In recent years, largely thanks to the community of book lovers on #BookTok, erotic novels have gone mainstream. Readers, especially fans of romance and spicy stories, have taken to the platform to discuss their favorite smutty books and fan theories. They've taken their love for sexy prose offline too, with a rise in romance-specific book stories and live event programming. If the trend has proved anything, it's through several hundred pages of eroticism is fun and nothing to be embarrassed about. So, please come (no pun intended) with us into a whole new world of erotic novels with stunning sex.
Erotica often gets labeled a "guilty pleasure"—while there are many campy books to read, some of which are on this list—there are plenty of erotic novels that overlap with genre and literary fiction. Some have inspired Golden Globe-nominated shows (hi, Outlander and Bridgerton!). In other words, erotic novels are entertaining, hot, and they can be prestigious. Where else could you find hot billionaires, rugged war heroes, professors who don't mind giving you a "D" (jokes!), or actors who are just as hot on the screen as they are off? Nowhere but NSFW stories!
Whether you’re a newbie looking to dip your feet into one of the hottest genres on the planet, or a returning reader looking for a new title to pore over, this list has something for everyone—from swoon-worthy, classic romances and rom-coms to stories with great LGBTQ+ representation and full-on smut. Because everyone has a different comfort level on the subject, we’ve indicated the spice level of each title: Mild, meaning plot-driven romance novels with a few sex scenes thrown in; Medium, a happy middle ground between plot and sex; and Hot, the steamiest of stories for when you couldn’t care less about what happens. So without further ado, here are some of the best erotic novels that will leave you seriously blushing and maybe, just maybe, needing a cold shower afterward.
If you like your erotic fantasy with an extra dose of fantasy, the vampire-heavy Black Dagger Brotherhood series is a can't-miss. The series is regularly name-dropped in lists of books with the hottest sex scenes and this New York Times best-selling series has over 20 entries and counting to keep your blood flowing primarily below the waist.
Spice level: Mild
The best thing about the Netflix series Bridgerton was how it started like a lush, innocent romp through estates and high society and marriageable men and women—and then, out of now, bam, some of the steamiest sex scenes we've ever seen on TV. So why not read the series of Bridgerton books that inspired those scenes, and start with the first installment: The Duke and I. The beloved novel is about a naïve young woman who gets married off to a tempestuous Duke who loves her and, in return, teaches her the ways of love.
Spice level: Mild
Call Me by Your Name is so much more than an "erotic novel" (though there's plenty of eroticism). It's a coming-of-age story filled with beautiful prose and, more than that, a reflection on the all-consuming power of love and attraction. The instant classic LGBTQ+ movie adapted by Luca Guadagnino and starring Timothée Chalamet is great, and the book is just as much of a masterpiece.
Spice level: Medium
Sarah J. Maas’ high fantasy series has become quite the phenomenon—for good reason. It spans beyond pure smut, considering Maas's incredible storytelling, world-building, and character development set in the faerie world of Prythian. We’re particularly fans of the fourth installment, which on the eldest Acheron sister, Nesta, who, let's say has turned cold since the events of the last few books, and Cassian, the Fae general who may be the only one who can thaw her icy attitude. This book is the steamiest of the series so far with plenty of hot-as-hell sex scenes, but its story is so much more than that.
Spice level: Hot
Bestselling author Sylvia Day's Crossfire series takes you through a complicated web of 20-something Eva Tramell and billionaire Gideon Cross' love lives, whose story begins in the novel Bared to You. Their relationship begins as an "office" romance—they work in the same building—and develops into an emotional roller coaster as both characters deal with past sexual abuse and secrets they've buried.
Spice level: Hot
Alayna Withers is recovering from a "love disorder" that involves stalking charges (so many questions). She's finally getting her life together when she meets her new boss—a dashing man who could cause Alayna to revert to her old habits. Next book club read?
Spice level: Mild
The premise of this book sets up the perfect meet-cute: Londoners Tiffy and Leon share a bed, but they’ve never met. No, it’s not a The Lake House situation—Leon works nights at a hospital and decides to make a bit of passive income by subletting his apartment to someone with a more typical sleep schedule. Enter Tiffy, a quirky book editor who strikes a friendship with Leon via Post-It note. This book is a true slow burn: It’s not until deep into the story that Leon and Tiffy meet in person, but when they do, their chemistry is undeniable.
Spice level: Mild
This classic love story from Judy Blume (yes, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret and Superfudge Judy Blume) is a raw coming-of-age story about first love, complete with all the awkward and beautiful sexual moments that come with it.
Spice level: Medium
For a long time, it seemed that no spicy fantasy series would ever be able to top the hype of Sarah J. Maas’ ACOTAR books, but then Fourth Wing arrived in spring 2023. The first book in the Empyrean series is largely about setting up the world of Violet Sorrengail, a dragon rider-in-training. But it’s not all work and no play for Violet: She’s got two men fighting for her affections (classic), and when she finally chooses to go for one, they’ll leave a very sexy trail of destruction in their wake.
Spice level: Medium
A hot professor named Gabriel Emerson falls in love with his graduate student Julia Mitchell, even though it's forbidden. (Does this trope ever get old? The answer is no.) Hardcore fans deem it as the professor and student version of Fifty Shades of Grey, albeit with fewer sex scenes, so you know we had to spread the word.
Spice level: Hot
You know how we said there are plenty of campy reads in the erotica genre? This one falls into that category. #BookTok is obsessed with this one, which follows a group of women who have been abducted by big, blue, attractive aliens who take them to their icy home planet.
Don't let the cutesy rom-com cover fool you. This book will introduce you to your new book boyfriend: Nate, captain of his town's hockey team who has an insanely dirty mouth. When Nate meets the hard-working figure skater Anastasia, sparks fly and the two find themselves stuck together in more ways than one. This is an especially fun read for when you need a lighthearted, sexy romance.
Spice level: Medium
Robinne Lee’s The Idea of You is the ultimate fantasy for anyone who’s ever pined over a boy band heartthrob or rock star. Divorced gallery owner Solène finds herself in a much-talked-about romance when she serendipitously meets Hayes Campbell, one of the singers in an A-list boy band, while taking her daughter to a music festival. Despite their age difference, he can’t help but court her. The chemistry between them is palpable and the sex scenes feel earned—and if you can’t get enough of their romance, the Prime Video rom-com adaptation starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine is just as great.
Spice level: Medium
This book had us at "Schitt's Creek-inspired rom-com." It follows Hollywood socialite Piper whose out-of-control partying lands her in prison and subsequently cut off financially by her father. He ships her and her sister off to Washington, where she meets a sexy, surly fisherman named Brendan. He thinks she won't last in their small coastal town for over a week and she's determined to prove him wrong. If you're a fan of the "grumpy guy meets sunshine girl," you're going to want to pick this one up.
Spice level: Mild
The year is 1497, and Scottish woman Jennifer Merrick agrees to marry a much older man to please her father. But that never happens, because Jennifer and her step-sister Brenna are taken by Englishman Lord Royce Westmoreland (known as the Black Wolf) as a hostage. They should be enemies, but something keeps drawing them closer.
Spice level: Medium
Stella Lane, who's on the autism spectrum, wants to get better at all things physical so she can find the husband her parents expect her to have. Since it's the 21st century, she hires escort Michael Phan, a Vietnamese and Swedish sex god of sorts who agrees to help Stella out. We're not one for spoilers, but the steaminess of this book will fog up some windows.
Spice level: Mild
What is it about stories that revolve around sex and Paris? Two great tastes that go great together. In this period drama, a moody Russian artist in 1920s Paris pursues inspiration and finds it in a gorgeous young American visiting the city. The two women have a hot and heavy romance, and the resulting art from her new muse pushes the artist to creative heights. But a looming world war and a stock market crash threaten to cut the party short.
Spice level: Medium
It’s not often that a rom-com gives you a stronger grasp on a subject as dense as theoretical physics. Love, Theoretically will surely be the hottest thermodynamics class you’ve ever taken (pun intended), as Ali Hazelwood’s novel serves up a classic enemies-to-lovers plotline that cranks up the heat—no Bunsen burners needed.
Spice level: Hot
If you were weirdly obsessed with Greek mythology growing up, this is the much more adult way to get your fix. Katee Robert, who writes some of #BookTok's favorite fantasy romances, tackles the myth of Hades and Persophone in Neon Gods. This story puts a modern spin on the love story of the God of the underworld and the Goddess of spring with the addition of lots of sex, which means we'll be adding this to our carts immediately.
Spice level: Hot
Sexual fantasies are unique and individual and this is a book that understands that. Per Night Shift's official description: "Your mission: In a sketchy and sexy world filled with tissues, gallons of lube, sex toys, tiger print, and swinger parties, help Taryn choose her way as she learns what happens in this small, unexpectedly kinky town. From butt plugs to cross-dressing truckers to being held up at gunpoint over dildos, experience this fun and sexy journey along with Taryn, as she goes from shy and sweet to skilled and empowered—but how she gets there is up to you!" So. In.
Spice level: Medium
If you thought the Starz series Outlander was sexy, you have no idea what's coming. The novels are about a time-traveling nurse in 18th-century Scotland, where she falls for a Highlander. The catch? She's married and her husband is living in the future.
Spice level: Medium
Melissa Broder’s The Pisces is more of a work of literary fiction inspired by the concept of the erotic novel—but it’s still hot, and all the more fun for its playful sense of humor. The magical-realist book is centered around a woman named Lucy who decides to house-sit for her sister in Venice Beach as she’s struggling to finish her dissertation and face her sex addiction. One night on the beach, she meets a handsome surfer wading in the water, only to later realize he’s a merman. Let this one wash over you with its inspired sex scenes, laugh-out-loud funny narration, and mystical essence.
Spice level: Mild
The sex scenes in this book are largely of the “fade to black” variety, but you’ll still be swooning over the sweet, forbidden romance between Alex Claremont-Diaz, First Son of the United States, and the British Prince Henry. Plus, after you’ve fallen in love with them on the page, you can root for them onscreen, too, thanks to the 2023 movie adaptation of the novel, which has been hailed for inducting a gay romance into the hallowed halls of the cheesy rom-com genre.
Spice level: Hot
The enemies-to-lovers trope is one of the best tropes in romance. There's something about a couple hating each other that turns into the fiercest chemistry. The characters of Restore Me fall into that category. Sloane, a widow, suddenly starts to see her late husband's best friend in a new light after years of hating him. Meanwhile, Dominic has secretly been pining after Sloane the entire time. Eventually, these two collide in a hugely sexy way. If you get wrapped up in their romance, fear not: This is the first in the New Haven series, with the rest of the books following love stories of others in their orbit.
Spice level: Mild
Where would this list be without a historical romance book? Isolde Ophelia Goodnight (yes, that's her name) is a 26-year-old woman who has never been kissed. Deciding that there is no such thing as fairy tales, she gives up love, but life has surprises in store for her. Let's just say, it all starts with a Duke and an empty castle.
Spice level: Hot
We're talking about three wealthy brothers (Gabe, Jace, and Ash) who can get anything and anyone with the snap of their fingers—except Mia Crestwell, their best friend's little sister. But, when they run into Crestwell and discover she's not the girl they used to know, all bets are off and it's game on.
Spice level: Mild
Best-selling erotica novelist Eva meets reclusive literary author Shane at an event and sparks fly. Little does their literary circle know, though, that the two previously spent one sexy week together during their teenage years. Now as adults, their chemistry is hotter than ever but Eva isn’t sure she can trust Shane after her teen heartbreak.
Spice level: Hot
When a book has a content warning in its description, you know it'll be seriously hot. This story follows Alex, a.k.a. a super hot alphahole with a tragic past. The only thing that can thaw his icy heart is, of course, his best friend's sister, Ava. This one has the makings of a classic smutty romance: a morally gray male main character, a bed-sharing scene, and the opposites-attract trope. Ana Huang's Twisted Love has become quite the phenomenon—spawning three sequels, each focused on a different member of a friend group who falls for a "brooding" love interest. Check out the hype ASAP because a Netflix series adaptation is coming soon.
Spice level: Mild
To quote Roxane Gay's blurb, "This book truly is as charming as it is sexy." And not just because of the bedroom scenes (of which there are many, but lean on the "fade to black" kind), but because of the nuance with which the love story—between a Black woman and white man who meet in an elevator—is told.
Spice level: Medium
This novel might be a thoughtful reflection on grief and healing after the death of a partner, but that doesn’t mean it’s tame. When we meet Feyi, she’s easing her way back into love and intimacy five years after her husband died in a car accident. It happens in progressively more serious relationships, from the spicy encounter with a stranger that opens the book to the powerful connection she ultimately strikes up with an unlikely love interest.
