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25 of the Best Spicy Books
Reading is one of the best ways to relax and unwind after a long day, but when the evening draws in do you reach for one of the classics, or do you prefer something a little more steamy? If you are one of the latter and prefer losing yourself in a spicy romance, then you are in the right place. We have collected an especially spicy collection of books that explore a myriad of desires, romances, and genres.
What are Spicy Books?
If you are familiar with what a ‘spicy book’ book is and you’re just here for some recommendations, scroll down a bit, but if you’re new to the world of raunchy reads, then you might be wondering what we mean by a spicy book. Put simply, a spicy book is a piece of fiction, usually a romance, that contains explicit content of a sexual nature. It doesn’t just mean the odd steamy scene here and there; spicy books tend to be driven by hot and steamy plots and characters.
What follows are 25 of the best spicy romance books including fantasy romance, modern romance, and much more. So, if you’re in the market for a new book with a bit (or a lot) of steamy content, then you will find something right here.
We’ve also given each book a cheeky spicy rating, so you will know exactly what you are getting into.
Spicy Fantasy Romance
A Touch of Darkness
Author: Scarlett St. Clair
Spicy Rating: 4/5
A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair offers a modern retelling of the ancient tale of love between the Greek gods Persephone and Hades (with all the juicy bits left in). If you want some ancient mythology mixed in with your steamy romance, then A Touch of Darkness is your ticket.
The Never King
Author: Nikki St. Crowe
Spicy Rating: 5/5
If you are looking for a dark retelling of one of your favourite childhood stories, then The Never King by Nikki St. Clair could be the one for you. Filled with intrigue, tension, and a fair share of somewhat morally ambiguous romance, The Never King offers an 18+ retelling of Peter and Wendy.
King of Battle and Blood
Author: Scarlett St. Clair
Spicy Rating: 5/5
Faced with the total annihilation of her people, Isolde de Lara is forced to marry vampire king, Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, in a desperate bid to save her kingdom. Isolde's attempt to kill Adrian after their wedding fails so she must find a way to survive the vampire court and the wrath of her husband. Yet, despite all this, Isolde can’t help but wonder why Adrian chose her, and if there could be a deeper meaning to this union than she first thought. King of Battle and Blood is a dark romance set in a rich fantasy setting with plenty of fiery romance and passionate encounters.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Mass
Spicy Rating: 3/5
A Court of Thorns and Roses is set in a high fantasy world filled with mythical beasts and magical beings. The tale follows nineteen-year-old Feyre when she is kidnapped and dragged to a world that previously only existed in fairytales. With little room for respite, Feyre is forced to adapt to her new life in this strange world, and what was once a cold and hostile relationship with her kidnapper, soon evolves into a much steamier affair. A well-written setting and catchy plot will keep you hooked as the romance gets steamier as the book progresses.
Pestilence
Author: Laura Thalassa
Spicy Rating: 3/5
Pestilence is set on earth after the arrival of the four horsemen, Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. Wherever the horsemen go, destruction follows, and when Pestilence comes to Sarah Burn’s town, destruction seems inevitable, unless she can stop it. After a failed attempt to kill the unkillable horseman, Sarah falls into a tumultuous and romantically loaded conflict with her new-found enemy. Not the raunchiest book on this list but Pestilence is an exciting and unique take on a biblical classic.
Spicy Historical
The Duke and I
Author: Julia Quinn
Spicy Rating: 3/5
Set in regency-era Britain, The Duke and I is the book that inspired the hit TV series, Bridgeton. The book follows the lives of several characters but centres around the Bridgerton family. At the core of the Bridgerton family is Daphne Bridgerton, the fourth of eight siblings who finds herself struggling to follow the path that has been laid out for her by her family and the expectations of her station. The book explores several love interests, steamy affairs, and raunchy encounters, all underpinned by the sophistication and pomp of 1800’s high society.
Bringing Down the Duke
Author: Evie Dunmore
Spicy Rating: 2/5
Julia Quinn’s Brining Down the Duke explores the exploits of an extraordinary woman, Annabelle Archer, in England during the late 1800s. As the Suffrage Movement is beginning to pick up momentum, the brilliant but destitute daughter of a vicar, Annabelle is granted a scholarship to be one of the first women to study at the University of Oxford. The only catch however is that she must aid the Suffrage cause by recruiting influential men to speak out in favour of the movement, and her target is the cold and calculating Duke of Montgomery. At first, her efforts are futile, yet soon it's not just the duke’s devious nature that she must contend with, but her growing desires for the man she, not long ago, despised. Featuring strong female lead roles and a modest level of steamy romance, Bringing Down the Duke is a must-read historical romance.
The Highwayman
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Spicy Rating: 4/5
When two strangers from completely separate walks of life come together for a marriage of convenience, tensions are bound to rise. Kerrigan Byrne’s The Highwayman follows the lust-filled power struggle between the dark and villainous Dorian Blackwell and the young, headstrong Farah Leigh Mackenzie as they escape to the wild highlands and begin to break down each other’s walls and ignite a seemingly impossible passion.
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Spicy Rating: 3/5
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie takes place in 1881 and tells of the convergence of two people from very different walks of life. Firstly, there is Ian, the youngest of the Mackenzie brothers, nicknamed “Mad Mackenzie” after spending most of his younger life in a mental asylum, and because of his decidedly odd behaviour. The Mackenzie’s are a wealthy family known for their eccentricities and propensity to attract danger. Then there is Beth Ackerley, a widow from a broken home with far too many tales of hardship for a woman of her age. All seems bleak for Beth until her world is rammed off course by Ian Mackenzie’s newly found desire for her. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie offers a great divergence-of-two-worlds romance tale, with a healthy serving of steamy encounters.
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
Author: Sarah MacLean
Spicy Rating: 3/5
In a time when social expectations restricted high-society women from partaking in a great many things from smoking to shooting a pistol, the last thing anyone would have expected from a sophisticated woman living in London is for her to throw caution to the wind and start breaking all those rules that have thus far left her less than satisfied. The story follows Lady Calpurnia Hartwell as she sets out to finally seize everything she wants and fulfil the myriad of desires she has been dreaming about for years. She soon finds the best way to achieve her goal is to court a man who goes against everything her life has led her towards, a rake. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake is an empowering story that explores a woman's desires at a time when society aimed to suppress them.
Spicy Modern Romance
It Ends With Us
Author: Colleen Hoover
Spicy Rating: 3/5
It Ends With Us is a tale of love that follows Lily after she builds a life for herself in Boston. From her roots in a small town in Maine, Lily graduated college and eventually set up her own company, so when she begins to feel a spark with an attractive neurosurgeon, she can’t help but think that it all seems too good to be true. Love is never simple however and soon a lover from her past throws a spanner into the works and makes Lily question what it is she really wants.
Twisted Love
Author: Ana Huang
Spicy Rating: 4/5
Ava Chen - a young free-spirited photographer whose scarred past still hangs over her. Alex Volkov - a cold and calculating businessman with an equally tragic past. Alex is Ava's brother's best friend and Twisted Love tells the story of how Ava unexpectedly develops feelings for Alex, leading to a fiercely passionate relationship filled with obstacles from their tortured pasts. Twisted Love is a modern love story that touches on themes of mental health, unexpected desire, and heart-racing intimacy.
The Spanish Deception
Author: Elena Armas
Spicy Rating: 2/5
As her sister’s New York wedding quickly approaches, Catalina Martín desperately needs to find a date. To make matters worse Catalina's little white lie about her mysterious American boyfriend, which she has been telling everyone about, could soon be exposed if she doesn't. With the wedding creeping ever closer, Catalina must make some difficult decisions and perhaps even consider someone she once considered repulsive. The Spanish Deception is a real modern take on an enemies-to-lovers story, with a whole bucket-load of blush-worthy content.
The Kiss Quotient
Author: Helen Hoang
Spicy Rating: 5/5
For a woman of thirty, Stella Lane has decided that she is severely lacking in the dating department, so after leading a life ruled by numbers, she has decided that she wants more. To find what she is looking for, she seeks out the help of a professional escort, Michael Phan. But what starts as just a mutually beneficial transaction slowly evolves into a scorching romance that leaves Stella longing for the things that only he can give her.
The Hating Game
Author: Sally Thorne
Spicy Rating: 3/5
The Hating Game is another modern take on the classic enemies-to-lovers story. Set primarily in an office environment, this steamy romance by Sally Thorne sees sparks fly between two competitive co-workers, Lucy and Joshua when they are both up for promotion and their rivalry boils over. The Hating Game is a slow-burn romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat with moments of wit, tension, and intimacy.
Spicy Thriller Romance
Haunting Adeline
Author: H.D. Carlton
Spicy Rating: 5/5
Life is on the up for Adeline Reilly, as her flourishing career as an author takes off and the recent inheritance from her late grandmother’ means she is now the owner of a huge gothic mansion. Not all is sunshine and roses however, she soon learns that she is not alone in her new stately home, and it quickly becomes apparent that she has a stalker when she starts finding the flowers and threatening notes addressed to her. Will this dark intruder be the end of Adeline or will she be led down a road of forbidden desire instead? Haunting Adeline is a menacingly creepy story with some truly unexpected twists and turns throughout.
Sicko
Author: Amo Jones
Spicy Rating: 5/5
Sicko tells the story of Jade, a young woman who was abandoned as a child and taken in by the affluent Kane family. She quickly formed a close relationship with her adopted brother and created a bond that strengthened every day, until the day he left. Years later, he returns, and with him, Jade experiences a flood of long-buried desires and emotions. Amo Jones’ Sicko is a dark and twisted romance that deals with themes of forbidden desires, trauma, and the intricacies of human relationships.
Does It Hurt?
Author: H.D. Carlton
Spicy Rating: 5/5
The story follows Sawyer Bennett, a young woman with a troubled past who survives by stealing other people’s identities. Eventually, Sawyer crosses paths with her next victim, Enzo Vitale, a mystifying shark researcher. However, Enzo is not to be trifled with, and after Sawyer makes off with his possessions, he tracks her down and finds a way to get her alone. One thing leads to another and they find themselves shipwrecked on an island fighting for survival. And, if that wasn't difficult enough, they must also contend with their growing desires for each other. Does it Hurt? is a dark and thrilling tale of misadventure, unlikely desire, and horror, not to mention, enough sizzling moments to sink a ship.
Ruthless Creatures
Author: J.T. Geissinger
Spicy Rating: 4/5
Ruthless Creatures is packed with suspicion, plot twists, and plenty of steamy romance as it follows the tragic journey of Natalie Peterson after the abrupt and unexpected disappearance of her Fiancé, David. 5 years after his disappearance, Natalie meets the mysterious Kage when he moves in next door, and soon they find themselves entangled in a passionate relationship. Not all is as it seems, however, as Kage harbours a secret that could take Natalie down a very dark path.
Ruthless People
Author: J.J. McAvoy
Spicy Rating: 5/5
The setting is modern-day Chicago and the theme is power. Stuck in a continuous struggle for dominance, two of the most powerful crime families attempt to build bridges with the arranged marriage of the daughter of the Italian family, Melody Nicci Giovanni, and the son of the Irish Family, Liam Callahan. On the surface, they are paragons of society, but behind closed doors, they are locked in an eternal battle for dominance. However, with rival families closing in to consolidate their own power, the couple must learn to work together to fend off a common foe. Ruthless People has a tense narrative throughout and is packed with sizzling encounters that are at the same time dark, explicit, and intense.
Spicy Mystery Romance
Verity
Author: Colleen Hoover
Spicy Rating: 4/5
Colleen Hoover’s Verity centres around the struggling writer, Lowen Ashleigh, as her financial situation begins to reach a melting point. Eventually, Lowen accepts an offer for a once-in-a-lifetime job from Jeremy Crawford. Jeremy, husband of best-selling author, Verity, who is too injured to write, wants Lowen to step in and finish his wife's book. Not all is as it seems, however, as Lowen uncovers some grisly details about Verity’s past, details she must decide whether to keep to herself or tell Jeremy, a decision made even harder by her growing desire for Jeremy. Verity is a psychological thriller with moments of intensity that will draw more than one audible gasp.
The Darkest Night
Author: Gena Showalter
Spicy Rating: 3/5
The Darkest Night tells the tale of two tortured souls and how they came to meet one another. First, there is Maddox, a cursed warrior playing host to the demon of Violence which causes him to endure a lifetime's-worth of torment every night. Then there is Ashlyn, a woman haunted by voices from the past forever bombarding her mind. When the two happen upon each other they soon find themselves embroiled in a passionate relationship, and able to offer each other the power to confront their tormenters. If you want a paranormal romance with plenty of action, suspense, and steamy moments, The Darkest Night is the book for you.
The Girl in 6E
Author: A.R. Torre
Spicy Rating: 5/5
For three years Deanna Madden has stayed in her apartment, earning a living as a cam girl on an adult site. Her seemingly comfortable life begins to slide into chaos when news of a missing girl reaches her, news that bears an eerie similarity to the dark fantasies of one of her most disturbing clients. After her attempts to reach out to others fail, she is forced to deal with it herself. So, after three long years, she ventures from the safety of her apartment, and into the wider world. Featuring some dark and explicit content, The Girl in 6E is not for the faint-hearted.
Naked in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Spicy Rating: 3/5
The year is 2058, and technology is at an all-time high, yet, one thing remains the same, basic human desire. The story follows Detective Eve Dallas when she is assigned to investigate the mysterious death of a senator’s daughter. Eve’s investigation quickly pulls her into the shady inner circle of New York’s political society - a place where things are rarely ever given for free. And, to make the case yet more complicated, Detective Eve must wrestle with her burning attraction to the devilishly handsome, and spectacularly wealthy businessman, Roarke, who just happens to be the lead suspect. Naked in Death is a gripping futuristic thriller with undertones of corruption, secrets, and seductive storytelling.
Murder Notes
Author: Lisa Renee Jones
Spicy Rating: 3/5
Murder Notes is the first in Lisa Renee Jones’ Lilah Love series and follows skilled FBI profiler, Lilah Love, as she investigates a string of bizarre murders. Lilah’s investigations eventually lead her back to her hometown in the Hamptons, forcing her to face her estranged family and some other dark figures from her past. Lilah soon begins receiving threats that stand to reveal some of her deepest darkest secrets, so she must race against the clock to discover the perpetrator and bring them to justice before her dark past is laid bare.
So, that brings our collection of the best spicy books to a close, whether you are looking for a bit of high fantasy romance or something a little more relatable like a steamy office fling, we hope that you have been able to find something on this list that ticks all your boxes.
If we have missed any titles that you think our readers should know about, let us know and we can add it to our list.
Enjoy reading this article? check out some of other posts and discover a whole host of other recommendations, guides, and reviews on our blog
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