poor communication between characters frustrated me at times, but it stayed bingeable until the last page.
Thank you to @scaredstraightreads (on IG) for the recommendation – this was a gay, steamy, thriller indeed! I couldn’t find this in my library system so I’m donating my copy next time I go there. This is a great book and I hope more people find their way to it.
Content warnings: Sexual content (moderate), Stalking
August 2, 2023
I’m pretty torn with this one. It was highly readable (read it in less than 24 hours)—I HAD to know what was going to happen. The spice? YES. And overall premise was fine but…
I hated Greg as a protagonist. He was selfish and seriously used sex in an unhealthy way, at the expense of his husband.
Then, the couple as a whole. I wanted them to survive the ordeal, but I’m not sure why because their relationship was actually horrible. A serious lack of communication and disrespect for one another’s wishes.
And the ending….I needed more finality to the situation. I didn’t feel that they’d become stronger as a couple or that Greg had grown as a character. They just kind of…shrugged and moved on?
But alas, this did take me on a fun/stressful journey and I’m always here to support a gay thriller!
I hated Greg as a protagonist. He was selfish and seriously used sex in an unhealthy way, at the expense of his husband.
Then, the couple as a whole. I wanted them to survive the ordeal, but I’m not sure why because their relationship was actually horrible. A serious lack of communication and disrespect for one another’s wishes.
And the ending….I needed more finality to the situation. I didn’t feel that they’d become stronger as a couple or that Greg had grown as a character. They just kind of…shrugged and moved on?
But alas, this did take me on a fun/stressful journey and I’m always here to support a gay thriller!
September 20, 2022
This is a pretty good story of obsession. The writing is concise and well-crafted. The characters just left me a bit cold. Cristian is lovely and real, and I can certainly understand why Greg loves him. The reverse is a much harder sell though - Greg comes across as having all the depth of a puddle, with nothing of value to contribute in a relationship. I will definitely try other books from this author.
July 18, 2023
OH MY GOD THIS WAS AMAZING!!!! I went into it expecting mostly smut and whatever and maybe murder, I got some smut and the thriller I ended up getting was better than anything I ever could have imagined!!! It had me gasping and rolling around and constantly saying "oh my god!!!" It was so good and I highly recommend it!!!!
October 3, 2022
1) this book popped up as a “thriller” recommendation, it’s not a thriller
2) the author tells a good story (I hope he eventually writes a thriller)
3) 🤷🏻♂️ it was fine overall, it would make for a good limited series on HBO
2) the author tells a good story (I hope he eventually writes a thriller)
3) 🤷🏻♂️ it was fine overall, it would make for a good limited series on HBO
November 21, 2022
Weird book & definitely predictable. Although I did like the scene near the end where Russell admitted to stalking Greg. Honestly this book felt like 50% porn & 50% erotic thriller vibe. Not too much really happened in this book and the main character was very unlikable and selfish :/ 2.5-3🌟
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2023
I read this one in a day! Even as a straight woman, I absolutely loved it. The main character is selfish and not super likeable but I could not put the book down. It was racy and I thought the writing was very engaging. The last sentence though.... whaaaaa??? 😲
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