18 Erotic Novels That Won't Make You Cringe
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When you think of erotica, images of Fabio’s muscular torso and Christian Grey’s red room may come to mind. But there’s so much more to this literary genre than cheesy book covers and hunky billionaires with an affinity for BDSM. Erotic novels can be sensual, provocative and even esteemed. Don’t believe us? Here are 18 books proving just how sexy (and well-written) good smut can be.
What Is Audio Erotica? (Plus, 11 Place to Tune In)
1. Love Poems by Pablo Neruda
This collection of poems, widely considered Nobel Prize-winner Neruda’s best work, are so sexually charged, we’re blushing just thinking about them. One of our favorite, tamer lines is, "My love feeds on your love, beloved, and as long as you live it will be in your arms without leaving mine." Swoon.
Promising Review: "Love Poems by Pablo Neruda illustrates love as something real, as opposed to the overly done, cheesy love poems that we are so familiar with. Despite not being a huge fan of romance novels and movies, I sincerely liked this book and would recommend it to couples, hopeless romantics and just about anyone looking for a good book." — an Amazon reviewer
2. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
The handsome and charismatic Alex Claremont-Diaz became the American equivalent of a young royal when his mother became President. There's only one problem: Alex has a rocky relationship with the actual prince, Henry, in London. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an altercation between the two, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse. Those around Alex and Henry devise a plan for damage control, but what at first begins as a fake friendship soon grows deeper, with the two beginning a secret romance that could derail both of their families’ lives.
Promising Review: "This book made me fall in love with reading again. The plot isn’t realistic but it is dreamy. And the characters are brilliant and unique. There are so many hilarious, heartbreaking, and beautiful moments in this book. The author has a wonderful voice and style, this feels like a modern day fairytale. I’ve read this from cover to cover three times and it’s still as joyful as the first time." — Lisa, an Amazon reviewer
3. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Stella Lane is a math whiz who's crushing it at her job. Her love life? Not so much. She's 30 years old and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. She decides her best bet for practicing is to hire an escort, Michael. Before long, Stella comes to crave all of the things he's making her feel. Equal parts sexy and sweet, The Kiss Quotient proves that all the data in the world can't help you make sense of what your heart wants.
Promising Review: "I haven’t blushed at a romance in a long time (call it conditioning), but this one made my cheeks hot multiple times. I love that the romantic scenes are also respectful and not in any way icky. You know what I mean." — an Amazon reviewer
4. Wetlands by Charlotte Roche
This controversial debut novel (first published in 2010) centers on Helen, an outspoken, sexually precocious 18-year-old lying in a hospital bed as she recovers from an operation. To distract herself, she meditates on her past adventures in increasingly uncomfortable detail. The result is a funny and intimate manifesto on sex, hygiene and why the idea that girls should be clean, quiet and nice is B.S.
Promising Review: "Some of the things the protagonist does are nasty, some are silly, some are absurd, and some of it is downright stupid. I don't care which of the categories it falls into, it's all pretty damn entertaining." — an Amazon reviewer
5. Island Time by Georgia Clark
Queer romance, family secrets and ambition abound in this summery story of two families: the Kellys—loud, loving Australians—and the Lees—sophisticated, aloof Americans. The two clans have nothing in common, except for the fact that their daughters are married. While vacationing on a remote island off the coast of Queensland, a nearby volcano erupts and the two families are stranded together for six weeks. During those weeks, everyone is forced to question what—or who—they really want, along the way proving it's never too late to change your destiny.
Promising Review: "When I wasn't reading it I was thinking about the characters and couldn't wait to find out was going to happen next." — Erika, an Amazon reviewer
6. The Duke Undone by Joanna Lowell
When painting student Lucy Coover trips over a naked man passed out in an East End alley, she covers him up and finds help. Instead of moving on from the incident, though, she can't stop thinking about him—his muscular physique in particular—so she paints him. In need of rent money, she puts the artwork up for sale. When Anthony Philby, Duke of Weston, discovers it’s a portrait of himself, he decides to buy it, burn it and confront the artist. When they meet, however, an irresistible, potentially dangerous, passion ignites between them.
Promising Review: "This story is so tightly written, highly entertaining, definitely immersive, and all-around delightful. I adored Anthony and rooted for Lucy." — an Amazon reviewer
7. Delta of Venus by Anais Nin
A mold-breaking anthology of 15 short stories, this book was published posthumously in 1977 but mostly written in the 1940s, and has been setting hearts aflutter ever since. Decades later, the lurid tales of Hungarian adventurers, French courtesans and Peruvian opium dens still burn up the pages.
Promising Review: "If you want different, this is not your typical read! A really interesting read to stir up some funky emotions." — Jesica, an Amazon reviewer
8. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Just as nurse Claire Randall is reunited with her husband post-WWII, she gets zapped away to 18th-century Scotland. There, she’s deemed a “Sassenach,” or Outlander, and is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a soldier with a troubled past and a fiery temper. The eight-part series hops back and forth in time as Claire becomes torn between her desire for two men—in two different centuries. Read the books first and then stream the equally-riveting TV show on Netflix.
Promising Review: "If you love Scottish historical romance/adventure stories with intensely passionate and well-developed characters, and a book full of wonderful and fascinating tidbits of history, then you will want to read Outlander." — an Amazon reviewer
9. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
This modern classic about love and politics in communist-era Czechoslovakia centers around four lovers and their conflicting desires. If you want something that’s sensual and thought-provoking (Kundera delves into a lot of philosophical questions about love and the decisions we make), this is the read for you.
Promising Review: "After reading this novel, I've had many lingering thoughts of this book and that to me is the sign of a great novel." — Robert, an Amazon reviewer
10. Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
This coming-of-age story is a beautifully written tale of all-consuming love and attraction set against the backdrop of 1980s Italy. The movie is wonderful, sure, but the book will give you chills.
Promising Review: "This is probably one of the most erotic reads of the 21st century, thanks in no small part to the breathless suspense leading up to their first encounter together, but also because the author understands how sensuality is enhanced by disgust." — Veronica, an Amazon reviewer
11. Bared to You by Sylvia Day
Eva Tramell is a 20-something aspiring advertising executive. Billionaire Gideon Cross is a hunky yet mysterious business tycoon. They work in the same building and when their paths cross, it’s fireworks. But their office romance quickly turns complicated as they both must confront their sexual pasts and secrets. Sounds familiar? OK, yes, but fans say the writing is less cringy and more sultry than, well…you know which book we’re talking about.
Promising Review: "This book blew me away. I loved it. It's emotional, highly romantic, and incredibly swoon worthy. It left me cheering wildly, sighing, and yes, even hugging my kindle at various moments." — an Amazon reviewer
12. Bad Behavior: Stories by Mary Gaitskill
We love these nine short stories about modern love, friendship and sex, all told through Gaitskill’s unique and provocative voice. The most famous of the tales was made into the 2002 film The Secretary, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal. But fans of the film should know that the written tale is quite a bit darker than the screen version (which Gaitskill called “the Pretty Woman version” of her story).
Promising Review: "At times in her collection of short stories entitled Bad Behavior, author Mary Gaitskill soars to great heights. Sometimes she sneaks up on you and hits you with one of her subtle, beautiful sentences that contain great truth. There are a lot of these little moments in this book." — an Amazon reviewer
13. The Story of O by Pauline Réage
Before 50 Shades, there was The Story of O. Published anonymously in 1954, this read about a woman’s BDSM training at an elite and secret club has become an erotic classic. Passion, desire and obsession mixed in with social commentary—it’s all here.
Promising Review: "Reportedly written as a love letter to her lover, you can debate about whether this represents a parable, a fantasy, or a way of life. But, no matter what it becomes to you as a book, if you muster the courage to read it, it will become a revealer of who you are." — Charles, an Amazon reviewer
14. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
An epic tale of forbidden love in the Australian Outback that has enthralled readers for generations (seriously, ask your mom about it). You’ll root for multiple members of the Cleary family—a clan of ranchers—but especially their only daughter, Meggie, and her intense connection to the handsome priest, Ralph de Bricassart.
Promising Review: "I read this book 40 years ago after seeing the mini-series on TV...What a remarkable book. You will not regret getting to know these people and their unforgiving land." — Susan, an Amazon reviewer
15. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
This semi-autobiographical account of the author’s sexual exploits in 1930s Paris is so full of debauchery that it was banned in the U.S. for nearly 30 years and only declared not-obscene by the Supreme Court in 1961. Scandalous, daring and totally gripping.
Promising Review: "Don't expect this to be the kind of book you can rationally understand. It's a novel you must read with your ears as you skim through it, it's an aftertaste, both delicate and coarse... keep in mind it came out in 1934. Sit back and let it wash over you." — Gabrielle, an Amazon reviewer
16. The Sexual Life of Catherine M. by Catherine Millet
Introducing the female version of Tropic of Cancer. Here, Millet describes her sexual exploits in Paris (isn’t it always Paris?) unapologetically and in graphic detail. This one is salacious, humorous and definitely explicit.
Promising Review: "This book is intelligent and realistic. Art theory fans will find themselves marking pages at Millet's discussions on space and body and self... people who indulge in 'alternative' lifestyles will appreciate the frank and accurate discussions on group sex." — an Amazon reviewer
17. Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos De Laclos
The ‘90s hit teen flick Cruel Intentions was loosely based on this sexy novel that crackles with eroticism. Two 18th-century nobels—Vicomte de Valmont and his ex-lover Marquise de Merteuil—make wicked plans to mess with other people’s lives just for fun.
Promising Review: "Shocking! Scandalous! An outrage to public decency! This book must have caused quite a stir when it was first printed in the late 1700's. Sexual innuendo leaps from the pages of this beautifully written epistolary novel." — Jennifer, an Amazon reviewer
18. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
This best-seller is like your favorite rom-com—fun and flirty—but with some very raunchy bedroom scenes. When two strangers, Drew and Alexa, are brought together by a chance encounter in an elevator, they decide to go on a date together. But what starts out as a fun weekend away quickly turns into so much more. A feel-good, effortless read.
Promising Review: "From the moment I picked this up, I was hooked. It is a story with heat, heart, and substance." — Patricia, an Amazon reviewer
