We included a book for every month, so even if you only have time to read a few chapters per weekend, you can still keep up with our list of both classic and brand-new titillating tomes. We have a hunch you'll find something you like... But first off, what, exactly, qualifies as erotica? "A true erotic romance has sex and sexual tension as an integral part of the plot and the relationship development, within a great story containing emotional characters who grab your heart — and other parts," says Raelene Gorlinsky, publisher at Ellora's Cave Publishing Inc.
Warning: After reading these, your sex life may improve dramatically! (Also, check out the books that our sources have written and edited for even more sexy suggestions — we linked to all of 'em!)
1
Bared to You
by Sylvia Day
"The indisputable queen of erotic romance, Sylvia Day is the first name that comes to mind as the go-to author for fans of Fifty Shades of Grey. Her novels are fast-paced, her characters are sexy, gorgeous, and driven, and her sex scenes sizzle on the page." — Kristina Wright, author of Seduce Me Tonight and editor of Cleis Press's Best Erotic Romance series.
2
Dirty
by Megan Hart
"Megan Hart has made a name for herself by writing sensual stories with realistic characters and believable scenarios. Dirty explores one woman's shift from no-strings sex to all-encompassing obsession in a way that is both credible and extremely hot. If you're new to this author's work, start with Dirty and you'll want to read everything she's ever written." — Wright
3
Asking for Trouble
by Kristina Lloyd
"Going where few erotica authors dare to tread, Kristina Lloyd pushes the envelope with her edgy eroticism. The book's unflinching look at taboo fantasies... are not for the faint-hearted, but Kristina deftly navigates the subject matter to deliver a story that is erotic and thought-provoking." — Wright
4
Kushiel’s Dart
by Jacqueline Carey
BDSM stands for a combo of bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, masochism — the kinds of sex play Christian and Ana engaged in in Fifty Shades of Grey.
"While still a seminary student, I read this book and learned that BDSM* could be beautiful on paper. The story of Phèdre, a young masochistic courtesan and spy, Kushiel’s Dart is a work of erotic epic fantasy featuring a smart, strong, brave female lead who experiences pain as pleasure." — Tiffany Reisz, author of novels including The Siren and The Prince
5
Belinda
by Anne Rice
(as Anne Rampling)
"In Belinda, Anne Rice answers the question no one was brave enough to ask back in 1986. Can a 44-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl find true love? This explicit erotic romance was the novel that taught me a brave writer could get away with anything if she just dared to write it." — Reisz
6
Bettie Page Presents:
The Librarian
by Logan Belle (ebook)
"Who can resist an erotic romance where Bettie Page is an inspiration for sexual exploration?" — Rachel Kramer Bussel, editor of Only You: Erotic Romance for Women
7
Deep Desires
by Charlotte Stein (ebook)
"A shy heroine comes into her own erotically by spying on her sexy neighbor, and being spied back on. Their dance of pleasure and seduction is drawn out perfectly." — Kramer Bussel
8
The Story of O
by Pauline Réage (1954)
"When this book appeared in France in the 1950s, it was decided the author had to be a man as it contains so much erotic violence toward women in the form of hardcore S&M and sexual slavery. Turns out the author was a woman (Anne Desclos) who wrote the book to prove to her lover, a book editor, that women could write erotica. Sixty years later and it’s still shocking readers." — Reisz
9
Brawn
by Laurann Dohner
"Her first book on the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists. Everyone adores her New Species characters — genetically altered humans, the best kind of alpha males: not only strong and valiant, but protective and caring and loving. Once you read one, you won’t be able to resist the whole series." — Raelene Gorlinsky
10
The Empress’ New Clothes
by Jaid Black
"This story is an outrageous romp: romance, erotica, futuristic fantasy, science fiction, a bit of mystery and a lot of humor. This is about sex — fun, interesting, wild sex on another planet in another dimension. Lots of voyeurism, exhibitionism, group sex." — Gorlinsky
11
Reaper’s Property
by Joanna Wylde
"If you like Sons of Anarchy, you’ll love the bad bikers of the Reapers. They’re scary outlaws (definitely not law-abiding nice guys) who are also sexy as hell when protecting their women and their way of life. This story reflects that everlasting theme of women’s attraction to bad boys, the sexual pull to a man you maybe don’t even like and know you should not want." — Gorlinsky
12
Carrie's Story
by Molly Weatherfield
"You must imagine the Story of O retold by a very smart, hip UC Berkeley grad who discovers her deep need for submission along with an equally deep love for the man who dominates her. This spring, we are also reissuing Safe Word, the sequel to Carrie's Story." — Felice Newman, publisher at Cleis Press and author of The Whole Lesbian Sex Book.
More sex tips
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