'Spicy' romance novels - everyone but me?

[TaylorsLeftShoe]

Shamelessly posting in AIBU for traffic!

This morning on the school run I caught some of the mums talking about 'hockey books', I bumbled in confused because hockey is not an option for our dcs (v early primary) but apparently they were talking about these 'spicy' books they all read.

They hadn't told me as they thought I was too prim (!) but apparently they're all into them, basically it seems like chick lit but with lots of sex and 'spicy' scenes.

Is everyone reading this apart from me?? I'd never even heard of them until today and feel a bit left out.

Never thought I was prim, now wondering if I have been all along 😂

Icebreaker and other Hannah Grace books. Also lots of Elle Kennedy books. And a library book I've just realised has an age rating on the back - I didn't know that was a thing! '18+ content - not suitable for younger readers'

Fuuuck I'm going to have to ask her how bad they are. I made rules in advance for films and videogames, this is going to be the first time I've had to row back. Also what if I'm asking stuff which isn't there? Then it's her Mum introducing her to the concepts of choking and rimming, and I'd be happy never to discuss those concepts with anyone I'm related to, ever!

We need a spreadsheet.
Titles along the x axis and acts along the y axis. Some of us could use it to know what to ban and the rest could use it to know what to read. Thanks those who answered! Further disclosures welcome!!

I wouldn't say they're the most hardcore of these types of books currently in fashion, but they are very, very graphic and under no circumstance are suitable for a 13 year old. I think the bubblegum front covers are a bit misleading!

If you want to look for yourself these are the "spicy" chapters in icebreaker;

• Chapter 9
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Chapter 18
• Chapter 19
• Chapter 29
• Chapter 32
• Chapter 36
• Chapter 40
• Chapter 47

There’s a lot of ‘spicy’ fantasy at the moment like Acotar and 4th wing, but they’re not that explicit/ relatively vanilla in terms of the actual sex being had. They make a lot of the slow burn.

They're very popular but a lot of them are just so horrendously written! I'm all for literary erotica but so many of them are shite. I also do find it a touch weird when you see Facebook groups of people bragging they've read 100 of these books this year - surely at this point you're just posting about your porn addiction on the internet? Like, they're fun and some of them are well written, but it IS just filth.

That's amazing, thank you. I'm screenshotting that for next time I'm home alone.
I hope you enjoyed researching that information and it wasn't for the same killjoy reason that I need it!

Spicy books are a big thing on TikTok. Search for #booktok.
Quite a lot of them are absolute filth, sometimes in a good way, sometimes not.

They’re ok, but get a bit samey after a while. I do like the ones that do one of the team in turn, I’ve just downloaded Jennifer Sucevich’s latest one to read this holiday as it’s the last in the set.

TBH none of the spice is particularly spicy IMO, but the American reading the groups I’m in think they’re hot.

My BF and DH refer to them as my hockey porn books. As I got a jersey and tickets to see our local team for my birthday I really don’t think he cares 😂

Me too, I just read a to me rather spicy book, I thought it was just a silly romance which over the Christmas months I sometimes read, everyone seemed to be reading it. The plot was so predictable but the rest well .... not for me.

I love a smutty read. It's just a bit of escapism for me.

I could have written this post. No interest in the mafia/sportsman genre, just the fantasy ones. And the darker the better. But I only like them if it relates to a couple. Not interested in reverse harem genre at all.

like you, I also read the classics, thrillers etc.

I think a whole 'spicy' book would be shit - badly written and too vanilla.
I like finding short stories on Literotica.

I enjoyed Fourth Wing but think it would be much better without all the spice. Other than the first sex scene when her powers are released they are all so unnecessary (and even that scene could have been toned down significantly). I know I'm not the intended audience but still.

Strangely I didn't mind the sex in GoT nearly as much, but there seemed to be more point to it in terms of scene setting.

They’re mostly self published books! If you look at the publishers it’s usually one the author has made up and only publishes their books. Traditionally published books go through an editing process although and IMO are overall better written (there are exceptions) although tbh I still don’t like erotic books. I do read romantic with a little bit of spice that have interesting characters and a slightly coherent plot but steer clear of more explicit 50 shades of grey type stuff which seem purely aimed at sexually arousing readers.

I’ve stumbled into clean romance which is romance without any “spice” at all ie. No sex scenes. I enjoy how light they feel but it’s not for everyone.

I’ve not heard of them either, but I did buy a batch of books from The Works & ended up with 6 (I think) Elsie Silver books. There’s loads of sex in them, & always the same old shit, massive cocks, perfect tits, best sex ever … They push to stand, why they can’t just stand I do not know. Roll their lips, face lips that is. Squeeze their legs together, a lot. All the same boring old sentences. After reading the first book I almost took the rest to the chaza shop, but I stuck with them & they’re OK as I’ve got to know this oh so perfect family but I’ve found the sex bits quite boring.

I much prefer a good old crime book that I can get stuck into.

Showing my age here but anyone remember the goldfish scene from Lace? How anyone found that "spicy" is beyond me

I really struggle with books that have a lot of sex scenes in them.
On the one hand it’s great that there are so many options for erotic fiction in mainstream… though from what I’ve read it’s nearly always ‘tough, loner, bad boy unable to resist independent woman with high morals’. Lots of growling. Smouldering gazes. It’s just Mills & Boon, but with swordplay and wings.
On the other hand, as a teen I read a lot of great YA fantasy that didn’t feature sex (or just hinted at it) and I worry that’s just disappearing as an option for today. As for adult fiction: I’m not interested! Luckily the kind of stories I enjoy don’t require much sex to make the plot.

Im a fan of mills and boon.
Edit - to add before anyone quotes me boy meets girl girl hates boy fall in love end of story cringe but it gets me off the planet for an hour.

ohh I love a 'spicy book'

I've read Icebreaker and wouldn't let my 15 year old read it.

Anna Huang - Twisted series are decent
Penelope Douglas - Devils night series

Are they the best books in the world? No, but for a chick flick type story with a bit of smut to take you away from the day... absolutely reccomend!

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon has some spicy bits but pretty tame by current standards. Interesting plot and history, and it's so bloody long the sex scenes are only a blip!🤣

Don't mind a bit of spice, but I hate the dominant male/passive female dynamic you usually get.

Oh, and I'd recommend "No Rest for the Wicked" by Kresley Cole, and "Ecstasy Unveiled" by Larissa Ione if anyone wants some spicy paranormal nonsense.

OMG yes. Crap writing. Erotic literature for giggly women who think a shag a week is fine and having the light on is a kink.

Especially when driving a convertible car… 👀

I read a good one this week - Best Bad Decision, based on cabin crew. I’ve read hockey ones and also cowboys 😂so this was different, fairly spicy but a nice easy read for a long train journey.