Most of the romantic literary tradition and its history are defined by will they/won’t they relationships, but since the 21st century, authors have pushed the envelope a little further by incorporating more modern themes and interactions into their plots, and the result is books that aren’t afraid to get a little up close and personal, pushing away the curtains, not mincing words, and having a bit of extra heat between the pages. You know the drill.
At the same time, there is quite a world of difference between so-called “smut” and romance novels that feature compelling characters and compelling narratives. Sure, they’re not what you’d call high art, but the writers at least put in a bit of effort to make the guilty pleasure of reading them a little more palatable. To that end, here we 10 spicy romance novels you could pick up right now to scratch that particular itch and not feel like you’ve wasted hours reading garbage.
Arguably one of the best historical fantasy book series of all time, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon centers around a 20th-century British nurse called Claire Randall. Visiting the Scottish Highlands with her husband after the conclusion of World War II, Claire accidentally travels back in time to the 18th century and has to traverse a hostile world where the rules of engagement are much different from the brutal frontlines of the global conflict.
The romantic bond between Claire and Jamie Fraser, a Highlander from the 18th century, shapes most of the Outlander series, and its narrative, ultimately a tale of love and passion (Gabaldon doesn’t mince words when it comes to spicy scenes), also deals with real-world history, social criticism, and many philosophical and timeless human dilemmas. You could always opt to watch the television series by Starz, acclaimed in its own right, but Gabaldon’s prose and characterization in the book are unrivaled by her contemporaries. If we were to write the best blurb for Outlander, this would be it: A book series for serious literature consumers who don’t mind a little bit of steam now and again.
Let’s admit it, you knew we would start the list with this one. A Court of Thorns and Roses may start timidly, but by the end of the first novel, Feyre Archeron’s exploits in the otherworldly court will take on a much more mature tone. And by that, we mean Sarah J. Maas will dial up the spice factor to eleven and make you blush like you never have when reading a fantasy book. By the time you reach the second and third books, you begin to expect steamy scenes whenever characters so much as share the same space for a brief second.
What sets A Court of Thorns and Roses apart from many other contemporaries and latent clones is that readers might actually find the story engaging, the characters interesting, and the world intricate in its design. I’m of the unpopular opinion that more than 90% of “romantasy” these days consists of barely ramshackle, make-shift stories that are just an excuse to write and consume smut. A Court of Thorns and Roses, while admittedly formulaic and sometimes uninspired, at least tries to be more than the sum of its parts. And for that, Sarah J. Maas deserves some measure of respect, if not acclaim.
The prized child of BookTok and its controversial community, Fourth Wing is probably one of the most popular books in the market right now. The story revolves around a heroine named Violet Sorrengail, and takes place in a fictional fantasy world where there’s a military school for dragon riders. Violet has trained her entire life to be a scholar, mostly because of her physical ailments (which roughly mirror Ehlers–Danlos syndromes), but when fate thrusts her into the titular Fourth Wing, under the command of one Xaden Riorson, she has to navigate a treacherous world hell-bent on destroying her life.
And yes, if you’re wondering about the spice level, let’s just say that it’s definitely up there with some other showboating names featuring graphic intimate scenes. A sequel, Iron Flame, was released in October 2023, and a threequel is planned for release next year.
I wasn’t entirely sure about including The God of Small Things in this list. The novel is not your typical spicy teen romance, but rather deals with important and sensational themes like love, loss, societal restrictions, and the devastating impacts of colonialism. That being said, there are many heartfelt and heart-rending moments in The God of Small Things, sprinkled in between with intimate scenes that bring us closer to these characters and make us feel the depth of their human emotions. The God of Small Things follows the tale of fraternal twins in Kerala, India, who have to deal with casteism and the ridiculous “love laws” prevalent in India at that time.
The first book in the so-called Bridgerton series, now one of the most-watched shows on Netflix, The Duke and I is a historical romance taking you to the height of the Regency era. Explore the inner workings of the London high society during social seasons, where the cream of the crop of the great families interact with each other hoping to find a match that not only elevates their status but also makes them a truly respectable member of the queen’s coterie.
The steamy scenes in The Duke and I are written tastefully, and the story itself is a study of relationships and what makes them work, as opposed to a searchlight that only underscores our throes of sensuality. If you want romance and spice and real-world history all in one book, then pick up the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn.
You’ve probably read or watched this story a thousand times. Hannah is a smart, driven girl who wants to get her crush’s attention, but feels ill-equipped to the task. Garrett Graham, on the other hand, is charming and charismatic, and just the guy she needs to teach her the ropes when it comes to this stuff. Garrett is failing his classes, so he asks Hannah to help him in exchange for some much-needed lessons in the art of seduction.
Well, go ahead and roll your eyes. I know you want to. There’s no denying that The Deal is a rom-com plot exhausted to the point of ridicule, leaving practically no room for any novelty, but there’s something charming about the way Elle Kennedy has written The Deal. You know what’s going to happen; you can see every twist coming your way from a mile away, and yet you can’t help but read on. And yes, the steamy scenes are every bit as juicy as you might imagine, unlike a lot of other rom-coms out there — especially in the cinematic medium — that tend to play it safe.
Jennifer L. Armentrout usually gets lumped in with A Court of Thorns and Roses and Fourth Wing, but compared to her, those two books come off as rather bashful. The story follows a Maiden named Poppy, destined for greatness from an early age, but also destined to be lonely, “never to be touched, never to be looked upon, never to be spoken to.” Poppy has a free spirit, however, and despite the responsibility of serving her people, she eventually breaks free of her bonds with the help of a dashing member of her guard named Hawke. From Blood and Ash has numerous spicy scenes in the narrative, and things only get more graphic as you progress through the book series.
If you want a steamy romance novel with that nostalgic college aura, then look no further than Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. The story follows Anastasia, who gets a scholarship at the University of California and joins the figure skating team. Anastasia is doing her best to join Team USA, but her life is upended when she meets Nate, a member of the ice hockey team. Ana and Nate are paired up for a project, and from there blooms a very unlikely romance, filled with intense moments and extremely steamy and explicit interactions. The affair is a bit of a slow burn, but the characters themselves are written extremely well, turning Icebreaker into something of a page-turner despite its unconventional length.
The first book in the Crescent City series by Sarah J. Maas, the story centers around a girl named Bryce Quinlan, half-fae half-human, who lives in Midgard. When Bryce’s closest friends are murdered, she finds herself in the middle of a treacherous investigation that thrusts her into the underbelly of Crescent City. House of Earth and Blood garnered a lot of acclaim when it came out in 2020. As for the so-called “spice levels,” it’s safe to say that the graphic scenes find themselves a level above A Court of Thorns and Roses, and there are quite a few of them in the first book.
Call Me by Your Name follows 17-year-old Elio Perlman in a coming-of-age tale that deals with such themes as desire, identity, and the intense feeling of infatuation over the course of a summer as Elio comes in contact with the 24-year-old Oliver. With all of these stories, it’s not so much about the graphic details of the intimate encounters as it is about the build-up and the compelling characterization that undermines them. Call Me by Your Name, now also an acclaimed movie headlined by Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer, does this in a sublime fashion, leaving audiences heartbroken and shattered, and reminiscing about their own young life and the intense feelings that defined it.
