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Corrupted #1
Corrupted
Brad is short of cash. He's lost his job, and if he can't find the rent money by Friday, he's going to be evicted. He answers a job to work as a strip-o-gram, but ends up getting more than he bargained for.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2010
54 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Todd Young
25 books81 followersTodd Young writes books that sit on the borderline between gay erotica and m/m romance.
Generally, I aim to write erotica that goes a little further than the average. I spend a lot of time on my characters, trying to make them as believable as possible. While my stories are sexual fantasies, I want them to have a deeper meaning, and a quality of unexpectedness. To some extent, I am attempting to write literature, but I want my stories to be genuinely engaging. I want them to be easy to read, while at the same time leaving the reader with the feeling that they have read something meaningful.
I hope both men and women will find my stories satisfying. They revolve around romance, though there is often much more going on in the texts.
Generally, I aim to write erotica that goes a little further than the average. I spend a lot of time on my characters, trying to make them as believable as possible. While my stories are sexual fantasies, I want them to have a deeper meaning, and a quality of unexpectedness. To some extent, I am attempting to write literature, but I want my stories to be genuinely engaging. I want them to be easy to read, while at the same time leaving the reader with the feeling that they have read something meaningful.
I hope both men and women will find my stories satisfying. They revolve around romance, though there is often much more going on in the texts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
October 2, 2011
I would definitely class this as gay erotica: it's not an m/m romance. The book is written well, with a believeable world, events, and characters. The characters were challenging because they were so difficult to like; as another reviewer stated, I just wanted to shake Bradley. I read m/m for relaxation and escape, but this had me feeling dirty and a little nauseated. The conclusion to the story is pretty brutal, and this is where I see the book functioning as a sexual fantasy a la Nifty, rather than a novel (in real life I would hope a police report would follow soon after). I gave the book four stars because I think it deserves four stars, not because I really liked it. I found it a difficult read: it's a really good work of gritty realist gay erotica, and I didn't realise how much I prefer the light fluffy HEAs until now.
September 19, 2014
Yes, it is me.
Because of this book.
IT WAS MY LAST BOOK on my to-read list of Todd Young.
I've read EVERYTHING. Except maybe some existed secret letters, emails, notes and dairy. I have to send Edward Snowden a friend request on FB.
I can only hope that Todd will never loose his inspiration and imagination and desire to write.
...And I'm not going to tell you HOW I LIKE the writing of Todd.
How different addicted unique it is.
...I'm not going to tell you that you can LIKE his books without necessarily LIKING and UNDERSTANDING the characters. Because he just doesn't write a MM-Romance where you want to sleep with a MC if you're a gay MAN or you want to be a gay MAN to sleep with a MC if you're a woman.
What for a shame, but I'm with you. We poor we.
...I'm not going to tell you that in spite of you don't want to sleep or have sex with the MC, you will FEEL HIS BREATH because he is soooooo REAL and soooo CLOSE, you will feel every his emotions, you will suffer with him, you will be hurt because of him, you will probably kill for him. Because Todd is one of the most talented writers if it is considering the excellent portraying. His characters LIVE on the pages of his book, they are not miles and miles away, they are inside of you.
...I'm not going to tell you the story of this book. Except- I LIKED IT. Except- I didn't like what happened to Brad, I didn't like that he couldn't understand a lot of things. I hated how Justin treated him. Because he was supposed to be his ONLY real friend. I'm not going to tell you that I was ready to kill Tom. I was very very close to it. And don't ask me if there was a HEA.
I f*g DON'T KNOW. I'm still thinking about it.
But
I'm going to tell you that Todd Young writes one of the best GAY EROTICA.
And this book is just the next solid evidence and strong proof for it.
August 2, 2015
No fluff, no romance, but thank goodness no dogs either. There is definitely something that this author captures that appeals to me. Onto Naked.
January 31, 2011
Now THAT'S Erotica!
We all know the basics. The `ins' the `outs' the `oohs' and `aahs' are not original anymore and never will be again. Writing sex is easy.
But creating a character we can feel and touch and care for, and then to take us gleefully along on a heated and teasingly smutty journey of longing and lust -- which, in real life, is so often foolhardy or sadly unrequited -- is not so easy, however THAT'S erotica.
In Todd Young's "Corrupted" we find such a character. The plot is simple: Bradley has lost his job and if the rent isn't paid by Friday he'll be evicted. So what's a beautiful, horny 20 year old to do? Answer an ad for a strip-o-gram company that's what. But the details of the job unfold simultaneously with his story as our hapless protagonist indeed becomes corrupted by his needs for survival; and wrestling with that most frustrating question--does the one I desperately love feel the same way?
In the end one is left breathlessly unsure whether Bradley will ever make the right choices, if he'll ever survive or if he's even answered that ultimate, frustrating question.
"Corrupted" sparked painful memories of youthful lust heavily cloaked in subterfuge and hyper-masculine shenanigans, young journeys that many of us have taken and, if we could, would not go back to change one second of it.
Though some situations will stretch credibility in minds that have never had similar experiences, nevertheless, "Corrupted" will surely keep your temperature in the red-zone, teasingly -- whether you've lived or only dreamt about it -- like only the best gay erotica can.
Endless kudos to Todd Young, and 5 poignant & lustful stars for "Corrupted". ~
We all know the basics. The `ins' the `outs' the `oohs' and `aahs' are not original anymore and never will be again. Writing sex is easy.
But creating a character we can feel and touch and care for, and then to take us gleefully along on a heated and teasingly smutty journey of longing and lust -- which, in real life, is so often foolhardy or sadly unrequited -- is not so easy, however THAT'S erotica.
In Todd Young's "Corrupted" we find such a character. The plot is simple: Bradley has lost his job and if the rent isn't paid by Friday he'll be evicted. So what's a beautiful, horny 20 year old to do? Answer an ad for a strip-o-gram company that's what. But the details of the job unfold simultaneously with his story as our hapless protagonist indeed becomes corrupted by his needs for survival; and wrestling with that most frustrating question--does the one I desperately love feel the same way?
In the end one is left breathlessly unsure whether Bradley will ever make the right choices, if he'll ever survive or if he's even answered that ultimate, frustrating question.
"Corrupted" sparked painful memories of youthful lust heavily cloaked in subterfuge and hyper-masculine shenanigans, young journeys that many of us have taken and, if we could, would not go back to change one second of it.
Though some situations will stretch credibility in minds that have never had similar experiences, nevertheless, "Corrupted" will surely keep your temperature in the red-zone, teasingly -- whether you've lived or only dreamt about it -- like only the best gay erotica can.
Endless kudos to Todd Young, and 5 poignant & lustful stars for "Corrupted". ~
December 26, 2012
This proved to be a difficult read and a difficult one to rate. Had it been only for the feeling it left me with, I would have rated it somewhere between 1 and 2 stars. However, the story itself deserves 3 stars.
June 19, 2012
This book is definitely not M/M Romance, if you are looking for a sweet heart-warming read then you will be bitterly disappointed.
The saddest part of this book, is not how Bradley is treated in the sex industry, but how he is treated by his 'friends.' Justin is such a vile individual you know that whatever happens, Bradley will not end up with his HEA - his love for Justin will either stay unrequited, or he will end up with someone who uses him - which makes the whole feel of the story pretty depressing.
That said, it's an excellent book: you feel for Bradley, you want things to turn out ok for him even though you know they won't. It feels 'real' with flawed characters and painful embarrassment.
If you want an interesting, gritty read then this book is highly recommended. If you want something to give you the warm and fuzzies then don't touch it with a barge pole.
The saddest part of this book, is not how Bradley is treated in the sex industry, but how he is treated by his 'friends.' Justin is such a vile individual you know that whatever happens, Bradley will not end up with his HEA - his love for Justin will either stay unrequited, or he will end up with someone who uses him - which makes the whole feel of the story pretty depressing.
That said, it's an excellent book: you feel for Bradley, you want things to turn out ok for him even though you know they won't. It feels 'real' with flawed characters and painful embarrassment.
If you want an interesting, gritty read then this book is highly recommended. If you want something to give you the warm and fuzzies then don't touch it with a barge pole.
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July 27, 2018
Not a romance even though there are romantic emotions, but a tale of young person who is getting close to rock bottom, and with no real support system to keep him from spiraling downwards. As a reader you want to tell the main character to make other choices but he is young, inexperienced and helplessly in love, so he deals with events the best he can at the time.
Gritty but very real take on the idea 'love is blindness', emotionally naked and raw, and I will never forget this book. Nor regret I read it, no matter how hard it was to observe the events as they unfolded. The writing and concept was excellently well executed by Todd Young.
Gritty but very real take on the idea 'love is blindness', emotionally naked and raw, and I will never forget this book. Nor regret I read it, no matter how hard it was to observe the events as they unfolded. The writing and concept was excellently well executed by Todd Young.
November 9, 2019
This was awful - I needed an author with a Y initial so I finished but I really wanted to DNF. Brad is a complete door mat. But worse than that it read like a young guy with no options getting taken advantage of by some horrible guys and someone he thought of as a friend. Not to mention he goes to a party as a stripper and then a couple of the guys decide to have sex with him whether he is okay with it or not. Honestly I wanted to take a shower (much like Brad) when I read this book. The resolution which wasn't really a resolution wasn't even happy.
October 2, 2011
Didn't quite go as I expected, definitely wished for something longer and more fleshed out. Nonetheless, fewer and fewer books these days are able to draw me in and not have me predicting half the book.
As another reviewer indicated, this isn't really a m/m romance ( though it is m/m), so temper your expectations accordingly. I am looking forward to future works from this author - I'd love to see where he goes with a full novel.
As another reviewer indicated, this isn't really a m/m romance ( though it is m/m), so temper your expectations accordingly. I am looking forward to future works from this author - I'd love to see where he goes with a full novel.
October 23, 2011
How did I ever finish this?! It should have been a DNF for sure. All I can do is claim a perverse fascination to see how this would end up. I don't know why I bothered, I never believe there was any chance it could turn around. I guess I just wanted to know if Brad would ever grow a spine.
Nope. What a waste.
Nope. What a waste.
August 29, 2014
{shakes head}..an-empathically-skilled writer that composes every erotically humiliating word in shameful detail.
May 29, 2015
I wish it were slightly longer. Great writing as always!
April 8, 2019
I always feel ... uncomfortable after reading one of Todd Young's books. Just like Brad, I feel like I need to go take a bath and then a scalding shower. Why exactly do I keep doing this to myself? Oh yeah, because he's one of the only authors I know with a Y for an initial. Please, if any one knows of other Y authors writing MM, for the love of God, tell me!
April 3, 2016
I've been reading this book from time to time for weeks and yesterday i decided to finish it.
I don't think i liked the book at all. It started fine, quite funny but after a time i started to hate the characters, specially Justin, i couldn't understand how Bradley was so in love with that slack, tick of human being who also was friends with the very dudes that horribly bullied Bradley in highschool making him drop off school.
The erotic parts weren't sexy at all, i just can recall the scene where Bradley is alone in the porn studio dancing being hot. The others are just a "...eh, ok". But then, what someone finds hot others don't so measuring how hot is an erotica piece is very subjective in my opinion hence i don't want to dwell much on it.
What made lost faith in the characters or story as a whole is this scene where Bradley goes to a party to dance and finds the people in the party are Justin and his friends; that part was too predictable, tbh. But what made me sickened is what happens to Bradley after his dance. It wasn't the dubcon sex, nor the other dudes jerking off and coming in Bradley's face and body. What made me sick was who was fucking Bradley and who where those dudes: all Bradley's bullies. And not seeing any psycological reaction afterwards made everything worse. Character development where?
I'm not sure if i'm gonna read the next book. I really hate Justin and just by the blurb i can tell it'd make me mad.
I don't think i liked the book at all. It started fine, quite funny but after a time i started to hate the characters, specially Justin, i couldn't understand how Bradley was so in love with that slack, tick of human being who also was friends with the very dudes that horribly bullied Bradley in highschool making him drop off school.
The erotic parts weren't sexy at all, i just can recall the scene where Bradley is alone in the porn studio dancing being hot. The others are just a "...eh, ok". But then, what someone finds hot others don't so measuring how hot is an erotica piece is very subjective in my opinion hence i don't want to dwell much on it.
What made lost faith in the characters or story as a whole is this scene where Bradley goes to a party to dance and finds the people in the party are Justin and his friends; that part was too predictable, tbh. But what made me sickened is what happens to Bradley after his dance. It wasn't the dubcon sex, nor the other dudes jerking off and coming in Bradley's face and body. What made me sick was who was fucking Bradley and who where those dudes: all Bradley's bullies. And not seeing any psycological reaction afterwards made everything worse. Character development where?
I'm not sure if i'm gonna read the next book. I really hate Justin and just by the blurb i can tell it'd make me mad.
August 7, 2014
I don't even know where to start with this book. The main character was stupid(in love) at best. All the other characters in the book take advantage of him or abuse him in one way or another. This book should basically serve as a warning: Kids, don't quit school and move to New York even if you are gay and were pantsed in front of the whole school, otherwise you'll end up doing porn to pay the bills while being in a pseudo abusive non-relationship with your douchebag of a best friend.
Read
August 2, 2014This was a freebie that I couldn't pass up. I'm not going to rate it because I hated it, but it was well written. I just hated the characters and the story. It just isn't the story for me.
December 8, 2012
I have to give this a 3 just because I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's not that it's not hot or poorly written, neither are true. It's that it's one of those books where the closeted gay guy is tortured by the straight guys and enjoys it while hating them, kind of stories.
That and his best friend/love interest Justin is hot but a lazy frack who takes advantage of him but the main character is clueless. Justin doesn't pay rent, doesn't have a job, doesn't look for one, yet walks around the house in silk shorts that are too short with his weewee hanging out and get's a free place to live, free maid, free food, his cell phone paid for and even some video games. All he has to do is run around half naked and pretend not to notice his friend watching him take a shower with the door open. I'm not sure if I hate Justin or want one for myself.
Personally though if I couldn't find a job, I'm not sure if Justin would be what I needed.
So the low rating is only because of my mixed feelings and again, not the writing or cause it wasn't hot.
That and his best friend/love interest Justin is hot but a lazy frack who takes advantage of him but the main character is clueless. Justin doesn't pay rent, doesn't have a job, doesn't look for one, yet walks around the house in silk shorts that are too short with his weewee hanging out and get's a free place to live, free maid, free food, his cell phone paid for and even some video games. All he has to do is run around half naked and pretend not to notice his friend watching him take a shower with the door open. I'm not sure if I hate Justin or want one for myself.
Personally though if I couldn't find a job, I'm not sure if Justin would be what I needed.
So the low rating is only because of my mixed feelings and again, not the writing or cause it wasn't hot.
February 9, 2013
Todd Young why do you torture your poor boys? They are so pretty and sad and completely stupid. I mean, I kinda get it, teenage boys are dumb, but then you make them miserable to boot, and it's all their own fault.
Even with all the hilarious misery, like watching the flashback scene in 40-year-old virgin, where he kicks the girl in the face when she's sucking his toes, I can't look away, or in this case, stop reading these mean books.
Even with all the hilarious misery, like watching the flashback scene in 40-year-old virgin, where he kicks the girl in the face when she's sucking his toes, I can't look away, or in this case, stop reading these mean books.
February 11, 2026
He looked dazed and lost and like he didn’t know what had happened—a look which, when Bradley later saw it online, made him feel ashamed.
Set in New York City.
Bradley Carpenter, 18, lives with his best friend, Justin.
Bradley is very pale. While not athletic, he has a natural jock build. Blonde hair, buzz cut. And…he’s in love with his best friend.
Justin does not work. Bradley’s just been fired—and his rent is due.
Flashbacks show Bradley’s difficulties back home—how he ran away to NYC from his awful foster family, and the high school bullies. The trauma and harassment led to him not even finishing his education.
Excellent gay authenticity.
Pete and Jackson, at Regale.
The construction worker outfit. 🔥
Learning to strip.
Bradley’s vulnerability is displayed so effectively.
Very strong Male Gaze verbiage. Anatomy, physiology, and circumcision status are done well.
The videos…solo performances and stripping.
Tom White, the ringleader of all the high school bullies, reappears.
Filming with Angelo. 🥵
“You want to have a look at what I’ve got in my briefcase?”
Bradley nodded, looked with wide eyes at Angelo like he was afraid.
Confusing action with Justin. After a while, it becomes quite difficult to stomach his Gay Denial. Justin’s manipulation of his naive and susceptible best friend is heartbreaking.
Nails the tension and awkwardness of being a young and vulnerable gay man.
Bradley can be frustrating at times…but who among us did not think with the wrong head at that age?
Construction worker. School boy.
Bradley was lying on his bed with a book, pretending to read but doing nothing, not even thinking, just feeling used and abused and as though he had nothing in his life, no one to turn to, nowhere to go to for help, and he was going to have to go out stripping again tonight.
Between the bachelor party (😭 😭) and the revelation from Justin at the very end (🙌🏻)…that is some conclusion.
Intense. A troubled, sad story. Gut-wrenching at times. The ending is beyond intriguing, though.
“Aren’t I good enough?” he said, and burst into a sob.
Set in New York City.
Bradley Carpenter, 18, lives with his best friend, Justin.
Bradley is very pale. While not athletic, he has a natural jock build. Blonde hair, buzz cut. And…he’s in love with his best friend.
Justin does not work. Bradley’s just been fired—and his rent is due.
Flashbacks show Bradley’s difficulties back home—how he ran away to NYC from his awful foster family, and the high school bullies. The trauma and harassment led to him not even finishing his education.
Excellent gay authenticity.
Pete and Jackson, at Regale.
The construction worker outfit. 🔥
Learning to strip.
Bradley’s vulnerability is displayed so effectively.
Very strong Male Gaze verbiage. Anatomy, physiology, and circumcision status are done well.
The videos…solo performances and stripping.
Tom White, the ringleader of all the high school bullies, reappears.
Filming with Angelo. 🥵
“You want to have a look at what I’ve got in my briefcase?”
Bradley nodded, looked with wide eyes at Angelo like he was afraid.
Confusing action with Justin. After a while, it becomes quite difficult to stomach his Gay Denial. Justin’s manipulation of his naive and susceptible best friend is heartbreaking.
Nails the tension and awkwardness of being a young and vulnerable gay man.
Bradley can be frustrating at times…but who among us did not think with the wrong head at that age?
Construction worker. School boy.
Bradley was lying on his bed with a book, pretending to read but doing nothing, not even thinking, just feeling used and abused and as though he had nothing in his life, no one to turn to, nowhere to go to for help, and he was going to have to go out stripping again tonight.
Between the bachelor party (😭 😭) and the revelation from Justin at the very end (🙌🏻)…that is some conclusion.
Intense. A troubled, sad story. Gut-wrenching at times. The ending is beyond intriguing, though.
“Aren’t I good enough?” he said, and burst into a sob.
not-for-me
August 20, 2019I don't support the main character. It's hard for me as a person who has to take responsibility for myself to watch someone do it so poorly.
I guess the character is recently out of high school, so he is young. but he is really not smart. He has a roommate that he is financially supporting, but getting nothing in return except his presence. Just keeping this person around seems to be all he wants in life. That is really not enough. Not for a real person or a character in a book. Especially when there is no chance of anything positive happening between these two people.
I suppose I could keep reading to see the main character be humiliated some more, but that is not a positive goal for me to have in life. Therefore, I think I have to stop reading.
This book is reminding me that life is made up of the choices you make, and I need to make good ones.
I don't want to leave out that this book has charm and is interesting in the way that is is written. I am just really upset at the character and want him to be a better person and just do better.
I guess the character is recently out of high school, so he is young. but he is really not smart. He has a roommate that he is financially supporting, but getting nothing in return except his presence. Just keeping this person around seems to be all he wants in life. That is really not enough. Not for a real person or a character in a book. Especially when there is no chance of anything positive happening between these two people.
I suppose I could keep reading to see the main character be humiliated some more, but that is not a positive goal for me to have in life. Therefore, I think I have to stop reading.
This book is reminding me that life is made up of the choices you make, and I need to make good ones.
I don't want to leave out that this book has charm and is interesting in the way that is is written. I am just really upset at the character and want him to be a better person and just do better.
March 26, 2018
I tried reading this book several times, but always had some difficulty getting into it and finishing it. For M/M stuff, it's a bit tame, but the story is more about a sad sack of a boy who can't seem to figure out how to get what he wants. He's easily manipulated for money and ends up the story in a rather impossible situation after a rather great (and coincidental) humiliation.
Still, Young writes well. The characters are interesting, if not likable. I'd like to see if Young does a better job with the sequel.
Still, Young writes well. The characters are interesting, if not likable. I'd like to see if Young does a better job with the sequel.
May 5, 2024
The writing style surpasses that of Ernest Hemingway. As for the story, it is shockingly sad😭. Bradley was used by his supposed ‘best friend’ and would probably fall into a bottomless rabbit hole of sex, shame and humiliation in the next book. My heart aches for him. I wonder why people in the other comments categorize this book as erotica; I didn’t find it titillating at all. Poor Bradley. From the very beginning, just by the name ‘Justin,’ I knew he would be a bad guy.
January 14, 2025
An interesting short of a desperate situation. Brad just lost his job and has to make the rent. His flatmate is his best friend, but he's also a deadbeat so there's no money coming that way. Despite times call for desperate measures. Taking a job as a strip-o-gram is that measure. Finally getting to be with his best friend is a bonus.
February 1, 2023
Well, it's not romance, that's for sure. And it's not really even erotica, although there is sex in it. Mostly it's just depressing, where every character is terrible in their own way. While that kind of misery can work, it takes a much defter hand than this author has.
November 28, 2017
It was a quick read. Bradley is such a fool in love. He’s taken advantage of by everyone.
February 8, 2019
a page turner book
April 12, 2019
Dnf
One chapter in and I couldn’t finish it. It was just not my cup of tea. I didn’t like the writing style or lack there of. It was just very cringe worthy
One chapter in and I couldn’t finish it. It was just not my cup of tea. I didn’t like the writing style or lack there of. It was just very cringe worthy
October 15, 2020
Horrible
Just not good as I see it. Try another book and author. Save your money. That’s my advice. That’s all.
Just not good as I see it. Try another book and author. Save your money. That’s my advice. That’s all.
April 11, 2022
Really enjoyed this book
I quickly got into this story and found that I couldn't put the book down. I liked the main character, Todd a lot. Very well written story.
I quickly got into this story and found that I couldn't put the book down. I liked the main character, Todd a lot. Very well written story.
December 22, 2022
Great story. The way Brad cares for Justin whose love for Brad is not returned is heart wrenching. A wonderful story that is continued in Owned.
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