11 Summer Romance Books So Steamy You Won’t Want Anyone Reading over Your Shoulder
One thing is for sure, you'll want to keep those pages UNDER that umbrella
Love is having a moment, thanks to BookTok, Bookstagram and the age-old word-of-mouth recommendations. Truly, it seems readers of all ages just can’t get enough of romance—and that includes men, too! According to a Thriftbooks survey, 63% of men regularly read romance, compared to 60% of women. We get it! After all, what’s not to love? Romance books offer us hope, relatable heroines and hunky heroes, an emotional escape and a guaranteed happy ending (usually after one or two frustrating or funny roadblocks).
But let’s not forget the love scenes—a key aspect of so many romances, especially the spicy ones! While many romance readers like their love stories with a kiss or two and a hint at steamier scenes, millions more prefer a bit (or a lot!) more spice, and authors are certainly delivering, from Ali Hazelwood’s steamy romances to Tessa Bailey’s bestselling novel Fangirl Down, which one reader says was so spicy her “Kindle almost burst into flames.”
Keep scrolling to discover our 11 favorite spicy romance books. These sizzling reads are guaranteed to make you blush, so be careful reading in public! Some of these scenes are so steamy your toes will start to curl. Maybe that helps explain why a whopping 89% of romance book sales are e-books (makes it easier to hide what’s been the pages!).
‘Fangirl Down’ by Tessa Bailey
Beloved romance author Tessa Bailey’s first sports romance is a sizzling and hilarious tale. The story follows down-and-out professional golf player Wells Whitaker and his #1 fan, Josephine Doyle. Josephine always shows up for Wells. He grumbles, she smiles. He huffs, she cheers. So when Wells finally quits and his fangirl disappears, he quickly realizes he’s made a mistake. Determined to get back in the game, he hatches a plan: ask Josephine to be his caddy and help turn his game around—then they’ll split the prize money. Currently, Josephine’s life is in shambles so she accepts his offer. What transpires next is a battle of wills — and hearts. At its core, the novel is an emotional story of love and loyalty.
What readers are saying: “Let’s talk about the important thing: STEAM. Good Lord, was this book spicy as hell. The dirty talk was epic, and that shower scene. My Kindle almost burst into flames. Tessa Bailey always brings heat and this book had HEEEEEEAT.”
‘The Paradise Problem’ by Christina Lauren
The bestselling author duo known as Christina Lauren writes unputdownable romance, and their new novel delivers! Artist Anna Green married Liam “West” Weston four years ago for access to housing while at UCLA, and she thought she signed divorce papers after they graduated. Now, West is set to receive an inheritance…but only if he’s been married for five years. Can they both act the part without catching real feelings?
What readers are saying: “I loved how the love story between our main characters developed. And let me tell you, the spice was totally spicing! THE kitchen scene?!?! 🥵🥵🥵🔥🔥🔥.”
‘The Deal’ by Elle Kennedy
The first in the beloved Off Campus series follows Hannah Wells after she agrees to tutor hockey star—and playboy—Garret Graham. But goals aren’t the only gorgeous thing about Graham, and soon Hannah finds herself falling head over hockey stick for him. This novel is perfect for fans of steamy sports romance books.
What readers are saying: “Every single interaction between Hannah and Garrett was perfection…They slowly form a friendship and fall into so much more. It must be mentioned that the intensity of their sex scenes was completely palpable and electric!”
‘The Spanish Love Deception’ by Elena Armas
Bestselling author Elena Armas is beloved for her spicy, swoon-worthy novels, and this story is no exception. Catalina “Lina” Martin is stressed about attending her sister’s wedding without a date, so when her arch nemesis and coworker, Aaron Blackford, offers to be her plus-one, she can’t refuse. What follows is a trip to Spain and a series of events that make Lina realize Aaron is very far from what she expected.
What readers are saying: “If you’re looking for a steamy romance with lots of great build-up between the characters and an almost flawless male hero, look no further! I could feel the heat rising between the two main characters, making me blush as I read.”
‘Not in Love’ by Ali Hazelwood
Sparks fly between the two main characters from the start in this spicy story from Ali Hazelwood. Rue Siebert has a small but steady group of friends, a great career as a biotech engineer at Kline (a start-up in the field of food science) and a stable daily routine. That is, until there’s a company takeover led by a devastatingly handsome man named Eli. To make matters worse, Rue and Eli met on a dating app and hit it off before the takeover. Now, Rue tries to ignore Eli and team up with her colleagues to somehow beat this new company at their own game. But when Rue and Eli start a secret no-strings-attached affair, the fiery feelings between them prove that sometimes love is found in the most unexpected places.
What readers are saying: “This book is Ali’s steamiest yet. Not only the amount of scenes, which is more than 5, but also the content of said scenes, which is very intense.”
‘Chasing Her Fire’ by Claire Kingsley
From bestselling author Claire Kingsley comes another steamy and sizzling tale. After accidentally getting together with his mortal enemy, Cara Goulding, firefighter Logan Bailey is reluctant to admit that it was the best night of his life. Now, the two are avoiding each other, but there are only so many places they can hide in their small town, and soon Logan and Cara find themselves reluctantly spending more and more time together. What follows is an unforgettable love story filled with heat and humor.
What readers are saying: “The steam was off the charts and I definitely needed a glass of ice water to cool down because WOW! These two will have you laughing, crying, smiling, and just falling in love with them over and over again as you read their story.”
‘A Scot in the Dark’ by Sarah MacLean
In this sweeping, steamy and achingly romantic tale, bestselling author Sarah Maclean dazzles. Lillian Hargrove has spent more of her life alone, so when she gets the chance to model for an artist, she takes it. Soon, though, the painting becomes public, and Lily’s reputation is ruined, leaving her no choice but to turn to the Scottish Duke of Warnick for help. A swoon-worthy story that is perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers tales and Bridgerton aficionados.
What readers are saying: “Both characters were toying with each others buttons and it was so enjoyable. And like all Sarah MacLean it had some good steam! 🥵 And some good ol’ carriage hookups. And I adore a grumpy highlander. They make me weak.”
‘Twisted Love’ by Ana Huang
From bestselling author Ana Huang comes a dark romance that is sure to stun. The ghosts of her past haunt Ava Chen, but for some reason, that all disappears when she looks at her brother’s best friend and neighbor, Alex Volkov. Thankfully, he feels the same way, but as the two begin to connect, secrets start to emerge that could ruin both of them forever. A page-turning, twisty tale perfect for fans of dark romance.
What readers are saying: “Suffice it to say, Alex is a brooding anti-hero and Ava is the perfect foil for his lone wolf persona. Their shared history cultivates an easy intimacy and when the two of them get together they can burn the house down. Spicy hot! This is such a page turner and an emotional rollercoaster. I couldn’t put it down and it never stopped surprising me. A great read!”
‘The Jewel of the Isle’ by Kerry Rea
Adventure and opposites attract abound in this romantic comedy written by Kerry Rea. Determined to complete her late father’s bucket list of traveling to all the national parks, Emily Edwards hires Ryder Fleet to take her to the wolf-ridden Isle Royale National Park. The only problem? Ryder isn’t a real tour guide. And to make matters worse, on their first day there, Emily and Ryder witness both a murder and a jewel robbery. Now the two must figure out how to survive in the woods, outrun murderous archaeologists and learn how to navigate their feelings…before it’s too late.
What readers are saying: “I was initially drawn to this book because of the gorgeous cover, but once I dove in, I learned it was way more than that. Filled with laugh-out-loud moments, a fun adventure and a spicy, swoon-worthy love story you can’t help but root for, The Jewel of the Isle was a perfect summer read.”
‘Mile High’ by Liz Tomforde
This spicy sports romance novel follows Stevie, a flight attendant who soon finds herself falling for one of her passengers. After meeting the gorgeous hockey player Zanders on a flight, Stevie finds herself drawn to him, despite the fact that he is the country’s most notorious playboy. But as the two begin to spend more time together, Zanders’ true personality begins to show, and Stevie starts to question everything. What follows is a perfect blend of falling in love with yourself and someone else.
What readers are saying: “ The story is a perfect blend of romance and drama, with just the right amount of steam to keep things interesting.”
‘Overruled’ by Lana Ferguson
Lana Ferguson is no stranger to spice, and her latest workplace romance novel is no exception. Danica Pierce is a divorce lawyer who is perfectly fine with letting her cases keep her warm at night. Ezra Hart, however, is not. Also a divorce lawyer, he is determined to get Danica to see that there is more to him than meets the eye, and after they both end up on opposing sides of a case, that might just happen. What follows is a steamy story filled with banter and emotional baggage.
What readers are saying: “I enjoyed this steamy romance so much! The chemistry between Danica and Ezra, the banter, the emotional depth of past wounds, and the spice made this an absolutely delicious romcom. I was hooked from the first page and swooning for Ezra the whole time.”
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