Here’s a list of 10 Must-Read Erotic Novels
True, these days we have such a treasure trove of erotic movies, series, and porn at our disposal that you might ask yourself why you’d even bother reading a book anymore.
But there’s still nothing quite like hitting the beach with a sexy, enticing book that you can disappear into. Here’s a list of 10 must-read erotic novels for your summer beach adventures this year!
1. Fifty Shades of Grey, E.L. James
If you haven’t gotten around to reading the book that took the world by storm in 2011, stop making excuses and start reading! Though it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, ‘Fifty Shades’ is definitely a phenomenon in the world of erotic fiction.
British housewife E.L. James made waves when she suddenly came out with her first ‘Fifty Shades’ book in 2011, an erotic novel that follows the relationship between college graduate Anastasia Steele and young business magnate Christian Grey, who introduces the young woman, Anastasia to the world of BDSM.
The best part? ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ is the first part of a trilogy, followed by ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ and ‘Fifty Shades Freed’. Enough material to keep you occupied for quite some time…
2. Tropic of Cancer, Henry Miller
‘Tropic of Cancer’ was first published in Paris in 1934, but was banned in the US until 1964 on the grounds of being obscene.
This classic is part autobiography, part fiction, and follows the protagonist’s bohemian, nomadic Paris life in the ‘20s and ‘30s. The book is filled to the brim with his explicit sexual encounters
3. Delta of Venus, Anais Nin
‘Delta of Venus’ is a collection of 15 short stories by Anais Nin, written as erotica for a private
collector in the 1940s. It’s filled with enticing stories about nude models posing for artists and the likes. Nin was one of the first women to explore the field of erotic writing, and many consider her to be one of the best writers of female erotica.
4. The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl, Belle de Jour
Belle de Jour is the pen name of Brooke Magnanti, an American-born British writer who supplemented her income while completing her Ph.D. in London by working as a high-end call girl.
While working as a call girl, she started writing her blog, Diary of a London Call Girl, under the pseudonym Belle de Jour.
The blog soon became massively popular and was voted Blog of the Year by The Guardian in 2003. In 2005, her blogs were published as ‘The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl’. The book is teeming with Belle’s sexual encounters, offering a sexy and honest account of a modern-day call girl.
5. The Sookie Stackhouse Novels/The Southern Vampire Mysteries, Charlaine Harris
Is there really anything sexier than vampires these days? ‘Twilight’, ‘The Vampire Diaries’, ‘Only Lovers Left Alive’, and above all, ‘True Blood’ - everyone wants to get in on the vampire action.
‘True Blood’, by far the sexiest vampire series, may have aired its final season a while back, but you can allow yourself endless hours of sexy pleasure by reading the series of books that inspired ‘True Blood’: Charlaine Harris’ ‘The Sookie Stackhouse Novels/The Southern Vampire Mysteries’.
With 14 books in the series, this should keep you entertained for a while. Harris’ writing is endlessly seductive and keeps you coming back for more.
6. Written on the Body, Jeanette Winterson
This seductive novel chronicles the affair between the gender-ambiguous protagonist and a confused and complex married woman. It’s an incredible love story and a philosophical text.
When Winterson writes sex scenes they are so enticing and visceral it’s as if you’re experiencing them yourself. A deeply layered, captivating novel that’s not only extremely erotic but also deeply intelligent.
7. Fingersmith, Sarah Waters
Sarah Waters’ ‘Fingersmith’ is one of the sexiest lesbian works of fiction out there. Set in Victorian-era England, the erotic book follows the relationship between an orphan and petty thief Sue and wealthy heiress Maud.
Sue poses as Maud’s maid and is meant to convince Maud to marry Richard ‘Gentleman’ Rivers, so he can get his hands on her money. However, Sue and Maud soon develop a deep friendship and an even stronger physical attraction.
The sex scenes are not overly graphic but just subtle and seductive enough to get your imagination going for hours. The book was adapted by BBC in 2005, and more recently inspired the critically acclaimed ‘Handmaiden’ by South-Korean director Park Chan-wook.
8. Call Me By Your Name, Andre Aciman
This book was recently adapted to the screen in the silky, sensual, erotically-charged movie of the same name by Luca Guadagnino, starring Armie Hammer as the dashing American scholar visiting Elio’s family house in Italy for the summer.
The two soon start dancing around each other as their desire for each other becomes more and more palpable, ultimately leading to an explosive romantic and sexual relationship. Desire and lust have rarely been written so all-consumingly.
9. The Sexual Life of Catherine M., Catherine Millet
‘The Sexual Life of Catherine M.’ has been described as the female, totally autobiographical version of ‘Tropic of Cancer’. The book follows Millet’s sexual escapades in Paris in bold graphic detail.
She writes about orgies with up to 150 people and contemplates the best spots to have sex. Definitely a sexy read if ever there was one!
10. Bad Behavior, Mary Gaitskill
A collection of short stories in which each story explores a different facet of sexuality. Bondage, whips, sadomasochism - Gaitskill covers it all. The stories are provocative, sometimes dark, and filled with desire and longing.
This selection offers you erotic classics and more contemporary sex-fuelled novels that explore sex and desire in a vast variety of styles. There’s something here for everyone.
Written by
Mindy Cordova
