What do you think?
Rate this book
Softest Kinksters
The Softest Kinksters Collection
The Softest Kinksters Collection collects short romances that capture snippets of kinky lives. From a subby himbo librarian, to married lesbians, to Dommes with ADHD, these kinksters use kink to alleviate anxiety, find connection, and to get off. Hard.
Includes a foreword by NYT Bestseller Eden Bradley, and a "Kink is Complicated" essay by Swoonies nominee Stefanie Simpson, as well as two new, exclusive stories!
Includes a foreword by NYT Bestseller Eden Bradley, and a "Kink is Complicated" essay by Swoonies nominee Stefanie Simpson, as well as two new, exclusive stories!
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2022
9 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Ali Williams
27 books59 followersAli Williams' inner romance reader is never quite satisfied, which is why she oscillates between writing romance, editing romance, and studying it as part of her PhD.
She can be found at the foot of the South Downs in the UK, either nerding out over local mythologies or drinking cocktails on the beach.
She believes with all of her bifurious heart that writing romance is an act of rebellion and that academia will be so much better when studying diverse HEAs is naturally part of the curriculum.
She can be found at the foot of the South Downs in the UK, either nerding out over local mythologies or drinking cocktails on the beach.
She believes with all of her bifurious heart that writing romance is an act of rebellion and that academia will be so much better when studying diverse HEAs is naturally part of the curriculum.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 15, 2022
As the title promises, a collection of soft erotic romance stories perfect to burn up your sheets and hold gently your heart. Williams poetic writing brings her collection to life, and I appreciated all of the extras included in this collected edition.
I'll be revisiting many favorites!
Thank you to the author for the advanced reading copy.
I'll be revisiting many favorites!
Thank you to the author for the advanced reading copy.
June 28, 2022
3 stars.
Didn’t quite work for me. We got a lot of the leadup to sex — for example, one story is solely the flirting and kink negotiation — and a decent amount of aftercare, but the sex itself felt like it was missing. I got the softness absolutely, but I was expecting a bit more heat.
Didn’t quite work for me. We got a lot of the leadup to sex — for example, one story is solely the flirting and kink negotiation — and a decent amount of aftercare, but the sex itself felt like it was missing. I got the softness absolutely, but I was expecting a bit more heat.
February 9, 2022
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
While I’ve read kink romance fiction, it is not an automatic go-to read rad for me. However, the title, “The Softest Kinksters Collection,” intrigued me enough to request an arc copy. Let me state, Ali Williams delivers. The stories kept me engaged from beginning to end. What was exceptional about the collection is the creative ways Ali handle consent for both partners and the depiction of each story’s particular kink. By the end of the collection, I was appreciative of not just Ali’s story-telling but her handling of the reader’s expectations. My only wish is that each couple had an individual novella or novel. I highly recommend this collection, especially for those new to kink romance fiction or who want to see a softer side of kink. This is a re-read for me.
While I’ve read kink romance fiction, it is not an automatic go-to read rad for me. However, the title, “The Softest Kinksters Collection,” intrigued me enough to request an arc copy. Let me state, Ali Williams delivers. The stories kept me engaged from beginning to end. What was exceptional about the collection is the creative ways Ali handle consent for both partners and the depiction of each story’s particular kink. By the end of the collection, I was appreciative of not just Ali’s story-telling but her handling of the reader’s expectations. My only wish is that each couple had an individual novella or novel. I highly recommend this collection, especially for those new to kink romance fiction or who want to see a softer side of kink. This is a re-read for me.
May 23, 2022
This book felt like a warm cup of hot cocoa when you’re snuggled up under cozy blankets in the middle of winter. It just felt so safe and warm! This is a collection of short stories surrounding various BDSM and kinky people and I had a blast reading every one!
Each one is so different yet they all hold that safety and comfort. It was so easy to fall in love with each set of characters and honestly I’d read a full book about any and all of them! Ali just did a remarkable job with all of these short stories and I can’t wait to read everything else she publishes!
Each one is so different yet they all hold that safety and comfort. It was so easy to fall in love with each set of characters and honestly I’d read a full book about any and all of them! Ali just did a remarkable job with all of these short stories and I can’t wait to read everything else she publishes!
February 12, 2022
3.5. I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I had heard of the Softest Kinksters series, due to (presumably, I forget) having read the first story and in an anthology a while back and following the author on Twitter. I’ve long been interested in them, so I jumped at the chance to read the special print collection.
I really appreciate the general vibe of the collection of promoting a more emotional, multifaceted side to kink than is often seen in some mainstream media, mostly by non-practitioners. While I’m not in the BDSM community myself, I am interested in exploring more compassionate portrayals of it in fiction, and am glad that is what Williams provided here. And the addition of endorsements from fellow authors Eden Bradley and Stefanie Simpson, writing a foreword and concluding essay, respectively, present arguments that I can’t help but agree with upon finishing the collection.
I will say that the writing style and perspective choices take some getting used to. No one is referred to by a proper name (except in a kink context), and that makes things especially confusing during the f/f shorts, when both leads are referred to as “she.” I can’t say I connected with any characters, but I did like certain story concepts more than others.
Holding On perfectly escalates the tension between the couple while on a date, then finding themselves stuck together in his apartment during a storm. Hanging On is an incredibly sexy sapphic reunion story between spouses. Carrying On is a standout in its delightful awkwardness, and I love how the couple were still able to have their moment even amid myriad mishaps. Turning On was a wonderful exploration of a variety of kinks I was unfamiliar with, but am definitely into. Hitting On is another fun one for me, as I’m a sucker for anything that happens in a library…even when it gets a bit kinky. Catching On is friends to lovers perfection, with the yearning and the questions around what will happen if things get revealed. There are also two exclusive stories. Playing On continues the story starred in Hitting On, and given that is one of my personal standouts, I liked following them again. And Letting On has best friends faking a Domme/sub dynamic, which is a lot of fun.
While there are the drawbacks of a short story collection, along with the additional issues with some of the technical choices, Ali Williams’ style still brings a lot to the erotic/kinky romance subgenre that makes her stories stand out. Both Eden Bradley and Stefanie Simpson concur on this issue, with Bradley noting how Williams delves into the human psyche in her work, tapping into issues that resonate with readers, such as anxiety, pain, and loss, and Simpson praising the deeper meaning of kink to the individual couples and their relationships. While I didn’t feel fully connected on a character level, I can see how each of these stories can work on a personal, intimate level. And for that reason, I absolutely feel this collection is worth reading, even if you aren’t that into BDSM.
I had heard of the Softest Kinksters series, due to (presumably, I forget) having read the first story and in an anthology a while back and following the author on Twitter. I’ve long been interested in them, so I jumped at the chance to read the special print collection.
I really appreciate the general vibe of the collection of promoting a more emotional, multifaceted side to kink than is often seen in some mainstream media, mostly by non-practitioners. While I’m not in the BDSM community myself, I am interested in exploring more compassionate portrayals of it in fiction, and am glad that is what Williams provided here. And the addition of endorsements from fellow authors Eden Bradley and Stefanie Simpson, writing a foreword and concluding essay, respectively, present arguments that I can’t help but agree with upon finishing the collection.
I will say that the writing style and perspective choices take some getting used to. No one is referred to by a proper name (except in a kink context), and that makes things especially confusing during the f/f shorts, when both leads are referred to as “she.” I can’t say I connected with any characters, but I did like certain story concepts more than others.
Holding On perfectly escalates the tension between the couple while on a date, then finding themselves stuck together in his apartment during a storm. Hanging On is an incredibly sexy sapphic reunion story between spouses. Carrying On is a standout in its delightful awkwardness, and I love how the couple were still able to have their moment even amid myriad mishaps. Turning On was a wonderful exploration of a variety of kinks I was unfamiliar with, but am definitely into. Hitting On is another fun one for me, as I’m a sucker for anything that happens in a library…even when it gets a bit kinky. Catching On is friends to lovers perfection, with the yearning and the questions around what will happen if things get revealed. There are also two exclusive stories. Playing On continues the story starred in Hitting On, and given that is one of my personal standouts, I liked following them again. And Letting On has best friends faking a Domme/sub dynamic, which is a lot of fun.
While there are the drawbacks of a short story collection, along with the additional issues with some of the technical choices, Ali Williams’ style still brings a lot to the erotic/kinky romance subgenre that makes her stories stand out. Both Eden Bradley and Stefanie Simpson concur on this issue, with Bradley noting how Williams delves into the human psyche in her work, tapping into issues that resonate with readers, such as anxiety, pain, and loss, and Simpson praising the deeper meaning of kink to the individual couples and their relationships. While I didn’t feel fully connected on a character level, I can see how each of these stories can work on a personal, intimate level. And for that reason, I absolutely feel this collection is worth reading, even if you aren’t that into BDSM.
March 19, 2022
This read was just as sweet, soft, and kinky as advertised. Nine short little romances that run the gamete of relationships, from the newly met, to the well established, and married couple. BDSM is foreign to me other than the information I have from mainstream pop culture, but even if it is not your thing, I would still recommend giving this a read.
I liked how Williams explores the different dynamics that kink allows and subverting the traditional roles that are typically depicted in pop culture and media, and especially when it’s a BDSM relationship/romance. I think the average reader (me) expects the dominant alpha male controlling the soft submissive female, and it was nice to see a more realistic characterization where both dominant & submissive traits are present in both partners. I also really loved how often the different characters had emotional scars and mental health/anxieties and I think it was handled beautifully. People are flawed and wounded and are still worthy of love, happiness, and having all of their needs met, and not every romance story is able to communicate that so clearly like Williams does here.
The only thing I didn’t love was a lack of names, so each character uses pronouns only (except for pet names). I did feel like this was an interesting choice, clearly deliberate, and lended a unique understanding of each character only as seen through the eyes of their particular kink and relationship. It wasn’t a bad thing, just different and unexpected. It’s a different way of learning the character without having a name to wrap around the image in your head of who they are.
Aside from the steaminess and HEA, which is a draw for me in any romance/erotic book, this collection is also just some brilliant writing with really pretty prose. Williams words are poetic, and there is great vivid imagery that builds each little world and draws you in. I would love longer versions of a few of these, and will definitely check out more of Williams’ writing.
Note: I was given an ARC for my honest review.
I liked how Williams explores the different dynamics that kink allows and subverting the traditional roles that are typically depicted in pop culture and media, and especially when it’s a BDSM relationship/romance. I think the average reader (me) expects the dominant alpha male controlling the soft submissive female, and it was nice to see a more realistic characterization where both dominant & submissive traits are present in both partners. I also really loved how often the different characters had emotional scars and mental health/anxieties and I think it was handled beautifully. People are flawed and wounded and are still worthy of love, happiness, and having all of their needs met, and not every romance story is able to communicate that so clearly like Williams does here.
The only thing I didn’t love was a lack of names, so each character uses pronouns only (except for pet names). I did feel like this was an interesting choice, clearly deliberate, and lended a unique understanding of each character only as seen through the eyes of their particular kink and relationship. It wasn’t a bad thing, just different and unexpected. It’s a different way of learning the character without having a name to wrap around the image in your head of who they are.
Aside from the steaminess and HEA, which is a draw for me in any romance/erotic book, this collection is also just some brilliant writing with really pretty prose. Williams words are poetic, and there is great vivid imagery that builds each little world and draws you in. I would love longer versions of a few of these, and will definitely check out more of Williams’ writing.
Note: I was given an ARC for my honest review.
March 11, 2022
Glorious collection of short kinky snapshots into the lives of various couples. I felt like each short story had an almost dream-like quality that beckoned you in softly from a distance while somehow still feeling incredibly personal and intimate. The BDSM elements are handled with an expert touch, consent is king and mental health really takes center stage as the author explores how kink can heal and hold someone through the dark, and bring a smile as well as a sigh of pleasure. It's a poignant reminder of the deep value that kink and connection can bring to a relationship and I was so grateful to receive this copy of the full collection.
June 29, 2022
If, like me, you appreciate a deeper understanding of what Kink is or is not/should not be, this is absolutely the book for you! This collection of nine short stories allows most any reader to safely insert themselves into a story [or two].
Miss Williams flawlessly weaves the emotional and psychological planes of Kink into what society has largely told us is only physical.
In doing so, the shame is stripped away, and the love, need, appreciation, satisfaction, trust, and ongoing consent are tenderly brought to the surface.
It's a fresh take on a tale as old as time...
Miss Williams flawlessly weaves the emotional and psychological planes of Kink into what society has largely told us is only physical.
In doing so, the shame is stripped away, and the love, need, appreciation, satisfaction, trust, and ongoing consent are tenderly brought to the surface.
It's a fresh take on a tale as old as time...
March 1, 2022
This collection of stories was such a great read!! Very beautiful written. You can relate to the storyline in one way or another along with the wonderful characters!! This was my first book by this author and wasn't disappointed!! Highly recommend this book!!
March 22, 2022
Absolutely soft and beautifully hot.
April 30, 2022
Please see my vlog for my review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcEyg...
July 21, 2022
Great anthology
Wow, I loved this a lot. I’m usually terrible at reading anthologies but I really enjoy Ali Williams’ writing. Each story is unique and all are lovely.
Wow, I loved this a lot. I’m usually terrible at reading anthologies but I really enjoy Ali Williams’ writing. Each story is unique and all are lovely.
December 8, 2024
First book of 2024! There's still hope!!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews