30 Best Erotic Novels Of All Time To Read

What comes to your mind first when you read the words ‘Erotic Novel’? 

Well unequivocally, it’s Fifty Shades of Grey that pops up in the twinkling of an eye whether you have read the erotic novel or not. 

But erotic novels are much more than the Red Room of Pain and handsome, billionaire Dominant with propinquity to BDSM. 

Erotic novels are sensual, kinky and are venerated by those who have tried reading them. This literary genre can invigorate your life in the ways you have never envisaged literature and fiction can.

Isabel Allende, the Chilean-American author of Eva Luna, once wrote, “For women, the best aphrodisiacs are words.” 

These lines are veracious not only for women but men too. For sure, we can watch some melting hot sex scenes in movies and web series, but words let you augment the ambit of your imagination, and you can just go wild, limitless than just watching what the producer wants you to show.

Erotic novels embolden people to sail into an erotic world that is partly contrived by their raunchy fascination because when words are given a salacious veer, the voluptuousness is what keeps us stuck to the pages.

Books filled with erotica can be extricating and it provides simply a new way to experience pleasures. With their wondrous language and artistic plots, it is hard to keep the books aside until you reach the last page.

To provide you with a sensual feeling with words, here is the list of the best erotic novels of all time. The novels are top-notch travail of fiction revitalized by fragments of lithe sentences that give rise to butterflies in your stomach and can knot all the nerves down there and everywhere.

 The virtuoso of erotic novels surely tops our list of erotic novels, but as you advance in the list, you’ll find lots of other best-selling authors and their skin-tingling imagery novels. 

Keep scrolling the list of erotic novels to know the best, steamy erotic novels out there.

1. Fifty Shades Trilogy by E.L. James

Starting our list of erotic novels with the most famed and record-breaking erotic novel trilogy of all time, the Fifty Shades trilogy weaves the story of Anastasia Steele, a college graduate, and Christian Grey, a young business magnate, and their dark and romantic relationship that flourishes with time. 

Christian instigates Ana into his esoteric world and the world of BDSM. 

The trilogy has these novels:

• Fifty Shades of Grey (2011)
• Fifty Shades Darker (2012)
• Fifty Shades Freed (2012)

E.L. James made her debut in 2011 with Fifty Shades of Grey. 

All of the three novels have made their way to the big screens

2. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses is an adult fantasy novel series by the American author Sarah J. Maas. 

The first book in the series was released in 2015 having the same title as the series name. 

The plot pirouettes around the odyssey of a young huntress, Feyre Archeron after she is dragged to the land of faeries, a legendary treacherous magical land for murdering a faerie. She and her captor, Tamlin, an immortal faerie, become enemies to lovers as the story takes action. 

The series has five novels:

• A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
• A Court of Mist and Fury (2016)
• A Court of Wings and Ruin (2017)
• A Court of Frost and Starlight (2018)
• A Court of Silver Flames (2021)

3. Bridgerton: The Duke And I by Julia Quinn

This erotic novel from our list is the first book in Julia's historical romance series The Bridgertons, published in the year 2000. 

Set in the high-society of London in the early 1800s, the novel tracks the story of Daphne Bridgerton, who meets and falls in love with the Duke of Hastings and her older brother’s best friend, Simon Bassett. 

The Bridgertons is also being turned into a Netflix series by Shonda Rhimes.

4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander is the first novel in the historical fantasy novel series Outlander. Claire Randall, the protagonist of the story, is a former British military nurse who reunites with her husband after World War II. 

But fate takes a turn as Claire travels back in time, to 18th-century Scotland. There she meets Jamie Fraser, a Highland warrior. The story proceeds as Claire vacillates between her desire for two men from two different centuries. 

The book was published in the year 1991 and is one of the best-selling novels of all time, which also bagged the Romance Writers of America's RITA Award for Best Romance. 

The book is also turned into an eight-part Netflix series.

5. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

This best-selling novel perfectly fits in the romance novel category, but wait till you find it also in the erotic novel category. 

Published in 2018, the story is about two strangers Alexa Monroe and Drew Nichols, who were brought together due to a power outage as they get stuck in an elevator. Drew asks Alexa to be his plus one for his ex’s wedding, and she agrees. 

The sparks start to fly between the strangers after Drew flies back to Los Angeles and Alexa heads home to Berkeley after acting as a fake significant other in the wedding. 

This erotic novel from our list of erotic novels will make you laugh, fall in love, and deep desire.

6. Temptation by Ivy Smoak

Temptation is the first book of the Hunted series and was published in 2015. 

The first installment of the series narrates the story of a college sophomore and her professor indulging in a steamy, forbidden affair. Penny Taylor, 19, bumps into a handsome young man in a coffee shop and falls for him straight away. 

But the next day, her world turns upside down as the handsome stranger turns out to be her communications professor James Hunter. Still, Penny can’t seem to dismiss the dreams and her fantasies of the alluring Professor Hunter. 

Though the book is filled with romance-novel clichés, it is worth reading when you are looking for an erotic novel.

7. Next in Line for Love by Harper Bliss

Next in Line for Love is a 2019 lesbian age-gap erotic novel by one of the bestselling authors Harper Bliss. 

This book in our list of erotic novels revolves around the life of Alexandra Ali Lennox who is asked by her father to move back to Los Angeles, after ten years of living abroad, and to take over Lennox Breweries, their family company. 

The company’s COO, Jill Gold is not at all at delight when she is asked to mentor the privileged trust-fund brat according to her. 

Despite Ali being treated with disdain by Jill, the two have to find a common ground for the sake of the company and each other. 

8. Tempted By You by Stephanie Nicole Norris

This erotic novel from our list of erotic novels is the ninth book from the Falling For A Rose series. Published in 2018, the story brings the lives together of Jasmine Alexandria Rose and Luke Steele. 

Jasmine belongs to one of the wealthiest families in Chicago, and also is a famous icon of a daytime soap opera. Despite having it all, nothing or no one sends her pulse to overdrive other than her brothers’ best friend, Luke. Luke is a major mayoral candidate and a professor at the University of Chicago. 

Having a dream to make a difference in his city, he’s got everything sorted. But one person that tempts him like nothing is Jasmine. 

Both of them find themselves in the middle of a forbidden love affair where hesitations and risks have made the domain.

9. The Dare by Lauren Landish

The book was published in 2020. For a risky dare given by her bestie, Elle tries to make a photocopy of her ass at her workplace. 

The bad day at work starts when her tall, dark, and handsome boss, Colton Wolfe, catches her red-handed. She is busted. 

But she might be able to make her way clear if she takes on the biggest dare of them all - to make her hot boss fall in love with her - and she, without any hesitation, takes it.

10. The Goode Governor by J.J. Arias

Published in 2019, this erotic novel from our list of erotic novels is the first installment of the lesbian romance series Goode Girl. 

Another plot that witnesses enemies turned lovers in our list of erotic novels, J.J. Arias has done a magnolias job while plotting the story of Georgia George Fernandez. A very serious governor, Georgia has announced her re-election campaign and she wants to win the race of a lifetime. 

But Mila, a young woman working as an exotic dancer and a recent graduate of Goode College, kicks off a scandal and intimidates the governor to hinder her run. 

The governor spins the mishap by offering the ambitious dancer a position at her office. 

Though their interactions are fraught with tension at the beginning, both the women find themselves in serious chemistry with each other.

11. Let Me Please You: A McClain Family Novella by Alexandria House

The fourth novella of the McClain Brothers series and published in 2019, it narrates the story of Kat McClain who is trying to find the remedy of the pain that has been left behind by a failed marriage to her childhood sweetheart, and Tommy Kirby who has been head over heels in love with Kat for long and wants a life with her. 

Kat wants to move on with her life. Being the only sister in a family of alpha males, she is adored and safeguarded by her brothers. 

But that’s not enough for her. Tommy has been a shelter to Kat’s brother since his teenage days, and now is a family friend of the McClain family. He has a perfect job and an almost perfect life. 

A family of his own would make his life complete and prosperous. Conceivably Kat and Tommy are the perfect matches for each other.

12. Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman

This erotic novel from our list of erotic novels has an engaging and fledging story. 

Beautifully plotted by André Aciman, set in 1980s Italy, it has the story of a young American-Italian-Jewish boy Elio Perlman who sparks a summer romance with a 24-year-old American-Jewish scholar Oliver who is a visitor for the summer to Elio’s family. 

Aciman’s erotic novel explores bisexuality and a romantic relationship between a couple of the same gender which is a different plot than the usual erotic novels we read.

13. Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton is the first book of The Cocktail series. Exquisitely, Clayton dishes out a hot and steamy tale between neighbors. 

Caroline Reynolds has just moved to her new San Francisco apartment, and she’s already been made familiar with the nocturnal sport of her neighbor. A new woman is banged on his bed every new night. 

The walls being thin as a sheet of paper, Caroline can hear everything in HD that happens at night in his neighbor’s room, from the loud moans of the individuals to the heavy thumps on the wall. 

Frustrated, she decides to square up to Simon Parker, her super-loud neighbor, for keeping her awake every night, and when she reaches his door, then she is eminently apprised with the fact that why women are noxiously beguiled by him. 

The book was published in 2012.

14. Mouth to Mouth by Cara Malone

This erotic novel from our list of erotic novels is the fifth and final installment of the Lakeside Hospital series. 

The medical romance series is published in 2020 and follows the story of Sarah, a passionate, people-pleasing paramedic, and Veronica, a hardened, iron-will ER nurse. 

Little sparks start to fly between them when one day Sarah went off her limits and passed out into Veronica’s arms.

15. Twice in a Lifetime by Clare Lydon

Twice in a Lifetime is written by one of the best-selling authors Clare Lydon. 

Published in 2017, the piquant and fascinating story of second-chance romance is of Harriet and Sally. Harriet Locke and Sally McCall were once lovebirds. 

But after Sally broke her heart and now after 17 long years has returned to her life, Harriet has some major trust issues to even give a second chance as she is not over the past yet. 

Even though both live in two different states and have a big barrier of trust issues between them, Sally is trying to prove that she’s worth giving a second chance.

16. Cinnamon Blade by Shira Glassman

A story of a superheroine, Cinnamon Blade is a crime fighter in her city which is threatened by aliens and vampires regularly. 

She has saved the sweet, nerdy, and attractive Soledad Castillo quite a few times from the bad guys, and their chemistry has grown much in that time. 

But how is it possible for a fighter to have a steady relationship when her city is constantly under threat? 

Full of high-heat romance and actions, this erotic novel from our list of erotic novels should be on your read list.

17. Sexy Dare by Carly Phillips

Sexy Dare weaves the story of Jason Dare, a billionaire nightclub owner, and Faith Lancaster, a candy store owner. 

Jason lives in New York City and is completely a guarded person. Due to his dark pasts, he doesn’t let anyone in but his family, and now he thought to negotiate when his eyes fell on the beautiful and sexy candy store owner. 

Faith has her share of dark pasts too. After she built up her store last year, she was quite ambitious and away from any desires until she met the alpha and irresistible Jason. 

Both get tangled into a steamy affair with their dark pasts hovering over them. 

This erotic novel was published in 2019.

18. Saving Savannah by Krista Wolf

Saving Savannah is a sizzling reverse harem love story written by Krista Wolf and published in 2020. 

The protagonist of the story, Savannah has just shifted to Salem, Massachusetts just weeks before Halloween. 

She hires three movers to help her out setting her new place and is titillated when she sees the college hunks. When the gorgeous movers offer to come back to help her unpack, pizza and a hot game of Truth and Dare burned up the bedroom. 

But Savannah’s past mistakes weren’t left behind as she left behind her old place. Therefore Erik, Zane, and Roman together share the burden of Savannah’s protection as they share her love, heart, and body. 

This erotic novel from our list is filled with suspense and fuming action and therefore is a must-read erotic novel.

19. Getting Down to Business by Nicolette Dane

Getting Down to Business was published in 2017 and centers on Amy Barnes. 

Amy prospers at everything - she is a manager of investor relations at a Chicago tech start-up and is a rising star, and she is has a flawless beauty and personality - but had bad luck with love. 

It is like to make Amy lucky in all prospects that Josephine Taft swooped in.

An attractive, rich, and accomplished tech investor, Taft is looking for a stake in Amy’s company, and probably in her heart too. 

20. Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren

This erotic novel is the second installment of the Beautiful series, and it follows the story of finance adept Sara Dillion and enticing, sexy Max Stella. 

Both of them, being the believers of no strings attached, meet at a New York City dance club destined by fate and where they have a sexy and fun night. 

But the walls fall apart when Sara’s inhibition is dissipated by Max and she makes him wonder that there’s much more for him outside the bedroom door. 

Soon enough, their no-strings-attached belief turns into something they didn’t think of. 

The book was published in 2013 and has also nabbed the place of the best romance of 2013 and has been an International bestselling erotic novel.

21. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

The Kiss Quotient is a debut novel of Helen Hoang as well as the first book in the series with the same name. 

The erotic novel is published in 2018 and is one of the famous erotic novels in our list of erotic novels. Do you ever think of ‘hiring’ someone to teach and take you through the different levels of romance? 

Well, Stella Lane thought so. Kept her reach away from the dating department, autistic Stella is a novice compared to an average 30-year-old. Her career has been everything to her until now. 

She reckons that she needs a lot of practice, and so she hires Michael Phan, an escort, to show her the ropes. 

The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner agrees to help her and mark off all the boxes, from foreplay to more-than-missionary position.

22. The Rose by Tiffany Reisz

This erotic novel from our list of erotic novels is the second part of The Godwick series written by Reisz. 

The novel was published in 2019 and tells the story of Lia and August. As a graduation gift, Lia receives a beautiful wine cup, a recherché artifact decorated with roses, from her parents on the day of her university graduation party. 

Just then, August Bowman, a family friend, and a party attendee saw the stunning Rose Kylix and tells Lia that the artifact is inculcated with the power to bring the most amatory sensual fantasies to life. 

Lia being cynical of his pretenses is dared by August to try it out, and then only both of them got to know how powerful and dangerous the ancient relic is. 

After living the sexiest fantasy with August, Lia is warier to give it up to him, so she trades it in a different way, which indicated their lives and fantasies.

23. Beauty and the Professor by Skye Warren

Beauty and the Professor is the first installment in A Modern Fairy Tale duet written by Skye Warren. 

The erotic novel tells the story of Erin, a college girl, and her encounter with her professor. Erin cleans the house of a sequestered ex-soldier Blake Morris twice a week to earn and pay for her college tuition. 

Accidentally, on a usual day, Erin finds Moris touching himself and that aroused deep, dark, and erotic feelings inside her. Morris, on the other hand, is secretly besotted with Erin but doubts that he will ever be worthy of her. 

Despite being irascible and antisocial, he hopes for a chance with the beautiful and smart Erin when he accepts and becomes an associate professor at his alma mater. 

But fate has other plans as the professor finds out the college girl among his students.

24. When Love Calls by Sharon C. Cooper

When Love Calls is surely one of the books from our list of erotic novels that teaches us to give love a second chance no matter what. 

Published in 2020, it laces the lives of Mona Lisa Gregory and Dexter Jenkins together. Mona dated only one man for 35 long years, and now she wants to live a life with no strings attached. 

Dexter, being an old-school guy, believes in falling in love and spending the rest of his life with only one woman. 

Despite having different beliefs about love and sex, he wants Mona to be his forever and can’t simply brush aside the burning passion they share.

25. The Mister by E.L. James

E.L. James is pertinacious after her successful debut with the Fifty Shades trilogy and she is back again in our list of erotic novels with another erotic novel. The Mister is a romance novel published in 2019, and the plot revolves around Londoner Maxim Trevelyan, an English aristocrat, who had it all ever since birth, but inherits everything from his family after his elder brother passes away. Life of Maxim has already taken turns but Alessia Demachi, another major turn, comes into his life. The mysterious Alessia trips Trevelyan unlike he has ever been before, and his desire for her instigates into an incandescent vehemence.

26. A Lesson In Thorns by Sierra Simone

A Lesson In Thorns was published in the year 2019 and has a story both recondite and erotic.

A contemporary romantic and erotic novel, the story centers on a librarian Poe Markham who takes up a job to manage the private library at a grand manor named Thornchapel, thinking she would find the answers to her mother’s death at the manor, as it is where she was last seen. 

She needed to keep a good distance from Auden Guest, the owner of the house, but is it easier said than done? 

While Poe unravels secrets of the house, she is drawn to Auden’s debonair and seductive world and his worst enemy, the handsome St. Sebastian.

27. Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill

Bad Behaviour is an erotic novel that is a collection of nine short erotic stories. Published in 1988, Gaitskill made her debut with this short-story collection. 

The tales explore the fields of fierce, raw modern love, sex, and obsession. 

The title of the short stories in the erotic novel is:

• Daisy's Valentine
• A Romantic Weekend
• Something Nice
• An Affair
• Connection
• Trying to be
• Secretary
• Other Factors
• Heaven

The short story ‘Secretary’ got very famous and was turned into a motion picture which was released in 2002.

28. What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell

Garth Greenwell made his debut in 2016 with What Belongs To You, a remarkable novel about lust and passion and its denouements. 

An American teacher meets a magnetic young hustler, Mitko, in a public bathroom and pays him for sex.

The one-time encounter leads the teacher to return to Mitko over and over again out of loneliness, desire, and lust.

29. A Sport and a Pastime by James Salter

This erotic novel from our list of erotic novels has a somber and juvenile story. 

The narrator bystanders the venereal fling between Anne Marie, a young French girl and Phillip Dean, an American college dropout. 

The story is set in France in the early 1960s. It was published in 1967, during the decade in which America faced a sexual revolution.

30. Crossfire series by Sylvia Day

The Crossfire series focuses on the growing romantic but complicated relationship of Eva Tramell and a young billionaire Gideon Cross. Both being the survivors of abusive pasts, they try to heal each other. 

The novels in this series are:

• Bared to You (2012)
• Reflected in You (2012)
• Entwined with You (2013)
• Captivated by You (2014)
• One with You (2016)

Just like the Fifty Shades trilogy, this series also explores the darkest pleasures between Cross and Tramell but without BDSM. 

Their filthy, holy pleasure and pain yet romantic relationship will keep you hooked.

Nothing increases the temperature quite like erotic fiction, and sadly our list of erotic novels ends here. But that doesn’t mean you should stop expanding your horizons in this literary genre. 

Read all the erotic novels that made their way on our list, and find out yourself what you like to read; whether it’s BDSM, hot steamy sex between student and professor, or irresistible chemistry between a couple of the same gender, and choose out yourself your next read other than those mentioned in our list of erotic novels.

Each of these books has the competency to elongate one’s apprehension of sexuality. 

Put these erotic novels in your reading list and get ready to explore the world of sensuality differently. Happy Reading!

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