Don’t even feel the need to explain why you clicked on this. I get it, girl! Sometimes the only kind of reading you can do is about something captivatingly steamy – but we’re in public! Long gone are the days of “romance” novels only having shirtless men on the covers. Today, true smut lies behind cartoon and moody rose covers, instead.
Read that passionate sex scene filled with raunchy details in the middle of the library – Chad on excel next to you will be none the wiser. The only people who will know just how illicit you are getting are those who have done the same.
Caution: *some* spoilers ahead, but also is it even a secret that the couple eventually has sex? You decide.
My Best Reads
“Walking Red Flag” by Morgan Elizabeth – 4/5
My goodreads review: “I don’t wanna talk about how I finished this in one day so I won’t! Steamy and sexy and fun and lighthearted, a good little read!”
“The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang – 5/5
My goodreads review: “The build up, the way that men doing the bare minimum will make me swoon, but Michael had me weak in the knees. Has really enjoyable plot outside of the steam, which makes the steam all the more worth it. Would read again”
“The Love Hypothesis” by Ali Hazelwood – 4/5
My goodreads review: “I liked this book! I thought there would be more frequent spice from what everyone says about the book, but I was happy with the amount in there. I lived for the slow burn of it all and the poking fun at the fake dating trope while actively doing it.”
Tessa Bailey
She deserves her own section for practically inventing this genre. I picked up all 3 of these books before spring break last year for a fun romance read by the pool, and I got much more than I bargained for. Perfectly spicy, fun, romantic and captivating. If you see anything by Tessa Bailey, pick it up and prepare to finish it in a day or two.
“Love Her or Lose Her” by Tessa Bailey – 4/5
My goodreads review: “So so spicy. loved it. A bit cliche and I don’t love the whole military trope but I love how it intertwined with tools of engagement even though I unknowingly read them in the wrong order”
“Tools of Engagement” by Tessa Bailey – 4/5
My goodreads review: “This shit was raunchy as hell I made the mistake of reading this in the car around people”
“It Happened One Summer” by Tessa Bailey – 4/5
My goodreads review: “Hello! Steam city over here. Brendan awakened something in me too much for someone named Brandon. I picked this up after seeing a tiktok with a few … choice lines picked out, and let’s just say that she delivered.”
On My List
“Heartbreak for Hire” by Sonia Hartl
Goodreads summary: “To everyone in the academic world she left behind, she lost it all when she dropped out of grad school. Once a rising star following in her mother’s footsteps, she’s now an administrative assistant at an insurance agency—or so they think.
In reality, Brinkley works at Heartbreak for Hire, a secret service that specializes in revenge for jilted lovers, frenemies, and long-suffering coworkers with a little cash to spare and a man who needs to be taken down a notch. It might not be as prestigious as academia, but it helps Brinkley save for her dream of opening an art gallery and lets her exorcize a few demons, all while helping to empower women.
But when her boss announces she’s hiring male heartbreakers for the first time, Brinkley’s no longer so sure she’s doing the right thing—especially when her new coworker turns out to be a target she was paid to take down. Though Mark spends his days struggling up the academic ladder, he seems to be the opposite of a backstabbing adjunct: a nerd at heart in criminally sexy sweater vests who’s attentive both in and out of the bedroom. But as Brinkley finds it increasingly more difficult to focus on anything but Mark, she soon realizes that like herself, people aren’t always who they appear to be.”
“Hook, Line and Sinker” by, yes Tessa Bailey
Goodreads summary: “King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he’s a guaranteed good time–in bed and out–and that’s exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She’s immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his… personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.
Now, Hannah’s in town for work, crashing in Fox’s spare bedroom. She knows he’s a notorious ladies’ man, but they’re definitely just friends. In fact, she’s nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport’s resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker’s eye… yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can’t deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.
Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she’s walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and… and… man overboard! He’s fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he’s all in, she’ll choose him instead?”
“Icebreaker” by Hannah Grace
Goodreads summary: “Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA.
A competitive figure skater since she was five years old, a full college scholarship thanks to her place on the Maple Hills skating team, and a schedule that would make even the most driven person weep, Stassie comes to win.
No exceptions.
Nathan Hawkins has never had a problem he couldn’t solve. As captain of the Maple Hills Titans, he knows the responsibility of keeping the hockey team on the ice rests on his shoulders.
When a misunderstanding results in the two teams sharing a rink, and Anastasia’s partner gets hurt in the aftermath, Nate finds himself swapping his stick for tights, and one scary coach for an even scarier one.
The pair find themselves stuck together in more ways than one, but it’s fine, because Anastasia doesn’t even like hockey players…right?”
Where to buy
If you are in Boulder head to Trident Booksellers & Café or Boulder Bookstore to support local businesses when buying your next read! You can also look up your local library or thrift a copy anywhere in the U.S..