By Lauren Taylor Bak
On Bisexual Awareness Day this year, September 23, 2025, I was really excited and proud to announce that my story “White Noise” was included in a fantastic anthology, The Best Bi Erotica of the Year, Volume 2, edited by Christian Pan. When I posted on social media about the book, some of my friends—particularly those who aren’t bi+ but consider themselves allies—had questions.
What is bisexual erotica?
The category is surprisingly misunderstood. Most people outside the community would assume that bisexual erotica is all about threesomes and encounters with people of multiple genders—but it isn’t. The short stories in this collection center bi+ characters, showcasing a diverse range of bisexual erotic experiences, which is not limited to threesomes (although there are, of course, some threesomes and moresomes).
The second story in the collection, “BBE-001” by Polly Liticat, for example, explores what it means to make erotica—or rather, porn—intended for a bisexual audience—the “bisexual gaze,” as it were. Two queer couples, Adam & Gary and Elena & Cerise, fight stereotypes by recording the “most bisexual porno” anyone’s ever made, complicated only by the fact that Elena and Adam used to be a couple. The drama!
Is this book really the “best of the year”?
The word “best” is very subjective, of course, but the stories in The Best Bi Erotica of the Year, Volume 2 are definitely fantastic, and well worth reading.
For me as a writer (and a reader), the quality of “erotica” isn’t always just about the sex. It’s also about the feelings. My own story in the collection isn’t that steamy, despite being first on the roster; it’s a sweet sort of erotica that leans into the emotional aspects of finding love again and relearning how to navigate the world after the loss of a monogamous partner.
The other stories though? Hot as hell.
“Coming Back Home” by Sinclair Sexsmith is perhaps the hottest thing I have ever read. Femme domme Iris sends her submissive partner, trans man Jaime, on a “quest” to a gay bathhouse. The challenge? To experience sex with cis men in every possible configuration before he comes home. Jaime tells Iris all about his experience with three burly strangers while they make love.
The collection features characters of all genders experiencing explicit, erotic, bisexual adventures of all kinds! There’s something for everybody to enjoy. From a dreamy three-way at ComicCon and roller-derby Sapphics to kinky role-playing and picking up strangers, the writers of The Best Bi Erotica of the Year, Volume 2 have come up with a ton of queer scenarios that will definitely float your boat.
The eighteen new stories by talented writers from across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia explore bisexuality in new and arousing ways, expanding upon and challenging how bi+ people are represented in literature.
The Best Bi Erotica of the Year, Volume 2 was curated and edited by Christian Pan, a New York-based bisexual writer and activist. The cover photograph is by Jenna Citrus.
NOTE: These stories are intended for adults, as this anthology contains explicit scenes of sexual intimacy between consenting adults of various backgrounds and identities.
My totally unbiased rating: ****
Here’s a teaser for my story, “White Noise,” a sweet Sapphic erotic romance that defies bisexual tropes and stereotypes:
When Morgan moved into a new apartment, she wasn’t expecting to fall for Claire, the woman in 12C. And she really didn’t expect to be lulled to sleep by the sound of Claire’s husband snoring every night. But the building’s paper-thin walls mean nothing stays private for long, and Morgan’s crush on her hot neighbor may lead her right to the secret that keeps Claire awake at night.
Lauren Taylor Bak is an emerging author of short form erotica, erotic romance, and speculative (sci-fi, fantasy, horror, weird) smut. In another life, she obtained a PhD in English literature, and is sort of an expert on (a very small corner of) the subject. She’s read all the classics and wished they contained more spice. She specializes in bitesize erotica, and yes—she takes requests! Find out more at https://laurentaylorbak.wordpress.com/ or follow her on Bluesky @laurentaylorbak.bsky.social.