Date with a Monster: A Short Story Collection

What happens when the line between human connection and supernatural danger dissolves? In Date with a Monster, Maya Maitea invites readers into a genre-bending landscape where romance is rarely straightforward and the partners are often otherworldly. This collection of short stories explores the messy, exhilarating, and sometimes terrifying terrain of dating while bisexual, where every encounter is a high-stakes adventure. The protagonists in these tales navigate a world where a charming date might hide a third eye behind their bangs, or where a weekend getaway is interrupted by ancient, hungry shadows. Yet, at the core of these fantastical scenarios are deeply relatable human truths: the anxiety of a first kiss, the ache of unrequited longing, and the profound liberation of embracing one’s authentic self. Maitea masterfully weaves queer identity into the fabric of the macabre, using the "monster" as a biting, beautiful metaphor for the risks we take when we open our hearts to strangers. With sharp wit and a touch of gothic elegance, these stories challenge readers to look past the surface—both of potential lovers and of their own hidden shadows. It is a bold, evocative collection for anyone who has ever suspected that the most dangerous part of love is simply being vulnerable.