Spicy Romance Books To Satisfy The Thirstiest Readers

There’s a reason this BookTok favourite was recently the centre of a TV adaptation bidding war. If you love a strong heroine and a brooding bad boy with a soft spot, the Twisted Series is for you. The first book, Twisted Love sees Alex, a ruthless billionaire and Ava, a sweet bubbly photographer, thrown together resulting in an steamy, opposite-attract tale full of filthy, open door scenes that’s garnered an average of 4 out of 5 chillies (spiciness) from fans.

Excerpt: “His hands traced a slow, deliberate path down my body, like he had all the time in the world — like I wasn’t trembling beneath him, my breath coming out in short, shallow gasps. His mouth followed, lips skimming over my skin with a reverence that made my chest ache.”

Middle-aged crisis, but make it horny. In All Fours, Miranda July takes readers on a wildly unexpected road trip (if you can call a 30-minute drive out of town a road trip) where a woman ditches her husband, embraces chaos, and stumbles into a late-blooming sexual awakening. It’s weird, it’s hot, it’s hilarious—exactly what you’d expect from July, but naughtier.

Excerpt: “After Sam fell asleep I forced myself to walk into Harris’s bedroom in nothing but high heels. The heels help me just do it, like ripping off a Band-Aid.”

Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing and subsequent Empyrean series has become a literary phenomenon, the latest installment of which, Onyx Storm, became the fastest selling adult-novel in 20 years.

It’s not just the simmering tension and steamy sex scenes that have readers furiously devouring the novels (a particular IYKYK chair scene sent the internet into a meltdown), the plotlines and theories have readers transfixed, too. It’s a high-stakes, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn that will have you on the edge of your seat… or using it as a sex prop. 

Excerpt: “t’s time to stop dancing around this unbearable tension and break it.

He leans down, his mouth only inches from mine. “And I’m telling you that I’m the last thing you need.” The barely leashed growl of his voice rumbles up through his chest, and every nerve ending in my body flares to life.“

Lady Chatterly’s Lover is the OG of horny novels for the female reader. The illicit love affair between a politically progressive, upper class woman (Connie) and a married, working class man (Ollie) – who works for Connie’s disinterested husband – sets the scene for countless secret trysts. Originally written in 1928 it’s romantic, but author D.W Lawrence didn’t scrimp on some graphic sex scenes. So much so that the novel was banned in Australia between 1929 and 1965. 

Escerpt: “She was a little startled, humbled, even a little frightened. She had been so sure of herself. And now he had come upon her with a surprising power, leaving her startled and breathless.”

Ali Hazelwood’s Bride was a delightful divergence from her typical rom coms. The author steered away from her usual STEM love stories (which all typically feature a respectable amount of spice should you wish to branch out) to try her hand at a paranormal enemies-to-lovers, marriage-of-convenience story.

In order to preserve peace between their long-warring species, Vampyre Misery must marry a Werewolf, Lowe. What ensues is sizzling tension and animalistic spice of both the emotional and physical kind. It’s delightfully and deliciously wild. 

Excerpt: “I’m going to scent you the traditional Were way. It entails rubbing my skin against yours. My tongue, too.”

For those who like a rom-com with a satisfying amount of spice–enough to keep things hot and heavy without cannibalising a plotline–any of the books in Liz Tomforde’s Windy City series is sure to meet your needs. Interconnected but able to be read as standalones, each book centres on a sports star at one of Chicago’s major teams (Basketball, Ice Hockey, pick your vice) and makes for the perfect (horny) beach read with equally perfect book boyfriends that are far from toxic. 

Excerpt: “Ryan’s hand brackets my throat, pinning me to the wall with his hips, stealing the rest of my words when his mouth takes mine.” 

There are Ice Hockey romances (a sub-genre of their own within the spicy BookTok community) and then there’s Pucking Around. The 700-page read follows Rachel Price, who just scored her dream job working for Jacksonville’s NHL team only to discover the man she had a perfect one night stand with is on the team. That’s just the beginning of the toe-curling tension as she finds herself tangled in not just a love triangle but a square. Luckily for her, this love square doesn’t mind sharing. Expect debaucherous polyamory that goes on and on and on. 

Excerpt: “Take your undies off and slip them in my pocket. Every time I look at you tonight, you’re gonna squeeze those thighs, understood?”

When 17-year-old Tatiana and Alexander, a soldier in the Red Army, first meet, it’s love at first sight, only their fateful connection is immediately put to the test when Hitler invades Russia and Leningrad is placed under siege. Though undeniable, their love story faces hurdles that threaten to rip them apart before they’re able to explore their futures together. 

What results is a devastating portrayal of love in the time of war, and what each would give up (and overcome) to be with their true soulmate. Tatiana quickly transforms from naïve little sister to the hardened matriarch of her family, as she learns how to navigate life under siege and a renewed sense of purpose in her achingly strong connection to Alexander (her Shura).

Though set amid the chaos of wartime, there’s plenty of spicy meetups and secret rendezvous to keep the flame alive – including Alexander’s torturous commitment to resisting his “urges” around “his” Tatiana under the guise of chivalry. It’s a good ol’ tale of forbidden-yet-undeniable chemistry that snowballs into historical romance horniness to the highest degree. Afterall, what could be sexier than waking up every day not knowing if you’ll survive to see the next? 

Excerpt: “Tatiana: ‘Why did we spend two days fighting when we could have been doing this?’
Alexander: ‘That wasn’t fighting, Tatiana. That was foreplay.'”

If you relish in a dark romance, Haunting Adeline, will tick all your boxes, if you know what we mean. Not for the faint-hearted, the book blends psychological thriller with steamy, dark obsession. We have your typical morally gray hero, Zade, who serves as a vigilante taking down human trafficking rings but is also possessive and dark, some kink exploration and some violence. We recommend you check your trigger warnings before reading. 

Excerpt: “I should run. I should scream. But my body betrays me — trembling not from fear, but from the heat of his touch. His breath ghosts over my neck, and I know I’m dancing with the devil… but for some reason, I don’t want the song to end.”

Life is all about balance, which is why Normal People has a cult following and is on this list. It will tug at your heart as it explores first love and the complexity of entanglements through Marianne and Connell’s complicated relationship while also featuring some deeply erotic scenes that will tug at, well, you know. Plus, once you’ve read the novel you can rewatch the stunning portrayal from Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones (for the tenth time).

Excerpt: “He whispers her name, and she shivers, every nerve ending alive to his touch.”​