Sex Workers

The world's oldest profession meets happily ever after

It’s fair to say that this is a fraught subgenre of romance, for a lot of reasons. For one, it’s potentially really dangerous for sex workers whose clients may fantasize about their connection becoming something more real, and depictions to that degree can undermine safety and color the public’s perception in not ok ways. For another, sex work has been a complex issue since its inception because in most countries it’s illegal, forcing some of the most vulnerable people into actively dangerous and exploitative situations. And also, romanticizing any kind of work/worker for their work is kind of weird. Yes, I’m talking to you, people who’ve started going to hockey games to have a mass hallucination about real people being the avatars of your favorite hockey romance heroes.

With all of that, though, I think these three books do an exceptional, empathetic job of looking at sex work and sex workers through a human lens without ever degrading them or their past (even as they leave it behind upon receiving their happily ever afters).

The Jade Temptress by Jeannie Lin. I started reading Jeannie Lin’s series because earlier this year, I took her UCLA Extension romance writing class and wanted to be familiar with her work ahead of time. Imagine my delight that she writes non-UK, non-regency era murder mystery romances! Her Pingkang Li Mysteries series is still ongoing (I have a bit of insight into the next book, I think, from taking her wonderful class, but shhhhh), but so far this is my favorite of the bunch.

We were introduced to our heroine, Mingyu, in book 1. She’s the sister of the book 1 heroine, and the two of them came to Pingkang Li’s pleasure quarter after their parents abandoned them and book 1’s heroine was sold into an abusive brothel until Mingyu (and her unique beauty and skill as a hostess) managed to buy her back and place her as her attendant. Also relevant context is that our hero, Constable Wu Kaifeng, brought Mingyu in for questioning about book 1’s murder mystery and maybe did a little bit of advanced interrogation in his frustration with her (and his surprising attraction to her)? Safe to say, they don’t start the book on the best of turns.

Wu Kaifeng is kind of autistic coded, the best Constable the pleasure quarter has ever seen, and hopelessly drawn to Mingyu, despite the fact that he A. can’t afford her in her current profession and B. can’t afford to help her escape it, even if she wanted that. And as far as either of them know, she’s content in her current position, if not happy. Then one of her most notorious clients is found beheaded, by Mingyu, in his home, and they have to team up to keep her out of chains and find the murderer before it’s too late.

This book will hurt/comfort you as the characters engage in the same, it’s exciting and tense, it’s complicated in so many shades of gray, and though you absolutely need to read book 1 first (also a good one, but a more complex good), you won’t regret your trip to Pingkang Li.

How hot? 🔥🔥🔥

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang. Funny enough, I chose this book as the one I read/studied for Jeannie Lin’s class! It’s a great example of a perfectly constructed romance with characters whose wounds/themes align and intertwine in interesting ways.

Stella is an autistic data analyst who loves her job and her parents, but when her mom gives her a romantic ultimatum to find a partner before a benefit dinner she's arranging, she has a problem. Because what Stella does not love is sex, touching, or anything related to love and romance. She's bad at it, and Stella has built a life where she is only surrounded (to the best of her abilities) by things she's good at. But she's determined to make her parents proud, so she figures, education is key. Who better to educate her in sex than a sex worker?

Enter: Michael, a man of a million side hustles (including sex work every Friday) who's trying to stay afloat, after his father near-bankrupted his family and he moved home from studying his true passion (fashion) to take care of his mother with cancer and his younger sisters. He can't believe his luck that his least favorite side hustle nets him the beautiful Stella, but when she proposes an irregular engagement, he realizes she's going about it all wrong. Where Stella believes she needs to fix herself, Michael realizes she simply hasn't yet met a man she's comfortable being herself around, no fixing required. Of course, before we can get to that, we have to do some fake dating, some sex/boyfriend lessons, some Crossing Of The Lines, and some unpacking of parental expectations for everyone.

How hot? 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Unclaimed by Courtney Milan. Truly the only thing more controversial than a sex worker is a virgin male hero… and this book has both! It’s also the only book in this roundup where the sex worker is not a client at any time/in any way of their romantic partner. Because! She’s in DISGUISE.

I’ll admit, I was skeptical of Sir Mark Turner, youngest brother of the other two heroes in this series. He’s introduced to us as a nice enough guy but whose whole brand is virtue and celibacy before marriage. He wrote a whole book about it! He’s FAMOUSLY a virgin and made a career off being one! And it’s a little bit religious! I was prepared to find him so annoying, but if I know one thing, it’s to trust Courtney Milan, so I tucked in.

Jessica Farleigh, the heroine, is a famous courtesan who wants OUT, but needs cash to start anew. Mark’s critics/enemies offer her an opportunity she can’t pass up: seduce the famously virtuous writer, and she’ll have enough money to build a life for herself. So she goes undercover in his small hometown, where he’s staying for a while to try and get away from his weird virgin fame.

Unfortunately, not only is Mark not a slobbering weirdo incel who’s tried to turn his lack of game into a virtue, but beyond finding him attractive, she also finds she likes him. And his virtuous persona is both not a persona and also not as annoying as people have interpreted it as. Plus, Mark’s far from a wet blanket, he just wants his passion to be delivered to someone he truly cares for who will be his for life.

This book is complex and painful and heartwarming all at once. Never does Mark look down on Jessica for sex work once he learns her true identity, or shame her or anyone else (including his slutty, slutty brothers) for their own choices with their own body. This was an exceptionally brave book, since romance readers tend to not like virgin heroes, and Mark is THE VIRGIN. But say it with me… we must trust Courtney Milan, always.

How hot? 🔥🔥🔥🔥

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Next week, I have an interview with my pal Rebecca V. Archer about her debut novel, Rum Sips and Salty Lips, so keep an eye out if you love beaches, secrets, and strong drinks!

What should I be reading next? Let me know in the comments!

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