Society hasn’t always paid attention to female desire. Flattened into clichés, hypersexualised by and for the male gaze or, outright prohibited, real female pleasure has rarely been allowed to flourish or take centre stage.
But, we are turning a new page and female-desire-centric content is on the rise, in fact sales of these types of books have more than doubled. There is a fundamental difference in the erotica the centres female desire. Writer Anna Harrison explains the difference as providing "food for the imagination; they are the suggestion of a story."
Apps like Quinn – an audiobook subscription for erotic fiction – are designed around the idea of teasing the imagination. The idea for the app was born out of frustration at how traditional porn rarely catered to women’s real desires. Founder Caroline Spiegel set out to create a platform that centred the female gaze, telling Gotham Magazine the app "focuses on imagination and the nonphysical, mental aspects of sex.”
Since launching in 2019, Quinn has been carving out space for women and female-identifying listeners to explore fantasy on their own terms. Lately, it's welcomed a cast of familiar voices with what they call "Quinn Originals"— a series of original, intimate stories voiced by some of Hollywood's biggest names.
From Fleabag’s Andrew Scott to The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Christopher Briney, here are all the celebrities who’ve whispered their way into Quinn, and the stories they’ve brought to life.
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Christopher Briney — Hidden Harbour
The latest addition to the app (and lets be honest, the name that really caught our attention) is breakout star of The Summer I Turned Pretty, Christopher Briney. We might know and love him best as Conrad Fisher, but this time around he's playing River, "a surfer and bartender who comes back to his hometown every summer, and Drea, a newcomer trying to move on from a breakup. They connect one night at the bar, but the twist is that Drea’s ex is River’s brother.”
The first episode Hidden Harbour, dropped on September 19, and the second two will be in your ears on September 26.
Andrew Scott — The Queen’s Guard
Known for his magnetic role as the Hot Priest in Fleabag, Andrew Scott brings his signature intensity to Quinn Originals with The Queen’s Guard. He plays Robb The Protector, "the personal guard to a cruel despotic Queen." Robb's main task is to keep Mira, the leader of a growing resistance, away from the queen. Obviously, we already loved Scott, but his narration here really balances smouldering desire with emotional vulnerability.
Lucien Laviscount — The Regent
Emily in Paris’ Lucien Laviscount transports us to a different era with his Quinn project, The Regent. He voices Peter Kelly who, "reflecting on his past as a notorious jewel thief [...] recalls a series of thrilling encounters with fellow thief Katerina Laszlo. It's a story steeped in aristocratic charm and slow-burning romance.
Thomas Doherty — The Inventor’s Apprentice
From Gossip Girl fame, Thomas Doherty lends his voice to The Inventor’s Apprentice, weaving a tale of curiosity and connection that’s equal parts playful and provocative. If Doherty's name isn't enough to get you hooked, then the official synopsis might be: "When a Gilded Age inventor takes on a young female apprentice to help him document and destroy a time machine, both his greatest achievement and the cause of his own early demise, neither of them are ready for the physical and emotional journey the two will take together."
Jesse Williams — The Misty Door
Here, Jesse Williams takes his rich, commanding voice away from the halls of Grey's Anatomy to star in The Misty Door, a world where magic and faeries are real. In other words, if you're a fan of Sarah J. Maas' work, look no further.
Victoria Pedretti — Compromised
Victoria Pedretti brings to life Agent Andie Jones, who is on a high-stakes mission to retrieve stolen data from an elusive international criminal known only as “The Collector.” Pedretti’s narration captures the tension between vulnerability and determination, drawing listeners into a suspenseful story where trust is fragile and every moment pulses with intensity.
Katherine Moennig — Amplified
The ever-compelling Katherine Moennig, from The L Word, voices Amplified, a story that celebrates queer desire and self-expression. She plays Sam Shaw, a notorious former rockstar now living a reclusive life on her Montana ranch, and you are tasked with ghostwriting her memoir.
Jamie Campbell Bower — The Trials
Jamie Campbell Bower trades Stranger Things for a character caught in a dangerous game of love and loyalty. AS he explains in the trailer for his story, "I play Theo. Theo’s had his entire life… everything handed to him. He is a self-assured, cocky, closed individual. But there is one thing money cannot buy and that is a spot on the magical order called The Black Ravens. He has to beat out other government colleagues in the trails for which there is only one spot. Of all the competitors, the one who pisses him off the most is Jane… played by you: the listener.”
