Patrick likes to cruise the local park for anonymous sex. One night, his fun is interrupted by a police officer. The cop, Mitch, says he won’t arrest Patrick, as long as the young man agrees to service him whenever he wants. Patrick doesn’t really have a choice and becomes haunted by the man who treats him roughly. Yet, a part of the young man actually likes what Mitch does to him.
I think the title of this book may go down as one of the most accurate ever, because “Toxic AF” definitely describes the relationship that develops between Patrick and Mitch. It’s hard to think of it as anything but abusive, at least at first. The relationship evolves into something more than sex, and it’s not entirely unbelievable, but the foundations remain very shaky. You will definitely want to heed the content warnings for this book.
The narration is entirely from Patrick’s point of view. He’s a very relatable young man, even if he makes some very questionable choices. Patrick clearly has a submissive personality, which is why he is conflicted about the relationship that develops with Mitch. On some level, he knows he’s being abused, but there’s a part of him that enjoys the domination aspect. Patrick never forgets how he met Mitch, so it’s always a spectre in their relationship.
We only get to know Mitch through Patrick. Over time, we learn enough about Mitch’s background to understand that he was himself the victim of abuse. It helps explain his behavior but doesn’t excuse it. Mitch is not a likable character, even once we learn about the demons that plague him. The term “toxic masculinity” springs to mind.
“Toxic AF” is available from Smashwords or see BookBub for other online sellers.
