15 Best Smut Books to Get Your Pulse Racing

When I came across some light smut for the first time in a book, I remember going hot and then cold because I wasn’t sure if I should be reading about people making out descriptively. Fast forward ten or so years, here I am, making a list of the best smut books with super steamy scenes that can rival erotic movies. Talk about character growth😆 

I now read not only smut-heavy books, but also different types of smut – I mean, why deny myself some sexy reading with different flavors, right?

So here’s the list of best smut books that I’ve read recently and set me on (metaphorical) fire in the process.

Best Smut Book List

What Makes a Book a Smut Book

Basically, ‘smut’ in booklore refers to explicit sexual content, whether it’s making out, making love, and you know, further. 

So any book that contains explicit sex scenes and sexual language can be called a smut book, but the level of smut and the type of smut you like to read depends entirely on your preferences.

If you’re into reading smut as much as I am, you’re in luck because authors come up with so many flavors of smut: fantasy, paranormal, mafia, kinks, taboo, and so much more. They come in so many swoon-worthy tropes like alphahole, grumpy-sunshine, biker romance, and forced proximity (I could go on) that there really is something for everyone. For example, if you want a fae enemies-to-lovers smut book, there’s probably one out there (Try the ACOTAR series starting from ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’!😉).

So without further ado, let’s get your cheeks blushing and your pulse racing. Heads up before we start: your smut preferences might vary, but my spicy meter will give you some idea of the level of smut in each book.

• 🌶️– sexual language and a little on-page action
• 🌶️🌶️– a lot of sexual language and some on-page action, may be occurring couple times
• 🌶️🌶️🌶️– some explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently
• 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently
• 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring very frequently

These books are best for mature audiences of 18+ years, especially the ones above 🌶️🌶️🌶️. I’ve added content warnings for each book as well, so I hope it will be easy for you to decide whether to read it or not.

Best Smut Book Reviews

1. The Love Hypothesis – My favorite!

Oh my stars, can I just gush about The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood for a moment? 

So we have Olive, a grad student determined to prove her scientific theories right, and Adam, a hotshot professor with a hidden soft side. Olive’s clumsiness and social awkwardness made her so endearing that I couldn’t help but root for her from the very beginning. And Adam – what a heartthrob! He’s not just a looker and a brainiac; he’s got a heart of gold buried beneath that professorial facade.

The dynamic between Olive and Adam is electric, and their banter is on point! I swear, their witty exchanges had me grinning throughout the book. The slow burn romance is a masterclass in tension-building, and Ali Hazelwood certainly knows how to keep you turning those pages. Chapters 16-18 will especially have you fanning yourself by how hot and heavy it gets on the smut side of things. 

What sets The Love Hypothesis apart is how it seamlessly blends humor, heart, and science into a love story that’s as sweet as a perfectly baked batch of chocolate chip cookies (or a precise scientific experiment, take your pick). Ali Hazelwood’s writing is witty, clever, and so darn addictive that you won’t be able to put the book down.

• Best for – Fans of Christina Lauren and the fake dating trope
• Not for – Readers who are sensitive to bullying and abuse of power in the workplace

2. Fifty Shades of Grey

It’s time for the phenomenon that made all of us closet-smut readers erupt in joy! With a whole lot of tension, intimacy, and sensitive topics, the Fifty Shades series brought smut into the mainstream, and I have to thank E. L. James for that. Let’s see how she did so, starting with the first book, Fifty Shades of Grey.  

Meet Anastasia Steele. She’s the quintessential heroine – a bit clumsy, a whole lot of witty, and she’s never met a self-help book she didn’t like. I sometimes felt like she was too innocent for our MMC, but I think her fierce curiosity made her a good match for him. 

Now, onto the man of the hour, Mr. Christian Grey. He’s not your typical Prince Charming; he’s a billionaire with a penchant for control and a hidden, mysterious past. He was a complex character that I loved to hate and hated to love. 

And oh boy – the smut. Fifty Shades of Grey has more sizzle than a summer barbecue! E. L. James knows how to crank up the heat, and these moments had me blushing like a teenager caught with a forbidden love letter. The book is known for its steamy and BDSM elements, so be prepared. But it’s not all about the smut! Intrigue, drama, and a dash of humor kept the pages turning for me faster than Christian says, “Laters, baby”.

So, grab your favorite guilty pleasure snack, a cozy blanket, and get ready to be swept away into a world of passion, desire, and a whole lot of gray.

• Best for – Fans of BDSM and erotica
• Not for – Readers who are sensitive to sexual assault and coercive control

3. Fifty Shades Darker

Now, if you’re anything like me, you’re probably wondering, “Is this book as steamy as the first one?” Well, let’s just say Fifty Shades Darker is ‘darker’ for a reason! Ana and Christian’s chemistry is off the charts, and their intimate moments are enough to make you reach for a cold drink! Trust me, Ana and Christian left no surface, position, or place unexplored. 

But there’s more to this story than just steamy scenes. We delve deeper into Christian Grey’s character, uncovering his dark past and vulnerabilities as his relationship with Ana evolves. Speaking of Ana, she’s no longer just the wide-eyed girl we meet in Book 1. In Fifty Shades Darker, she’s a force to be reckoned with, and her character growth is captivating. 

And the drama? Oh boy, this book is an emotional rollercoaster! You’ll laugh, swoon, gasp, and maybe even shed a tear or two. In a nutshell, Fifty Shades Darker is a tantalizing sequel that elevates the romance; there are surprises, twists, and bouts of suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat. So don’t miss out on this stunning sequel!

• Best for – Fans of BDSM and erotica
• Not for –  Readers who are sensitive to sexual assault and coercive control

4. Fifty Shades Freed

Hold onto your blankets, fellow book lovers, because we’ve reached the grand finale of the “Fifty Shades of Grey” series, and let me tell you, it’s a ride you won’t want to miss.

So, we meet our leading lady, Anastasia Steele, now Mrs. Anastasia Grey, and can I just say, she’s owning it – her charm, wit, and charisma shine brighter than ever. And Christian Grey? Well, he’s as irresistibly enigmatic as ever, but there’s a pleasant (and sometimes tumultuous) twist – he’s actually making strides to come to terms with his traumatic past.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff – those steamy scenes we all secretly (or not-so-secretly) adore. The heat factor? Off the charts, as expected from the mastermind E.L. James. In this final installment, she turns up the heat with a finesse that’ll leave you breathless. But it’s not just about the physical; it’s about the emotional intimacy that blooms as Ana and Christian navigate the maze of married life.

If you’ve been on this mesmerizing journey with Ana and Christian from the start, Fifty Shades Freed is the satisfying conclusion you’ve been waiting for. So grab the book, a cold beverage, and sizzle your way through the grand finale of the Fifty Shades world.

• Best for – Fans of BDSM and erotica
• Not for – Readers who are sensitive to sexual assault and coercive control

5. Bared To You

This is the first book in the Crossfire series, where we get to know Gideon, the billionaire business mogul with a jealous streak and hots for Eva, who just started her first job at an ad agency. These two meet because of work, sparks fly, and bam, their story begins. 

Their sexual attraction is mutual and palpable from the start, so expect a LOT of explicitly smutty scenes. Gideon and Eva connect physically at first, but boy, when they get to know each other and realize they want more, they lay down all their vulnerabilities and demons of the past to be in each others’ lives. Honestly, when Sylvia Day said ‘Bared to You,’ she really meant it. 

We get to see a lot of Eva’s struggles in the first book, and let me tell you, my heart broke for her. The physical connection between the two is all the more significant, because we see the intensity of their emotions come out in heady, passionate ways. 

They make mistakes too, and I loved how they were open and honest about them, and worked through them because their love for each other was stronger than their problems. The book is very smutty and full of feelings, so if that’s your jam, give the Crossfire series a try. The series gets steamier as we go, so I promise you a lot of sexy times ahead!

• Best for – Fans of erotica and alpha MMCs
• Not for – Readers who want a slow burn, fluffy romance

6. The Fine Print

If you ever catch me saying no to a billionaire bad boy trope, be alarmed, because something is wrong with me. But right now, no alarm is necessary because when I heard The Dreamland Billionaires series follows three billionaire brothers, I grabbed the first book, The Fine Print, and read it in one sitting.

I was a bit skeptical in the first chapter because a smut book which centers around a theme park? Uhm, doesn’t really go, does it? I had to eat my words soon after though, because the romance between Rowan and Zahra took off with an awesome meet-cute. 

Rowan’s the dreamy, rich boss – harsh and used to getting his own way. Enter Zahra, smiling, cheerful, and full of new ideas to change the theme park she works for, Dreamland. Instead of getting fired when Zahra drunkenly submits a proposal criticizing Dreamland’s most expensive ride, she gets offered a dream promotion and inadvertently ends up finding the love of her life too. Talk about getting lucky, right?

Rowan is the perfect example of a man who knows what he wants. He might be a heartless boss, but when he falls hard, he clearly goes all out. From taking care of Zahra when she’s sick to FLYING her all the way to New York to meet her favorite author, he’s the poster boy for, ‘if he wants to, he will’. 

Honestly, why wouldn’t he go the length for Zahra? She’s smart, she teaches him about life and business, and she’s the sweetest. Girl deserves this doting affection from Rowan. And my god, the smut between these two is full of longing and angst. I couldn’t tear myself away from those pages. I am 100% going to read the next two books in the series about Rowan’s brothers and am 100% recommending this smutty and quirky romance to you!

• Best for – Fans of Ana Huang and rich MMC trope
• Not for – Readers who are sensitive to suicidal ideation and death of a parent

7. Punk 57

Booktok pointed me in Punk 57’s direction, and I followed it to the letter. Honestly though, while I did pick up this book because of the premise, I definitely stayed for the angst and the smut. 

Misha, our MMC, and Ryen, our FMC, become pen pals thanks to some confusion with their names, and they become each other’s support system over the years. They agree not to share pictures or to meet up until a chance encounter leads Misha to figure out who Ryen is – and in a turn I didn’t expect, he hates her. 

I don’t like her a lot either, but what truly shined through for Ryen was how a stereotypically ‘bitchy’ character was given a lot of depth and a growth arc. What had me mad was actually Misha, who ended up hiding his identity for the longest time. Halfway into the book, I was practically screaming at him saying ‘You two are made for each other, just open up!’ Needless to say, there was a lot of angst.

Punk 57 is not my first Penelope Douglas, but it’s my first time reading a new adult from her. I was pretty stoked to find out how she wrote her steamy scenes in a new adult book, and I’ll just say it had all the tension of hate-to-lust and the abundant excitement of exploring each other. 

So if you want a smutty and angsty read full of the sexual novelty of the new adult genre, Punk 57 is an awesome pick. You’ll see how Douglas does her thing, creating tension out of thin air and making lovers out of friends-turned-strangers.

• Best for – Fans of new adult romance and angst
• Not for – Readers who are sensitive to bullying, rape, and family death

8. Twisted Hate

Ana Huang is known for dark erotica – I can confirm this because she did a fantastic job with the first two books in the Twisted series. Naturally, I was hella excited to start Twisted Hate, and I loved it from the get go because it was a spicy, banterful, and rollercoaster romance.  

When it comes to our MCs, Josh is the perfect douchebag. I was excited to read a bad boy/good girl pairing, but Jules? She turned out to be the baddest of ladies out there. So what we got instead was a bad boy/bad girl combos that was somehow even hotter. 

Jules is an outgoing, spicy FMC. She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to get it; Josh doesn’t know what to do with her sometimes, which was truly delightful to watch.  

And I know doctors are usually associated with the ‘good boy’ image so when I realized Dr. Josh Chen was a certified bad boy, I was ready to get a consultation with the man himself. He’s that man you want to knock some good sense into while simultaneously jumping into bed with. 

This is smut with a capital S. They start off as enemies with benefits so we get a lot of hate-sex scenes – meaning I couldn’t put the book down. They perfectly take care of each other’s needs even though they can’t stand to be in the same room with each other. There’s no nonsense between the pair; they’re just ready to get down to the dirty business. 

Whether you’re a Twisted series lover or not, Twisted Hate is that dirty, smutty romance you are looking for. Expect a lot of searing burns because our hate-to-lust trope is in full swing!

• Best for –  Fans the Twisted series and dark erotica fans
• Not for – Readers who don’t like bad girl FMCs and dubious consent

9. Birthday Girl

Age-gap romances are not my thing, so the only reason I picked up Birthday Girl is because I was so incredulous at the blurb that I wanted to find out how Penelope Douglas made it work. I’m happy to report back that she did, in fact, make it work. 

The book finds us, and our FMC Jordan, a little resigned at her deadbeat boyfriend Cole. He manages to trash their place while she’s away, and the pair has to move to Cole’s dad’s place. And so Jordan meets Pike for the second time, the first being a run-in at a movie where they had a momentary connection. 

Pike, Jordan, and Cole fall into domestic habits (Cole by not being there🤷🏻‍♀️) and I was surprised by how much I loved seeing Jordan making a home for herself, and Pike giving her the space she needs. Only, they can’t keep skirting around each other too much, because they both have this magnetic attraction toward each other and neither of them can resist the pull. 

Once they threw caution to the wind though, the smut took to the floor and my jaw dropped. It was, in all senses of the word, sexy. There was a lot of dirty talk, dirty thoughts, and sexy times but I was all for it because the way the dynamics changed between the MCs was realistic and sensual. 

I may not be an age-gap romance convert yet, but I’m fully onboard with Birthday Girl because Penelope Douglas handled this story with such grace and respect (also with a lot of smut, don’t forget that). So pick it up for a steamy, yet endearing read with a cutesy epilogue to end with a flourish.

• Best for – Fans of forbidden love and age-gap romance
• Not for – Readers who don’t like age-gap romance

10. Corrupt

With Corrupt, I didn’t know what I would be getting myself into. Well, the title itself should have been a warning, but hey, this is Penelope Douglas; I expected a lot of smut, angst, and possibly a forbidden romance. What I got was all of that plus suspense, kink, and a really dark romance.

Rika, our FMC, wants a fresh start away from everything and everyone she knows. She settles in a new city, and who does she run into? Michael, our MMC. He happens to be the epitome of a bad boy/her ex’s brother/the guy she has been fervently crushing on while she was dating her ex. Yikes. 

Unbeknownst to her, Michael is delighted (and I mean that in the most wicked way possible) she’s in his city because he and his friends have some scores to settle with her. Like exacting revenge for putting his friends in jail. 

While the revenge plan is in motion, Michael can’t deny the white-hot attraction he feels for Rika, and though Rika doesn’t quite know what these men are up to, she’s not giving in without a fight. What ensues is a lot of tension and desire and angst culminating in many steamy scenes (heads up, there’s a threesome too!), and I confirm, none of them are sweet and endearing. Instead, they are all burning hot, degrading, and intensely physical. 

So if you are up for a dark romance that follows a tumultuous relationship between two morally gray MCs with mystery and suspense driving the plot, Corrupt is your book. Remember to check all the content warnings before you dive in, because this story is not for the faint of heart.

• Best for – Fans of dark romance
• Not for – Readers who are sensitive to rape, dubious consent, child abuse, and animal cruelty

11. Neon Gods

I’m a sucker for Greek retellings and when I came across a Greek retelling with dark romance vibes? Sold. I immediately got the book and dedicated my weekend to reading it. 

Neon Gods was a sexy, modern, and refreshing take on the Hades/Persephone story, with Zeus as the bad guy (he kinda always was, though). We start off with Persopone’s mother setting her up to marry Zeus AKA Bluebird, but Persephone runs away and crosses the forbidden river into the underworld (not literally!). She meets the mysterious Hades, a man so elusive that the entire Olympus AKA upper city thought he was dead or a myth. 

Our girl doesn’t want to go back, and Hades has some revenge business to take care of, so they strike a deal; Persephone will live with Hades for three months and sleep with him so Zeus wouldn’t want to touch ‘damaged goods,’ and Hades gets to exact revenge from the man who killed his parents. 

The plot might be a bit dark, but that doesn’t take away their magnetic chemistry at all. There’s a little bit of insta-love, which I’m not a fan of, but it adds a lot of fuel to the steamy scenes. Hades reminded me of Christian from the Fifty Shades fame in all the good ways, and trust me, you’re in for a kinky, hot-as-hell ride with Neon Gods. 

Try this book for a fascinating read set in ultra-urban Olympus with Hades and Persophone setting the underworld on fire. Metaphorically, of course.

• Best for – Fans of dark romance and Greek retellings
• Not for – Readers who want slow burn and detailed worldbuilding

12. Praise

I stumbled on this book on a list of erotica on Goodreads and decided on a whim to give it a try. I read a few pages without commitment and then raced through the book because man, this book is HOT. 

The plot has Birthday Girl vibes – like age-gap, ex boyfriend’s dad, and broken FMC – so I was kind of expecting a repeat. But that’s where the similarities ended, because Praise went on a steamy tangent that had dom/sub dynamics, boss/employee relationship, and of course, the praise kink.

When Charlie, our FMC, meets Emerson Grant, the leading man, he mistakes her for his new hire for his sex club. Once he comes to know who she is, he offers her a job as his secretary and she accepts, even knowing she shouldn’t. 

Charlie can’t forget the hot, commanding way he held himself when they first met and she can’t stop thinking about the sex club job she almost got hired for. Wanting more, Charlie asks (which was super hot – I love a girl who goes after what she wants) Emerson to help explore her sexuality, and explore they do. 

Their dom/sub relationship becomes even hotter as Emerson falls hard for Charlie – and there’s nothing more attractive than a man dying to please his girl. Period. And the fact that Charlie had a safe place to experiment new kinks – incredibly hot and satisfying. 

Sara Cate is a good writer, I give you that. She makes us want more of the intimacy just by showing us how pleasurable it is, so if you like dom/sub dynamics and praise kink, here’s a book you don’t want to miss.

• Best for – Fans of BDSM and forbidden romances
• Not for – Readers who don’t like age-gap and forbidden romances

13. Give Me More

I picked up Give Me More immediately after I finished Praise because of two reasons. One, Sara Cate, and two, this book promised a polyamorous relationship which I was intrigued to read about. 

The story has the same sex club setting as Praise, with Hunter – (one of) our MMCs and (one of) the owners of the club. He’s married to Isabel, our FMC, and he gets his best friend Drake (the other MMC) on board for some renovations in the club. 

The absolute kicker is that Hunter wants to see his wife with another man/Isabel has the hots for Drake/Drake has been in love with Isabel and Hunter/Hunter is afraid to explore his bisexuality. I was like, DAMN, that’s a lot. 

So color me impressed by how delicately Cate handled the desires and hesitations of the characters, and how beautifully the story progressed. There’s a lot of space to explore in their relationship, and a lot of space to be vulnerable as well. My heart warmed for Drake, who’s hesitant to become a part of Hunter and Isabel’s relationship because he doesn’t want to risk losing the two people he loves.  

There’s a lot of emotion packed into the book so all the smut scenes are as intense as they are steamy. I think Sara Cate did even better in this book, capturing the relationship development of a throuple with all the accompanying spice. So if you want to dip your toes into a poly-read, Give Me More is a fantastic place to start.

• Best for – Fans of poly-romance and erotica
• Not for – Readers who like fluffy romances

14. American Queen

Sierra Simone is no stranger as I’ve read her scandalously sexy book, Priest. So when American Queen came up on my Goodreads feed, I added it to my TBR without so much as a glance at the blurb. And that’s how I found myself slack-jawed and wide-eyed at a book about best friends – the President and the Vice President of the US – falling for the same woman, who loves both of them. 

Yep, I was as astounded as you are. Not just at the complicated premise, but also at how masterfully Simone built the narrative. The story captures how Greer, our FMC, first meets Ash and falls for him, and then meets Embry four years later and falls for him too. Years later, the three of them meet in DC – Ash is the President of the US, Embry is the Vice President, and Greer, a lecturer in Georgetown. 

Ash loves Greer, Greer loves Ash, Embry loves Greer, Greer loves Embry and could Embry be loving Ash too? The entanglements were a mess, but were they also beautiful and had my heart breaking at the 3-way pining? Also yes. 

Their intimate scenes had this touch of longing at all times, which perfectly captured what they felt for each other. And for that reason (also because the spice is top notch), I kept reading them over and over again. This is a book that has to be in your TBR because you get a light political thriller tinged with love, longing, and jealousy from characters who just win your heart. The book has an angsty cliffhanger though, so be prepared to dedicate an entire weekend to the next two books when you start reading book 1 – American Queen.

• Best for – Fans of poly-romance and erotica
• Not for – Readers who don’t like cliffhangers and age-gap romances

15. Your Dad will Do

I love a woman who likes revenge, and that’s why I picked up this novella by Katee Robert about Lily, who, after her fiancé cheats on her, seduces his father to get back at her fiancé. 

This book is smutty as smutty can be. There’s a lot of dirty talk and daddy kink happening, and Lily, our FMC, who has been secretly fantasizing about Shane, the MMC, for a long time learns how far off her fantasies have been from reality. In fact, the reality is even hotter and dirtier than she imagined. 

Shane is the daddiest of daddies out there, taking care of his girl both physically and emotionally. With him, Lily starts to let go of the hurt caused by her fiancé’s betrayal. I’m telling you, the scene where her ex confronted her about sleeping with his father and how she responded will forever be iconic.

I didn’t expect to get attached to Lily and Shane because the book was pretty short, but they quickly grew on me and I found myself wishing for an HEA for the both of them. A sexy, smutty, and kinky one, but an HEA nonetheless. 

So if you want a quick read to get you breathless and blushing, I recommend giving this novella a try. Robert doesn’t disappoint at all.

• Best for – Fans of age-gap romance and daddy kink
• Not for – Readers who are sensitive to infidelity and age-gap romance

Here you are, at the end of my smut book list! A good smut book is a fantastic place to get lost in, whether you like your smut mild or cranked up all the way. There are choices for many smut levels and different kinds of smut, so pick up your favorite rec and sizzle your way through!

What to Read Next

If you want more smut to add to your TBR, take a look at my top 20 books from spicy booktok! These recs went straight from #spicytok to my finished-reading shelf within a span of a month, so I guarantee you some steamy, burning reads to keep you busy. Sexy reading, folks!

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