Kissing the Coronavirus
{{Short description|2020 novel by M. J. Edwards}}
{{EngvarB|date = October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox book|
| genre = Romance
| preceded_by =
| oclc =
| isbn =
| published = 22 April 2020
| publisher = Viral erotica
| series =
| name = Kissing the Coronavirus
| language = English
| country =
| illustrator =
| author = Robert Winters (under the pseudonym M. J. Edwards)
| image = File:Kissing the Coronavirus.jpg
| caption = First edition
| title_orig = Kissing the Coronavirus
| followed_by = Kissing the Coronavirus 2: The Second Wave
| wikisource =
}}
Kissing the Coronavirus is a 2020 romance novelette written by Robert Winters under the pseudonym M.J. Edwards. The book was published by Viral erotica.
Background
The book was authored by an anonymous author under the pen name M.J. Edwards after he lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-30|title='Kissing the Coronavirus' is the steamy viral-erotica novel you need to get through the pandemic|url=https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/kissing-the-coronavirus-book/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=The Daily Dot|language=en-US}}
Synopsis
The book centers around a romance between Alexa Ashingtonford, a researcher tasked with curing the coronavirus, and an anthropomorphized version of the COVID-19 virus.{{Cite web|title=First-time Author's 'Kissing The Coronavirus' Book on Amazon is Making The Internet LOL|url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/first-time-authors-kissing-the-coronavirus-book-on-amazon-is-making-the-internet-lol-2918573.html|access-date=2020-10-12|website=News18|date=29 September 2020 }}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-08|title='Kissing the Coronavirus': COVID-19 romance novel appears on Amazon|url=https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/kissing-the-coronavirus-covid-19-romance-novel-appears-on-amazon|access-date=2020-10-12|website=FOX TV Digital Team|language=en-US}}
Reception
The 35-page-book had a mixed reception due to its premise and writing, which garnered both criticism for its quality and praise for its unintentionally comedic tone.{{Cite web|last=Froelich|first=Paula|date=2020-10-03|title=Bizarre COVID-19 erotica novel goes viral|url=https://nypost.com/2020/10/03/bizarre-covid-19-erotica-novel-goes-viral/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=New York Post|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=October 2, 2020|first=Paul John |last=Caña|title=Not Kidding: There's A Book About a Woman Falling in Love With the Coronavirus|url=https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/books-and-art/kissing-the-coronavirus-book-a00289-20201002|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Esquiremag.ph}} CBR called the book "a masterwork of bad erotica."{{Cite web|date=2020-10-07|title=Kissing the Coronavirus eBook Hailed as 'a Masterwork of Bad Erotica'|url=https://www.cbr.com/kissing-the-coronavirus-ebook-masterwork-bad-erotica/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=CBR|language=en-US}} Dhvani Solani of Vice criticized the novelette's writing, saying "the only place the book is going to is the Bad Sex in Fiction awards."{{Cite web|title=Is Covid Erotica Hot? We Read Some to Find Out.|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7aj8w/coronavirus-covid-erotica-sex-books|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.vice.com|date=26 February 2021 |language=en}} Cassandra Stone of Scary Mommy was similarly negative, saying the book was "as insane as it sounds."{{Cite web|first=Cassandra|last=Stone|date=2020-10-01|title=Coronavirus Erotica Exists Because 2020 Won't Stop|url=https://www.scarymommy.com/kissing-the-coronavirus-erotica/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Scary Mommy|language=en-US}}
In December 2020, a sequel titled Kissing the Coronavirus 2: The Second Wave was published. Since then numerous sequels have appeared, grouped under the series title Kissing the Coronavirus Chronicles. In April 2021 episodes 1–3 appeared in the anthology Kissing the Coronavirus Chronicles plus an additional unpublished story titled Kissing the Coronavirus: The Legend of Doctor Ashingtonford.
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:Novels about the COVID-19 pandemic
Category:Contemporary romance novels
Category:Erotic romance novels
{{2020s-romance-novel-stub}}