If You Loved Fifty Shades of Grey, You’ll Love These 7 Erotic Romance Novels

As someone who’s a big fan of romance in fiction, I think it’s safe to say that erotica comes with the territory. In about 95% of romance novels, there’s always that moment where the tension has been simmering, glances have been exchanged, and then… boom. The main characters finally give in, and everything changes.

But not all sex scenes are created equal. What makes erotic romance so gripping is that the physical intimacy isn’t just hot for the sake of being hot, but it’s also emotional, charged, and vulnerable. The same way we’re drawn into the chemistry, banter, and emotional rollercoaster of the love story, we want to be just as drawn into the intimacy. And if there’s one book that truly brought that combination to the mainstream, it’s Fifty Shades of Grey.

Now, I’ll admit that I’m more of a fan of the film series, but I can’t deny the book's cultural impact. It opened up an entire genre to readers who didn’t even know they needed erotic romance. And since then, the genre has grown so much. There are books out there that are way better written, with more layered characters, emotional depth, and yes, spicy scenes that could fog up your glasses.

So, if Fifty Shades gave you your first taste and you’re craving something deeper, darker, or just plain delicious, here are 7 erotic romance novels you need to add to your to-be-read list, stat:

This one’s for the why choose? girlies. It’s an enemies-to-lovers meets forced proximity, but with a twist—it’s her and three guys. Yes, it’s a reverse harem rockstar romance and B.B. Reid doesn’t hold back.

Lilac is hired as the lead guitarist for an all-male band who don’t want her there, and the tension is feral. What follows is a messy, passionate, and deeply addictive story that explores grief, music, and unconventional love. If you loved the taboo feel of Christian and Ana’s dynamic, you’ll fall hard for this edgy slow burn. 

Price: $14.99. Where To Buy: Shop Amazon.

Want scandal? Meet Father Bell, a Catholic priest battling temptation when a young woman confesses the most erotic details of her life to him. This is the ultimate forbidden romance, written with lush prose and an almost poetic level of intensity.

Simone writes on sex, obsession, redemption, and desire that feels sacred and dangerous all at once. You’ll never look at a confessional booth the same way again. 

Price: $10.26. Where To Buy: Shop Amazon.

L.J. Shen is known for her morally grey heroes and angst-drenched romances. This book brings you all that and more. It’s enemies-to-lovers with a devastating emotional core. The book tells the story of Cal who returns to her hometown to stay by her grieving mother when her father passes away. She then reconnects with Dylan, her childhood best friend who she has both wonderful and traumatic memories with. 

The sex scenes are hot, sure, but what makes them hit harder is the emotional vulnerability wrapped around them. If you loved the push-pull of Christian and Ana’s relationship, you’ll enjoy this darker, grittier take. Price: $16.99. Where To Buy: Shop Amazon.

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This one’s a sports romance with an enemies-to-lovers twist, and it’s deliciously satisfying. It’s a baseball romance that follows the story of Isaiah, a baseball player, and Kennedy, the team’s athletic trainer. They get married on a whim in Las Vegas and decide to stay married for a whole semester. 

Liz Tomforde writes female leads who hold their own and male leads who grovel just the way we like it. The banter is top tier, the tension is slow burn perfection, and the spice is worth the wait. If you like a build-up that pays off in steamy, emotionally rich scenes, this is your next binge read. 

Price: $15.66. Where To Buy: Shop Amazon.

This book gives brooding single dad meets chaotic sunshine girl in the best possible way. Ford Grant, a billionaire music mogul named the World’s Hottest Billionaire by Forbes, retreats to the quiet town of Rose Hill to open a recording studio and escape his life. But peace is short-lived when a twelve-year-old shows up claiming to be his daughter. While trying to learn how to parent on the fly, Ford finds himself very distracted by Rosie Belmont, his best friend’s wild and utterly irresistible little sister.

Rosie, newly back from the city and desperate for a fresh start, begs Ford for a job. He gives in, swearing he’ll keep things professional, but the chemistry between them makes that promise impossible to keep. If you’re into small-town romance with edge, steam, and emotional depth, Wild Love will hit all the right spots.

Price: ₦12,300. Where To Buy: Shop Book Peddler.

Yes, that Ali Hazelwood, famous for The Love Hypothesis. This time, she dives headfirst into a STEM-spicy story with a little more heat than her earlier works. Expect smart heroines, forbidden workplace dynamics, and explosive chemistry. The Deep End shows that you can have intellectual characters and toe-curling sex scenes. Don’t let the lab coats fool you because this one’s hot. 

Price: ₦11,900. Where To Buy: Shop Book Peddler.

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For fans of power play, dominance, and the “touch her and die” trope, Praise hits the spot. It kicks off the Salacious Players Club series, where older men meet younger women in a world of praise kink and emotional healing.

In the book, Emerson runs a club and hires Charlie as his secretary but it turns out that she is his son’s ex-girlfriend. Yes, I know! There’s an age gap trope here and Charlie experiments on her sexual life with Emerson being more than willing to show her different levels of pleasure.  

Sara Cate doesn’t only write spice for spice’s sake; her characters are flawed, learning, and growing. The kink is handled with care and consent, which actually makes it sexy and safe.

Price: ₦17,640. Where To Buy: Shop School Store.

Erotic romance isn’t just about the steam, it’s also about connection. The best ones make you ache, yearn, and root for the characters in and out of the bedroom.

If you started with Fifty Shades of Grey, congratulations, you’ve officially opened Pandora’s box. These seven novels go beyond what Fifty Shades of Grey introduced, with richer writing, better dynamics, and steam levels that’ll have you reaching for a fan.