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Welcome to Long Live the Sex Scene, a special project by Cosmopolitan that explores why these steamy television and movie moments truly matter, especially right now. Join us as we rewind, replay, and then rewind them all over again.
Spicy books have all but taken over BookTok, and romance novels—already the most popular fiction genre in America—saw a significant jump in sales last year. We’ve all been feeling feeling the heat over best-selling dragon rider sex (Fourth Wing), drooling as myths turn into steamy realities (Neon Gods), and soaking up some kink (Lights Out). Even sex scenes in mainstream fiction books are getting longer, hotter, and bolder.
At Cosmopolitan, we’ve been making “best erotic novels” lists for years, but lately there’s been so much great sex and romance in popular fiction, we had to do another roundup. Haven’t devoured any yet? These reads will get you started. And while you’re at at, keep an eye out for more can’t-look-away sexual tension and reread-worthy sex scenes in our very own upcoming books (two of which are below!) published by Cosmo Reads, launching this October.
Let’s be honest here: We’ve all read some spicy fan fiction at some point. Iman Hariri-Kia’s Female Fantasy bridges fiction and reality in this unique (and very hot) ode to the romance genre.
Bodyguard romances have recently become one of our favorite tropes. They protect us, but they also have the power to break us. The hero knows exactly what he’s doing in Lauren Blakely’s latest small-town romance.
In a sequel to the hit Salacious Player’s Club series, Sara Cate introduces a new generation of sexy BDSM practitioners who aren’t afraid to show off exactly what they want. It’s very possible you’ll uncover some new desires of your own while reading.
Loving someone is easy, but hating them raises all the stakes. This enemies-to-lovers plotline follows what happens when a healer is forced to help a killer. Let’s just say that along the way, they get to know each other in more ways than one.
Carley Fortune’s previous books tend to be tamer than most of the others on this list, but she really turns up the heat in her latest. Proof that best-selling authors are getting more comfortable making things explicit.
The “why choose?” genre, where monogamy is not the goal, has upended the steamy book space. Elle Kennedy’s college campus romance reminds us that we all have options—and that when it comes to sex, sometimes more is more.
Omegaverse (a genre typically centered around werewolves) has moved from fan fiction to the mainstream. Lana Ferguson adds a fake relationship between coworkers that will change how you think about work trips.
Bodice rippers have long been set in the past, but recent titles offer more representation than ever. Here, a rum heiress who’s determined not to fall in love has to marry before she can take over the family business.
Bisexuality is still woefully underrepresented in popular fiction, but writers like Ashley Herring Blake are filling the void with stories that feature characters looking for love beyond heteronormativity.
An erotica writer and an award-winning novelist reunite in this incredibly sexy second-chance romance. Tia Williams is a master at building tension that pays off while also spinning a love story that will leave you panting.
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