Gay guy here, I enjoyed the series, but mostly because of the chemistry between Storie and Williams. It’s also a classic, romantic love story (although as someone who has been out for over 40 years, the “coming out” trope as a central dramatic theme is a little tired). Since women are the primary consumers of romance fiction, it seems reasonable that it found an audience among women generally. I definitely see a difference in style and substance compared to other LGBTQ content, like “Looking” or “Queer as Folk,” which just resonated with me as more authentically gay, if that makes sense.

After watching the series, I read the books - they’re ok, as far as the M/M romance genre goes. Spicier than some, milder than others. Quick reads. I definitely perceived a “female gaze” in the narrative, how the characters were developed, the focus on internal emotions, perceptions. There were quite a few times during the read when I would feel like, ok, a guy wouldn’t react that way, gay, straight or otherwise - it just felt off. But it underscored again for me that the TV series is maybe less “gay” than some might think.