Sam Rosenthal: Rye (an erotic novel)

A money-shot across the bow of outdated sensibilities, Rye takes a sexual somersault through the complexities of desire in a penetrating portrayal of twenty-first century intimacy.


“I spent some time devouring Rye and really really enjoyed not only the story and the characters and the death snark, but also the way that Sam tackled the new thing about relationships. It’s the same as it ever was, and it’s not the same as it ever was. And that melds so beautifully in Rye. Thanks for the good read!” – Carol Queen, The Center for Sex and Culture, San Francisco


Matt is dating Rye, a willfully free androgynous school teacher. Attracted to Matt’s kinkiness and groundedness, Rye develops a taste for his masculinity and her submission. At a weekend SexxCamp retreat, Matt meets Rain, a charming and snarky twenty-something GenderQueer woman with both an attraction and aversion to sex. An unconventional three-way relationship develops, expanding their understanding of polyamory, identity, love and connection.


“Rye is as intellectually stimulating as erotically charged. As for the erotic content, I can’t hope to list of all that is covered, toys, BDSM, roleplay, gender fluidity in sex… the list goes on. A sense of realism triumphs; don’t expect to read erotica with paper-thin characters you are only meant to overlay with your own fantasies (although if some of the book’s scenes push your fantasy buttons in a good way, that’s great too!). These characters have their own concerns and fears they are working through and the reader is not left to forget that, even, and perhaps especially, when they are getting it on. With fully developed characters who struggle through relationships, gender, and sexuality in an erotic context, Rye is a unique work that I would very much recommend to anyone who is looking to see some genderqueer representation in erotic fiction, and those who are interested in or are themselves poly and/or kinky. After my tireless struggle with erotic fiction previously, Rye was quite the refreshing read!” – Marilyn Roxie, http://genderqueerid.com/


“Rye is like Fifty Shades of Grey if it were written for intelligent adults who actually have sex. With authentic top-bottom, it’s pretty damn hot! Come to think of it, I guess it’s nothing like Fifty Shades.”


Intelligent erotica. An engaging page-turner, Rye takes a sexual somersault through the complexity of desire. It’s not just about the hot, sweet sex, though. The gender non-conforming characters discover themselves: delicate, tender, wounded and hopeful. Told through the prism of polyamory, sexuality, and the top-bottom dynamic, Rye sparkles with wit, emotion and honesty. They grow to accept themselves, even the parts that society tells them are not acceptable.


“Rosenthal’s characters and their stories are realistic and engaging, his attention to detail is fantastic, and the larger interpersonal issues that he skillfully raises in Rye are rarely tackled in erotica, queer or otherwise. The novel focuses on the joy, challenge, and surprise experienced by Matt, Rye, and Rain as they explore their polyamorous, and at times deliciously kinky, relationship. Matt is wholeheartedly and optimistically in love with Rye, whose desire for both intimacy and independence spurs him to keep Matt at a distance. Rain’s insight, quirky charm, and death-snark are a fun and welcome counterpoint. What is genuinely surprising is that Rye isn’t so much an erotic novel as it is a well-crafted novel about the human condition that happens to be erotica.” — W.D. Wilkerson, Amazon reviewer


If you chose “first class” in the USA, we will ship the book Media Mail (as the $2.75 for first class doesn’t cover the cost to ship it. Thanks for understanding.

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