Make Space on Your Bookshelf for These 15 Erotica Books That’ll Turn You On in No Time

This novel falls under the category of “sexy thriller,” which essentially means that there are steamy scenes, but they’re mostly PG-13—which is exactly why it’s a perfect erotica-esque novel for folks who’re not sure if they’ll be into the genre.

The protagonist is Leah Stevens, a disgraced journalist who’s moved from Boston to rural Pennsylvania with her friend Emmy Grey. After Emmy disappears, Leah does everything in her power to try to find her. When her journey leads her to the police, Leah quickly finds herself attracted to Kyle Donovan, a hot, young police officer on Emmy’s missing person case.

When I asked Queen for her fave erotica books, she provided one of the best responses I’ve heard as a journalist: “I’m going to be cheeky and nominate myself,” she told me, adding that she wrote this book because she wanted to read that story but it hadn’t been written.

At its core, “The Leather Daddy & The Femme” is a story about Miranda/Randy and how she explores her sexuality beyond gender and sexual orientation. It’s told through scenes and conversations, both equally hot, IMHO. (Seriously, check out the excerpt on Amazon.) Though it’s currently only available on Kindle, it’s well worth the purchase—and it’s only 176 pages!

I’m not usually a fan of tech or people who work in it, but this story is the perfect balance of rom-com and erotic novel, so I’m willing to look past it. Rhiannon Hunter, our leading lady, founded a dating app that “revolutionized romance in the digital world,” but she struggles to welcome any romance in her real life, even after connecting with the super-hot Samson Lima, who’s a football player helping his aunt run her matchmaking business, a rival to Rhiannon’s app.

Clocking in at 400 pages, this is definitely a heftier read—but it’s also a worthwhile investment. I mean, an Amazon reviewer says that this book gave them all the feels. “I’m sorry I had it in my library for months before actually reading it but also wish I could read it for the first time again,” reads the review. “Brilliant storytelling, relatable characters, emotional, and beautiful. I highly recommend!”

This is one of Queen’s favorite erotica novels. “Cecilia Tan…started out best known in the bisexual and erotic speculative fiction communities, but after Fifty Shades, she wrote a BDSM romance trilogy,” Queen tells me. “Slow Surrende”r is the first in that 3-part story.

It chronicles the initial experiences of a waitress named Karina and a wealthy businessman named James, whose true identity isn’t revealed at the end of this book. What is revealed, though, is that he’s a highly complex character who’s also extremely attractive and a dominant, masochistic partner. As such, he pushes Karina’s sexual boundaries throughout the 306 pages of this steamy book.

Wueen and I both noticed that a lot of reviewers were struck by how quickly the romance developed in this novel—with some wanting a little more anticipation. That said, there are other types of readers out there. If you’re someone who wants to get to the point quickly, you may want to make space for this on your bookshelf.

Following a long celibacy, protagonist Emily Parker decides that she’s ready to get back on the saddle in more ways than one. To that end, she contracts Nat Swayne, a seasoned, high-priced escort whose niche is fulfilling women’s fantasies. However, Nat is intent on not catching feelings for any clients—then, as you may have guessed—she meets Emily. It’s a classic. And, according to one Goodreads review, “The Night Off” also features “a truck ton of dirty talk,” which may make for a fun reading session with your partner.

Allow me to describe this erotic novel in one word: transgressive—and I mean that in the best way. (I mean, that’s what I want my erotica to be.) In the 271 pages of this book, readers don’t exactly meet compelling characters in a linear fashion. Yes, Cooper, “chronicles the evolution of one young escort’s date with a satisfied client into a metafiction of pornography, lies, half-truths, and myth,” according to the book’s summary.

But he also does this by taking readers through, “the pages of a website where gay male escorts are reviewed by their clients” as well as, “postings, emails, and conversations of several dozen unreliable narrators.” Essentially, it’s a really sexy game of telephone that can distract you and turn you on.

In the 10 years since this novel came out, it might’ve become difficult for readers to enjoy this bestseller in a new way—which is exactly why we picked this as the best audible version. Since the print version is 336 pages long, the audible is just shy of 13 hours, so make sure you plan accordingly!

Day’s prose is raw and sensual, making it super arousing to listen to. Just take a look (and then a listen?) for yourself: “I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily… Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other’s most private wounds…and desires. The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn’t tear us apart…” (*Adds to cart*)

Out of more than 12,000 amazon reviews, this literary masterpiece has earned each of its 4.4 stars. It follows a long-in-the-making romance between Eva Mercy, a single mom and mega-successful erotica writer, and Shane Hall, who is an award‑winning novelist and lovable AF. Though Queen hasn’t read it, she researched it and had some thoughts: “A reviewer mentioned Black joy, and I love that the pleasures of romance include some erotic realness.”

So how long had Eva’s romance with Shane been brewing? Fifteen (!) years. As teens, Eva and Shane spent a week together and fell madly in love. Then, once they’re both amazing authors who’ve been basically writing love notes to each other through their books, they end up at the same party in New York City. The rest is pure sensual magic.

Okay, so this technically isn’t a novel because it’s a collection of erotic short stories, but I had to take at least a little creative liberty in the name of inclusivity. Plus,  Queen did say that erotica is often in short-story format! It’s hard to sum up a book that doesn’t have a linear plot, so let’s consult reviews.

One Amazon review, titled, “Lesbians, this is the book for YOU,” goes on to say that it, “was filled with stories that get you hot and bothered,” awarding the book five stars. Some stories are more lowkey, exploring the romantic component more so than the erotic component, but one thing’s for sure regardless of which story you’re on: You probably won’t be able to put this baby down.

Before getting into anything else, I’d like to share a special message from Queen: “I want to say that no one should assume gay romance—kinky or not—is only for men.” That’s important because this novel stars two gay men! In short, a case lands on detective Gavin DeGrassi’s desk, and it requires him to go deep undercover into the BDSM world.

It’s bordering on erotic until it dives head-first into the deep end by introducing Ben Haverson, a psychologist and a well-known dom—which is a term used in the BDSM community to describe people who are more dominant than submissive. If you’re worried that this’ll be too hardcore for you, fret not! There’s a healthy amount of romance, as is evidenced by this line from the protagonist: “Ben had become my lighthouse after I’d been adrift for years.

David and Nicole, two 30-something Black Americans, are living the dream—and living “the life,” meaning they blur the line between pleasure and pain by partaking in BDSM. What sets this novel apart from others, though, is that one character isn’t introducing another into the BDSM world. Instead, it follows a seasoned couple and tells the story of their “normal” struggles just as much as their sexual ones.

A review titled ,“Come for the sex, stay for the learning,” reads: “Fans of erotica will enjoy the sex scenes and those curious will learn from it. I look forward to this author’s voice to continue telling its stories.” Though it’s only 118 pages, Jones allows her protagonists to indulge in even the most taboo desires—and provides an opportunity for readers to do so vicariously.

I had to put three BDSM novels in this list because, let’s be honest, we can’t just keep reading “Fifty Shades of Grey” through the decades. “This makes Fifty Shades look like the fan fiction it is, TBH,” says Queen, adding that even though Carrie’s Story, “is back in the category of erotic romance, [it’s] so smoking hot, smart, and well-written that it is pretty much my all-time fave.”

Plot synopsis (and get ready, because it’s a doozy): A PhD alumna from Berkeley willingly sells herself into erotic bondage, which is Victorian in style—yep, like corsets and whatnot. Per the book’s publisher: “Weatherfield’s deliciously decadent novel takes you on a sexually explicit journey into a netherworld of slave auctions, training regimes, enticing “ponies,” (people) preening for dressage competitions.”

The cover of this book has three phrases: “Two beautiful couples. Five simple rules. One hot mess.” The couples? Gabe and Mirella—who’ve been happily married and monogamous for 20 years—and Weston and Bridget Hanson—who are swingers. One day, as the quad is hanging out, Weston and Bridget ask Gabe and Mirella if they’d like to couple swap, and they all agree.

What follows is, according to one reviewer on Goodreads—where this novel has more than 2,500 reviews and four out of five stars— an “exciting, sexy, taboo, deliciously torturous, addicting story that I just ate up from the beginning to end. Roya Carmen’s writing was addicting [and] her characters were relatable.”

“Reviewers thought the world-building was compelling, found the tale of vengeance drove the story well, and dug the twists and turns the main characters go through on their way to romance,” says Queen, adding that this is, “probably a good pick for the Game of Thrones stans among us.” And she has a point, seeing how this is a barbarian romance set in medieval times that follows protagonists Maddek and Yvenne—whose relationship is complicated.

For instance, they’re instantly attracted to each other, but Maddek feels like Yvenne and her family are responsible for his parents’ death. They’re also both heirs to their respective thrones and eventual love interests, as Maddek wants to marry and reproduce with Yvenne to secure her kingdom as well. What ensues is a fantastical, and ultra-hot, romance.

In a luscious 304 pages, C.S. Pacat introduces and makes readers drawn to Damen, whose blood gives him the right to his kingdom’s throne. He’s also proven himself to be a warrior, which makes his subjects further celebrate him and support his claim as king.

In this fantasy, Damen also has a half-brother, who captures him and sends him to Prince Laurent, a royal of an enemy nation and his soon-to-be paramour—who started off as his master since Damen was sent to him as a pleasure servant. Taboo and hot, I know.