About

Well, not just butts, but they come up a lot. For the past several years I've been reading, studying, and critically discussing queer romance (M/M romance especially) with like-minded people all over the internet. Mostly that takes the form of video essays that go unnecessarily deep: close looks at the genre's biggest books and series, essays on the patterns nobody's gotten around to naming, an irregular* series called Butt Stuff in Books, you get the idea.

My tastes run broad and deep--there's hardly a genre or sub-genre I won't try once or twice... or thrice. Contemporary, romcoms, sports romance, dark romance, historical, romantasy, even the occasional detour into horror. What ties it together is this: I care deeply about queer romance and its future. I think criticism is a form of love and this genre deserves readers who take it seriously. I also want to see new, indie, and emerging authors push its boundaries and thrive.

If that sounds like your kind of conversation, this site and newsletter are the best ways to follow along.

As for personal stuff: I live in Northern Virginia, I have a day job in data and technology (professional nerd), and I'm engaged to a wonderful guy who nerds out about video games while I nerd out about romance novels. The portrait you see around this site is by the incomparable Léa Charbonnier.

For press, publishers & event organizers

Carter Kalchik is a critic and video essayist covering queer romance, best known for long-form analysis of MM romance. He's available for panels, moderation, podcast appearances, and comment on queer romance, BookTok, and romance publishing. Reach him at carterkalchikbooks@gmail.com.

*Irregular in frequency and in all the other senses of that word...