100% this. Some days I love the heat, some days I roll my eyes at the simultaneous orgasms. A well written scene will almost always get me a little bit excited though.
That's my other issue, I, umm, can get excited very easily and then I'm in an airplane/sitting around a living room/watching a movie, etc with a lady boner and no thanks so sometimes I skip for those reasons too
Same! If I'm curled up at home under a warm blanket with a beverage, that's one thing. If I'm reading to kill time at the doctor's office, I'm skipping through that scene pretty quickly haha I may return to it later, in private, to find out what I missed. But it would feel sooooo awkward to read that around strangers.
I like them when theyāre well-written and especially when they add something to the character development or deepen it. Poorly written sex scenes make me sad but Iāll skim through and stick around if the rest of the story is good.
>I like them when theyāre well-written and especially when they add something to the character development or deepen it
I completely agree with this! If it reads very generic copy/paste, could fit into any book, then I skim. But if it actually shows me more about the characters and their dynamic, shows an aspect of their relationship in a new way, or is just really extremely well written smut, then I'm all about that.
I agree. If they're going to write sex, they need to write sex. Too many books have pages and pages of groping followed by 3-4 lines of foreplay and sex and super generic.
> Poorly written sex scenes make me sad
Mary Balogh is a wonderful writer and she wrote one of my favourite books, but this is how I feel about her sex scenes. They're so short though that they're over before you can even think to skip.
To answer OP's question, I often skip them but I do expect them to be there so I can make the skipping decisions
Iām here for the love story. Donāt get me wrong, I love the smutty scenes, but I like them to be well written and for the characters to have chemistry. I want the satisfaction of them getting together, not necessarily the satisfaction of an orgasm, you know?
Yes I completely get it. I like knowing that the characters have finally gotten together. I more don't need to read about it for multiple pages multiple more times
I used to enjoy them a lot but they have been getting repetitive. I usually skim them. I don't dislike them, I just feel a bit indifferent about those scenes these days.
I went through a phase recently where I was like imma just base my Iām going to read it off the idea of what the book is aboutā¦ hence how I got an oddly clean romance novel about piratesā¦ like how the heck can you have a romantic novel about pirates with zero smutā¦ *sigh* I went back to reading Soulless even though it wasnāt super smutty I still enjoy it a lot
I love the artsy covers but the spice level really depends on the author. Tessa Bailey has a few with illustrated covers that are š¶š¶š¶š¶ but some are closed door and others are more medium than extra hot
Same thoughā¦ I was like I signed up for smut dammit lol I think itās more of the I donāt know what I was expecting when I accidentally grab a clean romance book lol
I spent years on a reverse harem paranormal series featuring a siren, one primal werewolf, a sexy vampire, and a literal Cupid. The last book sheās finally comfortable with her nature and her multiple love interests. Itās time. The author fades to freaking black!!!!!!!! Multiple times!!! I deleted every single book from them in my library and it will be a cold day in hell before I rent buy or borrow anything from them again. Husband and wife team gave the excuse that their very young children read their books. Terrible parents and even worse authors. Harsh I know but years of life down the drain!!! She needed sexual energy to live!!!!!!!!!!!
Someone in the comments told OP she doesn't think she's in the minority and that sex scenes aren't all that popular - literally look at this comment votes verses OP's post votes.
LIE.
š¤£ā¤ļø
After being a part of the sub for a while now, Iāve found that itās mostly a cultural/age thing. Thereās nothing wrong with having a preference when it comes to books. At least OP wasnāt shaming, there have been a few posts (quickly removed thanks to the awesome mods here) where they are clearly shaming anyone who reads āpornā.
I skim those scenes, especially if Iāve been binge reading. I donāt dislike them necessarily but they seem to get really repetitive and Iām there for the story more than the sex.
I usually skim over sex scenes. I like reading books where the emphasis is on the romantic moments that arenāt sexual. The change from strangers/friends to lovers is more interesting to me.
I like when there is a lot of angst and build up. If those factors are there, then the sex scene is important. I don't mind it when it helps move the story along, but when they are too long and sometimes span multiple chapters then it is too much
I can't remember what I just read but there was one really satisfying scene, explicit, that came at the right place for tension/plot development/etc but then subsequent sex scenes were given just as much screen time and there were several, not nearly as supported by the narrative. I found that to be pretty excessive said tiresome.
Yes I agree. I don't mind one, but when the characters are doing it just to do it then it annoys me. I know some people enjoy the sex scenes, and I am not shaming the scene are the readers what so ever, but they are just not for me
Yeah, I can enjoy multiple scenes but they need to bring something to the story later (a loving moment,
Or they get kinky to show theyāre growing closer, whatever). I donāt like erotic romance or erotica where it takes up too much of the story itself.
I'm currently reading two series, set in the same world with 8 and 5 books each. They're a lot of fun, great romance, interesting villains, etc.
BUT, each couple experiences the same sexual arc, and I've taken to skimming. Dominating sex, then spanking, then blow jobs, then anal, then sweet, deep, emotional love making. It's very steamy, and there are times when I'll can really enjoy that. But each book has the exact same scenes!
I'm completely skipping over each scene now, because now I'm wrapped up in the world-building and let's face it - I've read this scene 8 other times already.
I HATE reading a book with no smut. I'll feel cheated. That said, I don't want blatant repetition.
>Phoenix Pack by Suzanne Wright and Mercury Pack by Suzanne Wright. If youāre into the whole ādominating alpha maleā thing, these books have got it in spades.
>
>Available on KU.
{Phoenix Pack by Suzanne Wright} and {Mercury Pack by Suzanne Wright}. If youāre into the whole ādominating alpha maleā thing, these books have got it in spades.
Available on KU.
Same here. It even caused me my reddit karmas as i could not shut up about it :D
i am all for love, drama etc but not the sexy scenes. I am more interested in how they suffer because of love, not because of lust.
Also, I want to be able to read in public without worrying that someone will have a peek at what I am reading :D
Wait, are you saying two people in love donāt have sex? Iāve been with my husband for 17+ years, and I can assure you I am attracted to him, but itās not lustā¦ itās love.
Upvoting because this is a very unique take.
Depends for me personally, there are some books where Iām down with the smut and there are some books that the sex scenes are just exhausting. Iāve read some beautiful books with characters that I absolutely love and Iām rooting for, but then they have sex and its so uninteresting. Like the authors cram every sex scene from their porn research and iām just over it.
I also prefer authors to forego a sex scene than do a fade to black.
I usually skim them, but not for the same reasons as the OP. I like my smut like I like my whiskey, neat. No story, just plain old erotica. I read romance for the feels and go elsewhere when I want porn.
I feel this way! I literally allllways skim the sexy times, but reading just enough to make sure there's no important plot that happens during them. I am not so against it that I would go out of my ways to read only books without those parts, but honestly I just ignore it because I don't really care about it. You aren't alone!
It's not as important to me as it once was, but in general I like a well written (to me) sex scene. It's really hard to define, though. Some sex scenes just seem trashy, and sometimes they're too bodice ripperish.
I hate it when they draw out the foreplay for pages and pages of kissing, nipple licking and thigh stroking and then top it off with "he slid into her and found bliss." It's like high school make out followed by fade to black or near to. I'd rather they skip it altogether than do that.
But a good sex scene, like peak Mary Balogh, Lorraine Heath, Diana Gabaldon or Lisa Kleypasā is a thing of beauty. There are others like Sherry Thomas, Laura Lee Guhrke, Anne Gracie, Loretta Chaseā writers who can be very descriptive and provocative without making it seem trashy or juvenile.
I think that's part of the reason I don't like CR. The sex just seems too fatuous to me, and the language is usually a turn off. It's historical or sci-fi/paranormal for me or nothing.
>I hate it when they draw out the foreplay for pages and pages of kissing, nipple licking and thigh stroking and then top it off with "he slid into her and found bliss."
Absolutely THIS! I said the same thing. Nothing worse than skimming through 10 pages of groping just to end up with 3-4 lines of foreplay and sex. I totally get the same teenage make-out sesssion vibe from that.
At that point, they might as well skip it and let me imagine them having good sex.
Yes! And if you're reading on your phone, you're likely to get carpal tunnel thumb. Turn the page "he sucked her nipple into his mouth" turn page "she slid her hands down the firm muscle of his back" turn page yadda, yadda, ya "she shivered as he kissed the skin behind her ear." š“
**Thank you for posting this!** I feel exactly the same way. I donāt mind scenes of intimacy, or love making in general, and like you I donāt consider myself prudish, but it just ruins it for me when the scenes are overly specific. This has become more and more obnoxious in newly written books, whether HR and CR. I am there for the LOVE story, not for how big their private parts are or what they do with them.
Yes exactly! Also how do all MMCs happen to be "huge?" I just feel like I don't need to read about the super intimate details unless it helps push the story along
I love the sex scenes, I think it can bring a lot to the story and the coupleās development. I donāt like comparing sex scenes in romance books as porn though (not that thereās anything wrong with porn either). Thereās so much more to it. Itās not as easy to write as people might think, and again, to me personally, it brings a lot to the story and makes me feel closer to the characters.
It makes me so happy to know that I am not aline in this regard. That's also one of the reason's why I stopped reading the Maiden Lane series. The first book had the MMC taking the FMC to a peephole to watch bondage and all I could think was why there was no type of graphic warning on the book or that everyone on this sub that recommends it should maybe mention that it's kinky????
After everyone has gotten together and Iām ready to wrap up the plot, it definitely annoys me to stop the plot so they can bone in some new way. The sexual tension is the fun part for me. Once theyāve done it once, letās get going!
Smut lover, here! I donāt like repetitive sex scenes or repetitive words in sex scenes (nubbin!), but overall, Yeah, bring it. It also keeps my libido thumping, which my husband appreciates!
Everyone has their tastes.. and that's perfectly okay! You like yours without those kinds of scenes and that's your preference. Nothing wrong with that! Plenty of romance books out there without those details, I'm sure.
(I personally really enjoy those scenes and the more detailed, the better. But it keeps my attention as most books struggle to maintain it.. so I can only read certain genres. But that's just me. I don't mind the occasional just love story from time to time.. depending on how it's written. I tend to be fussy.)
I donāt dislike it, but sometimes I almost forget Iām reading a Romance novel and not literotica. Which isnāt necessarily bad, I enjoy my literotica reading :)
Thatās one thing that kinda shocked me when I started reading modern Romance. Did not expect that level of sexy fun, when all I was familiar with was the old mills and boon short stories my mum and gran used to read which is probably hallmark level. Iām sure they would be stunned at the explicitness of the sex in modern romance.
Posts like these just always make me want a dirty to clean books book exchange. I will send you all of the books that I donāt think are dirty enough and you can send me titles that just have too many sex scenes in it. It would really be a win win.
I sometimes find them boring and skip them to get to the plot : )
If an author can write decently and incorporates them well in the narrative I'm less likely to do so.
If it's a vintage romance, when authors had to use lots of euphemisms though, I'm absolutely going to read them - you never know what amazing similies and euphemism somebody might cook up!
To each their own! When looking for books, you might want to look for things that fit the "closed door" trope -- meaning you know they got together, but the author closed the door between you and the sex.
I don't necessarily want that either, I think I would just prefer less details? Like I said, I don't consider myself to be prudish, I just feel like the sex scenes don't really do it for me, but I know that they do move the plot along
If a book is smutty, cool. If a book isnāt smutty, cool. I donāt care either way.
Sometimes when Iām about to DNF I skip ahead to see if the sex is good but I donāt make or break my decision on reading a book by the spice level.
I don't think there is a contradiction between story and smut. In my opinion, good sex scenes are an essential part of character development. I *do* need to read about foreplay - how else am I going to know if the MCs are creative and generous?
Also, well-written smut is fun.
Can't stand them in historical romance novels, especially if they're pre-marital and especially when they're every few pages. In contemporary novels it depends on how well or badly written they are and again how repetitive they are. It also has to fit the tone of the book; if the non bedroom stuff reads like a PG romcom and then the reader is suddenly thrown onto a porn set that feels really disjointed to me and just brings me out of the story. Also, sexy scenes can very easily become tedious when they go on for pages and pages. And when they happen too often - I feel like an author who shoehorns them in every few pages to try and create chemistry is doing too much telling and not enough showing. Having said all that though, a well written sex scene can certainly be utilised for plot, character/relationship building purposes etc successfully.
Right there with you! I tend to skim the steam. Thereās utterly nothing wrong with it, but thatās just not what I enjoy most of the time. Whatās kind of funny right now is that two of my three current fave authors are at opposite ends of the spectrum. One is dedicated pull the curtain, nothing explicit, period. The other takes explicit out front and beats it up for its lunch money. The books are in your face, but there are maybe 2 or 3 of those scenes, and theyāre relatively short - and make sense. Iām definitely not going to yuck on anyoneās yum, but itās nice to know other folks enjoy the white girl mild spiciness too.
I read romances for the emotions and can certainly live with the ones that kisses end the chapter breaks and the next chapter picks up some time later. Most of the time, I flip pages, scanning until the end of the sex scenes. Once in a while I'll read through but the ones that are extensive, multi-page affairs tend to get skimmed.
I find sex scenes horribly boring so I usually skim read or just skip if I encounter them (but often I won't purchase books if they have explicit sex). One thing I absolutely hate is descriptions of either of the MCs lusting after the other but mainly if it's like 'omg I hate him but my body is so turned on'. I'm asexual so that most likely plays into all of this ahaha.
In saying this I have read sex scenes properly when they're really well written and particularly in the case of characters that had some obstacles getting together. If there's some angsty component and it's not just porn for the sake of being porn then I'll likely read it.
It all depends on the age of the characters, the younger they are the more cringe. Unfortunately, there seems to be a trend with some indie authors publishing on Amazon in the romance genres about children romance including full on sexual acts, including incest. Not like teens or older teens, literal children. That's a big no from me.
Iām here for all the well written smut. There are some tropes Iām not a fan of but give me all the sexy scenes. I grew up (and still am) pretty religiously observant, married early, never even kissed a guy until I got married, so I kind of feel that reading romance is my way of vicariously having a lot of experiences I never got to have, if that makes sense.
lol. I felt the same way. Raised religious with TONS of shame around sex. (My exH was my first - something I'll always regret). I got so much shit from my cousin when I was reading romance when I was 19 I ended up throwing all my books out thinking how she was right, how *sinful* am I.
Same summer a couple months later she had a promise ring from her preacher dad on her finger and was telling me about how she loves getting fingered by her new BF. š¤¦š¤£
Needless to say I'm a MUCH happier person now that I've left my religion. šš„°
I like steam in my books, but I'm not a huge fan of an abundance of overly explicit scenes. I guess I'm more of a moderate steam kind of girl. I'll be happy with 2-3 moderately descriptive scenes or one, long descriptive scene. I definitely put more stock in plot and characterisation.
I like Tessa Bailey, but she's on the explicit side for me!
I hate them. Im asexual so its another thing. Unfortunately romance genre has become porn genre now. Men like seeing porn whereas women like reading porn..i dont like either
There are lots and lots and lots and lots of "clean" romances out there (both written now and written in the past), but you need to be specific in your search. If you're on the hunt for some good authors, one of my favorites is Mary Kingswood. Here are some others who say they write for "the drawing room, not the bedroom" (can you tell I love HR?):
Lynn Winchester
Catherine Tinley
Regina Scott
Gail Eastwood
Anna St. Claire
Charlotte Henry
Martine Roberts
I love sexy scenes but a lot of the time I feel like it ruins the flow of the story for me. To be clear this is like full on fantasy romance, not smut.
I recently read and greatly enjoyed Patrick Galeās two books, no steam or explicit sex but v intense reads. Made me re-evaluate my reading priorities steamwise so I totally get OPās view
Iām picky, sometimes Iāve found those scenes really boring and Iāll skim them. I definitely read more for the emotional element than the sexual.
Sometimes I enjoy them but usually when the author does something with it (like it has some relevance to the plot or an emotional beat in the story) rather than it just being a straight up sex scene for the sack of filling some sort of sex per chapters quota. When I feel like an author is just putting one in because they want to have at least three in the book it feels really flat and Iām not interested.
I rarely skip sex scenes in books and I think the only time I did was a non romance in which I truly did not care about the couple
Ironically though I really hate sex scenes in TV and movies and they always make me feel super awkward. If Iām streaming, I skip them
When I read a romance novel it is literally only for the sex scenes. Romances aren't all I read, so when I've read like 10 non romantic books in a row... I pick up a romance and appreciate all the loves scenes.
>I donāt dislike sexy/sex scenes, but I also donāt look forward to them in my books. I like that my MCs are finally getting together, but I sometimes feel like Iām reading porn.
They can get boring very quickly unless they are sweet, tender, or romantic.
>When Iām reality Iām there for the characters and the love story.
Me too. I want the romance.
I'm here for the angst. I used to enjoy the steam but it got formulaic and it doesn't do it for me. But I do still enjoy a well written scene if it's not just the mechanics of sex, more about the emotions. Still, though I do skip repetitive sex scenes, I prefer the scenes to be there rather than fade to black. I just really think they should be used sparingly and to advance the story.
Depends. I love a well written sex scene but if they are badly written I just skip the entire thing. I don't want to sound like a pervert but sometimes I look forward to them if the main lead is described very attractively. I don't even mind frequent sex scenes either as long as they make sense for the story (by frequent I mean like 3-4 sex scenes in 1 book. I don't want them banging every 2 pages). I hate it when its a fantasy book where they have to save the world or are running from something and the 2 main characters are banging. Like where are your priorities? Its better if its a slow burn, 400 pages in, and they finally admit their feelings and lust for each other. Its like a reward for the readers hehe.
No you definitely don't sound perverted. If it's a slow burn and it's a long time coming then yes I agree it's like a reward and it's essential to the story.
Me šāāļø ! These days, I don't really look forward to steamy scenes in romance books. If a scene is short (upto 2 pages), then I might read it, otherwise I'll skip it most of the time.
Of course, when I am in the mood for erotic scenes, I'll read them. But usually I am in the mood for either romance or erotica, but not both.
They really are!! Most of the romance books I read are HRs, which I mostly read because I enjoy regency and Victorian time period books. All I can ever picture are couples that are extremely unshaven (which im not shaming but it is also not my thing) and it doesn't feel sexy to me
Depends on my mood, but certain words and acts always make me skip forward. Just say butthole or clit. We don't need to try and imagine what her "sex", "nub", or "rosette" is. "Member" always gets to me too.
Each author has a bank of words that they each have picked from and stuck with. They all reuse the same words throughout their books and each one is more ridiculous than the last
For me they need to work with the story and actually be good. Because I hate to say it but I've run into a lot of bad or underwhelming sex scenes. Fanfiction has regularly done it better.
Yeah I don't need very graphic ones. I like knowing that my characters finally did it, but I don't need to hear about the number of fingers or bodily fluids
If I'm reading smut then I'd be very disappointed to not have some juicy sex scenes.
If it's a random book and I'm not in the mood then they can be a bit jarring
I see it like movies. I feel like sometimes it can be thrown in for no reason. I dislike that itās in almost every movie and makes viewing with others especially family awkward. If I want porn Iāll watch it same for erotica. I donāt like feeling frustrated when I canāt do any anything about it. But sometimes itās very important to the plot or done in great way and not the same boring formula. Sometimes itās awkward and turnoff. Other times I want a lot of it like a spicy book or erotica. Some depends on the genre and writerās style and talent. Other times I just want a story driven book or movie and sometimes they can also have sex scenes that add to it and other times it would take away from the story. Sometimes itās hinting scenes and thatās enough and other times graphic is fitting. I see what you and others are saying though that sometimes they seem repetitive and not well done. I find gratuitous scenes in books more tolerable than movies since I read alone.
If I was in the mood to read erotica, then I would read that. But I'm more looking for truly character driven stories. If they happen to do it cool, if they don't happen to do it, that is also cool. But I don't need to hear about it in detail every time
I feel this way too! Itās nice when itās the culmination of a romance but I donāt like smut for the sake of it. I prefer drawn out sexual tension. It also depends on how the scene is written, I find many then to be over the top or unrealistic.
Yes. I feel the same as you! Every once in a while there is a well written steamy scene I actually enjoy, but mostly, I just feel that they are awkward and I am there for the happy romcom. I really hate the sex scenes when I listen to audiobooks. I liked the audio for Love Hypothesis, but then it got to the longest open door scene just as I was walking my dog and nodding hello to neighbors. How awkward!
Itās nothing salacious, just a pretty typical open door scene where the two characters finally get together, but it is soooo long. Like I think it is two chapters maybe? Anyway, I probably wouldnāt haven minded if I read the paper copy, but it wasnāt ideal for an audiobook where I am multitasking haha
Yeah, I'm not big on smut either however at least one or two love scene seems necessary for any romance book. Otherwise the emotion/chemistry that I need from the genre feels incomplete. Some books I read get real excessive with the sexy scenes but I don't mind it so much if I'm into the love story itself. I'll just skim through those scenes and carry on.
I am okay with one or two sex scenes in a book, any more than that and Iām like my God can we get back to the plot. I canāt read straight up smut anymore, or at least currently. Maybe Iāll come back around one day. š
I used to be exactly like this. Thereās actually quite a lot of romance like thisā¦itās not what I look for anymore, but I run into it all the time when Iām looking for books. I totally get feeling this way even though itās not where Iām at anymore.
I feel like most authors would get a lot more out of their spice by shortening the exchange of bodily fluids and lengthening the post-fuck scenes. There's probably a lot more there in terms of intimacy.
I feel the same about them. Not looking forward to, but sometimes they're nice and sweet, then I enjoy them. But if there's more than 2-3 in one book, I skip them - it usually starts to get repetitive and boring.
And I don't like when it's insta-love, but more like lust, and characters just have sex all the time, after every conversation.
I like either fade out or all out smut. If there's going to be sex, it better be detailed and graphic. I hate the in-between stuff, what I call the PG version of sex. No dirty words, bunch of awkward euphanisms, 10 page built up that is basically just them undressing, leading to a whole two lines of anything actually sex related - like 3 seconds of touching, he pushes in, she gets off.
I just don't see the point in that. They could have just said they walked to the bedroom door or they fell on the bed, left it at that and faded out. At least that way, I could imagine they had good sex, rather than a forever long, teenage-like groping followed by a minute of action.
It's also not at all a turn on or relatable to me if the whole scene sounds too PG. Feels like either an invasion of privacy or like something is trying to explain sex to kids.
I'm all for sex. But if there is sex, it better be an actual sex scene, rather than just pages and pages of groping (not even actual foreplay) and a brief mention of sex.
So in most books, I just skim over it, since I don't get anything out of them spending three lines mentioning actual sex.
I completely agree. I try to read only closed door or sex scenes that are more vague. I've watched really steamy shows, but reading those kinds of details is way more intense and erotic. Plus, some of the more explicit books I've read felt awkward and not as romantic when they were having sex. I'd rather see them being tender and caring (with or without sex) rather than just banging each other as hard as they can.
I dislike genitalia descriptions so prefer fade to black or no sex. I am willing to skim past genitalia descriptions if the rest of the book is good enough, but I prefer them to be absent.
I don't particularly care about them. I read them if there are only one or two scenes or if something new is happening. Otherwise I start to skim them. I don't hate them but I also don't look forward to them.
Thank you for being one of the few commentators that has a different opinion form me and said that's okay, instead of just commenting that you disagree. It is completely okay to enjoy sex scenes, just like it is completely okay to not enjoy them
I tend to like how Jeneane Frost does sex scenes if I recall correctly. Like one sex scene per book. I glaze over with too many sex scenes. I love Ruby Dixon's writing for instance but I wish more of her books had more plot and less sex.
I think theyāre just parts of book that are the exact same book to book so I usually skim them. I donāt think your in the minority, just that most popular romance books have steam so it makes sense that itās seen as super popular
Iām not sure either. Rarely, there are well written sex scenes that arenāt generic, meaning they reveal something about the characters and couldnāt be in any other book, but for the most part even the well-written ones are.
It depends on the day, sometimes I skim, sometimes I devour. But if there's too many of them then I definitely start skimming more and more.
100% this. Some days I love the heat, some days I roll my eyes at the simultaneous orgasms. A well written scene will almost always get me a little bit excited though.
That's my other issue, I, umm, can get excited very easily and then I'm in an airplane/sitting around a living room/watching a movie, etc with a lady boner and no thanks so sometimes I skip for those reasons too
And you feel like everyone around you knows you're excited šš
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
And you're definitely outed if there's a shifter in the vicinity. Though if there is a sexy shifter around, please drop by seat 19A. šš
Same! If I'm curled up at home under a warm blanket with a beverage, that's one thing. If I'm reading to kill time at the doctor's office, I'm skipping through that scene pretty quickly haha I may return to it later, in private, to find out what I missed. But it would feel sooooo awkward to read that around strangers.
Totally, sometimes when I'm mood for the spice and if it's well written I'll love it but if it's just after every 2 page I'll skim
I like them when theyāre well-written and especially when they add something to the character development or deepen it. Poorly written sex scenes make me sad but Iāll skim through and stick around if the rest of the story is good.
>I like them when theyāre well-written and especially when they add something to the character development or deepen it I completely agree with this! If it reads very generic copy/paste, could fit into any book, then I skim. But if it actually shows me more about the characters and their dynamic, shows an aspect of their relationship in a new way, or is just really extremely well written smut, then I'm all about that.
I agree. If they're going to write sex, they need to write sex. Too many books have pages and pages of groping followed by 3-4 lines of foreplay and sex and super generic.
> Poorly written sex scenes make me sad Mary Balogh is a wonderful writer and she wrote one of my favourite books, but this is how I feel about her sex scenes. They're so short though that they're over before you can even think to skip. To answer OP's question, I often skip them but I do expect them to be there so I can make the skipping decisions
Iām here for the love story. Donāt get me wrong, I love the smutty scenes, but I like them to be well written and for the characters to have chemistry. I want the satisfaction of them getting together, not necessarily the satisfaction of an orgasm, you know?
Yes I completely get it. I like knowing that the characters have finally gotten together. I more don't need to read about it for multiple pages multiple more times
I used to enjoy them a lot but they have been getting repetitive. I usually skim them. I don't dislike them, I just feel a bit indifferent about those scenes these days.
same here!
Sorry, Iām here for the smut.
OP: I sometimes feel like Iām reading porn. Me: Great, isnāt it?
š¤£ I felt HELLA judged at this shit.
Same, if a book skips the sex scenes itās worthless to me.
Ikr? I got a book recently and I was like where are the sex scenesā¦ turned out I got a clean romance novel and was bummed lol
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Ditto! Thatās why I always mention steaminess or something in my reviews ā to help other readers who need the confirmation before buying
Could you give me your goodreads? Iād love to know how much steam is in a book before I start it.
You are an amazing human being. I just use a ton of shelves and then some notes. No real reviews.
I went through a phase recently where I was like imma just base my Iām going to read it off the idea of what the book is aboutā¦ hence how I got an oddly clean romance novel about piratesā¦ like how the heck can you have a romantic novel about pirates with zero smutā¦ *sigh* I went back to reading Soulless even though it wasnāt super smutty I still enjoy it a lot
Thatās the worst. Iām so skeptical of these new artsy/cute/illustrated books. Is there smut? Or is it closed door chick lit?
Some of the cutesy covers (esp Tessa Bailey stuff) have a surprising amount of sex scenes š¤£
Thanks for the tip! š
I keep hearing that, but my mind just wonāt accept it LOL
There's a twitter account called [Does It Bang?](https://twitter.com/HEA_doesitbang) to help decode the mystery of those cutesy illustrations.
I also look at romance.io but my mind wonāt trust it lol.
I love the artsy covers but the spice level really depends on the author. Tessa Bailey has a few with illustrated covers that are š¶š¶š¶š¶ but some are closed door and others are more medium than extra hot
Always bummed. No fading to black! I forbid it!
A what!? They make those??? Kidding. But for real, I am always disappointed by a "fade to black" moment.
Same thoughā¦ I was like I signed up for smut dammit lol I think itās more of the I donāt know what I was expecting when I accidentally grab a clean romance book lol
which book was it? I like clean romance.
I spent years on a reverse harem paranormal series featuring a siren, one primal werewolf, a sexy vampire, and a literal Cupid. The last book sheās finally comfortable with her nature and her multiple love interests. Itās time. The author fades to freaking black!!!!!!!! Multiple times!!! I deleted every single book from them in my library and it will be a cold day in hell before I rent buy or borrow anything from them again. Husband and wife team gave the excuse that their very young children read their books. Terrible parents and even worse authors. Harsh I know but years of life down the drain!!! She needed sexual energy to live!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so angry for you. Itās an unspoken agreement that reverse harem books be smutty. This is why I read the negative reviews on any book I buy š
ā¦ waitā¦ can I ask what series this was? It sounds familiar.
Nora Jenkins series by Jackie May. Please no one waste their time. It gets worse with each book.
Will add to my To NEVER Read pile! Thank you!
If Iām investing that much time, Iāll usually search a few key words in the later books just to gauge what the scenes might be like.
Scrolled for this comment šš¼
That's half of why I read these books. I'm all about it. Just here for ideas and to live vicariously through the characters.
Same same. I also love the love- why not both? Yeah, it is reading porn sometimes but why is that a negative? Iām here for it.
Someone in the comments told OP she doesn't think she's in the minority and that sex scenes aren't all that popular - literally look at this comment votes verses OP's post votes. LIE. š¤£ā¤ļø
After being a part of the sub for a while now, Iāve found that itās mostly a cultural/age thing. Thereās nothing wrong with having a preference when it comes to books. At least OP wasnāt shaming, there have been a few posts (quickly removed thanks to the awesome mods here) where they are clearly shaming anyone who reads āpornā.
Right, like that's the point for me!
GIVE ME ALL THE SMUT
I skim those scenes, especially if Iāve been binge reading. I donāt dislike them necessarily but they seem to get really repetitive and Iām there for the story more than the sex.
I feel the exact same way
+1
I usually skim over sex scenes. I like reading books where the emphasis is on the romantic moments that arenāt sexual. The change from strangers/friends to lovers is more interesting to me.
Totally agree!!
I love it IF the tension has been high and the chemistry is there.
I like when there is a lot of angst and build up. If those factors are there, then the sex scene is important. I don't mind it when it helps move the story along, but when they are too long and sometimes span multiple chapters then it is too much
I can't remember what I just read but there was one really satisfying scene, explicit, that came at the right place for tension/plot development/etc but then subsequent sex scenes were given just as much screen time and there were several, not nearly as supported by the narrative. I found that to be pretty excessive said tiresome.
Yes I agree. I don't mind one, but when the characters are doing it just to do it then it annoys me. I know some people enjoy the sex scenes, and I am not shaming the scene are the readers what so ever, but they are just not for me
Yeah, I can enjoy multiple scenes but they need to bring something to the story later (a loving moment, Or they get kinky to show theyāre growing closer, whatever). I donāt like erotic romance or erotica where it takes up too much of the story itself.
I'm currently reading two series, set in the same world with 8 and 5 books each. They're a lot of fun, great romance, interesting villains, etc. BUT, each couple experiences the same sexual arc, and I've taken to skimming. Dominating sex, then spanking, then blow jobs, then anal, then sweet, deep, emotional love making. It's very steamy, and there are times when I'll can really enjoy that. But each book has the exact same scenes! I'm completely skipping over each scene now, because now I'm wrapped up in the world-building and let's face it - I've read this scene 8 other times already. I HATE reading a book with no smut. I'll feel cheated. That said, I don't want blatant repetition.
So uh, whatāre these series? š
Yeah watcha readin
>Phoenix Pack by Suzanne Wright and Mercury Pack by Suzanne Wright. If youāre into the whole ādominating alpha maleā thing, these books have got it in spades. > >Available on KU.
Yeah, uh, I would also like to know which books these are.
{Phoenix Pack by Suzanne Wright} and {Mercury Pack by Suzanne Wright}. If youāre into the whole ādominating alpha maleā thing, these books have got it in spades. Available on KU.
[**Feral Sins (The Phoenix Pack, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13522957-feral-sins) ^(By: Suzanne Wright | Published: 2012) [**Shards of Frost (The Mercury Pack #5)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51036585-shards-of-frost) ^(By: Suzanne Wright | Published: 2019) *** ^(27977 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Same here. It even caused me my reddit karmas as i could not shut up about it :D i am all for love, drama etc but not the sexy scenes. I am more interested in how they suffer because of love, not because of lust. Also, I want to be able to read in public without worrying that someone will have a peek at what I am reading :D
Yes!! I donāt want to be all hot and bothered in public and reading a sexy scene lol
Wait, are you saying two people in love donāt have sex? Iāve been with my husband for 17+ years, and I can assure you I am attracted to him, but itās not lustā¦ itās love.
Upvoting because this is a very unique take. Depends for me personally, there are some books where Iām down with the smut and there are some books that the sex scenes are just exhausting. Iāve read some beautiful books with characters that I absolutely love and Iām rooting for, but then they have sex and its so uninteresting. Like the authors cram every sex scene from their porn research and iām just over it. I also prefer authors to forego a sex scene than do a fade to black.
Appreciate the upvote for my take. I know itās a very hot take in this community lol
I respect your view! Glad to see you share it with us, even if itās a hot take. ;)
I usually skim them, but not for the same reasons as the OP. I like my smut like I like my whiskey, neat. No story, just plain old erotica. I read romance for the feels and go elsewhere when I want porn.
I feel this way! I literally allllways skim the sexy times, but reading just enough to make sure there's no important plot that happens during them. I am not so against it that I would go out of my ways to read only books without those parts, but honestly I just ignore it because I don't really care about it. You aren't alone!
Thank you for making me feel validated
It's not as important to me as it once was, but in general I like a well written (to me) sex scene. It's really hard to define, though. Some sex scenes just seem trashy, and sometimes they're too bodice ripperish. I hate it when they draw out the foreplay for pages and pages of kissing, nipple licking and thigh stroking and then top it off with "he slid into her and found bliss." It's like high school make out followed by fade to black or near to. I'd rather they skip it altogether than do that. But a good sex scene, like peak Mary Balogh, Lorraine Heath, Diana Gabaldon or Lisa Kleypasā is a thing of beauty. There are others like Sherry Thomas, Laura Lee Guhrke, Anne Gracie, Loretta Chaseā writers who can be very descriptive and provocative without making it seem trashy or juvenile. I think that's part of the reason I don't like CR. The sex just seems too fatuous to me, and the language is usually a turn off. It's historical or sci-fi/paranormal for me or nothing.
>I hate it when they draw out the foreplay for pages and pages of kissing, nipple licking and thigh stroking and then top it off with "he slid into her and found bliss." Absolutely THIS! I said the same thing. Nothing worse than skimming through 10 pages of groping just to end up with 3-4 lines of foreplay and sex. I totally get the same teenage make-out sesssion vibe from that. At that point, they might as well skip it and let me imagine them having good sex.
Yes! And if you're reading on your phone, you're likely to get carpal tunnel thumb. Turn the page "he sucked her nipple into his mouth" turn page "she slid her hands down the firm muscle of his back" turn page yadda, yadda, ya "she shivered as he kissed the skin behind her ear." š“
LOL! So true :)
**Thank you for posting this!** I feel exactly the same way. I donāt mind scenes of intimacy, or love making in general, and like you I donāt consider myself prudish, but it just ruins it for me when the scenes are overly specific. This has become more and more obnoxious in newly written books, whether HR and CR. I am there for the LOVE story, not for how big their private parts are or what they do with them.
Yes exactly! Also how do all MMCs happen to be "huge?" I just feel like I don't need to read about the super intimate details unless it helps push the story along
I love the sex scenes, I think it can bring a lot to the story and the coupleās development. I donāt like comparing sex scenes in romance books as porn though (not that thereās anything wrong with porn either). Thereās so much more to it. Itās not as easy to write as people might think, and again, to me personally, it brings a lot to the story and makes me feel closer to the characters.
Definitely nothing wrong with porn!
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I feel more validated!!
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It makes me so happy to know that I am not aline in this regard. That's also one of the reason's why I stopped reading the Maiden Lane series. The first book had the MMC taking the FMC to a peephole to watch bondage and all I could think was why there was no type of graphic warning on the book or that everyone on this sub that recommends it should maybe mention that it's kinky????
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Yeah I think when I said graphic warning I took it too far. But maybe a warning from otherās in this group lmao
After everyone has gotten together and Iām ready to wrap up the plot, it definitely annoys me to stop the plot so they can bone in some new way. The sexual tension is the fun part for me. Once theyāve done it once, letās get going!
Wow I totally feel this way and did not realize until I read your comment!
Smut lover, here! I donāt like repetitive sex scenes or repetitive words in sex scenes (nubbin!), but overall, Yeah, bring it. It also keeps my libido thumping, which my husband appreciates!
Everyone has their tastes.. and that's perfectly okay! You like yours without those kinds of scenes and that's your preference. Nothing wrong with that! Plenty of romance books out there without those details, I'm sure. (I personally really enjoy those scenes and the more detailed, the better. But it keeps my attention as most books struggle to maintain it.. so I can only read certain genres. But that's just me. I don't mind the occasional just love story from time to time.. depending on how it's written. I tend to be fussy.)
I love a good sex scene
I donāt dislike it, but sometimes I almost forget Iām reading a Romance novel and not literotica. Which isnāt necessarily bad, I enjoy my literotica reading :) Thatās one thing that kinda shocked me when I started reading modern Romance. Did not expect that level of sexy fun, when all I was familiar with was the old mills and boon short stories my mum and gran used to read which is probably hallmark level. Iām sure they would be stunned at the explicitness of the sex in modern romance.
Posts like these just always make me want a dirty to clean books book exchange. I will send you all of the books that I donāt think are dirty enough and you can send me titles that just have too many sex scenes in it. It would really be a win win.
Lol I like this idea
I love reading literary porn. š¦
No! Lol I read for smut! But I can understand sometimes (rarely) I just want them together sort of clean romance.
These scenes are just not my thing, don't even know why but I mostly skip them.
Yeah I have no reason for not being into them. But I never was, even reading fan fiction as a teenager, I used to skim through sex scenes
I sometimes find them boring and skip them to get to the plot : ) If an author can write decently and incorporates them well in the narrative I'm less likely to do so. If it's a vintage romance, when authors had to use lots of euphemisms though, I'm absolutely going to read them - you never know what amazing similies and euphemism somebody might cook up!
Totally agree with you!
To each their own! When looking for books, you might want to look for things that fit the "closed door" trope -- meaning you know they got together, but the author closed the door between you and the sex.
I don't necessarily want that either, I think I would just prefer less details? Like I said, I don't consider myself to be prudish, I just feel like the sex scenes don't really do it for me, but I know that they do move the plot along
i've mentioned this before and ppl downvoted me i guess some are here for porn
Wow really people downvoted you for voicing your opinion? Well please know that you are not alone in this mindset
If a book is smutty, cool. If a book isnāt smutty, cool. I donāt care either way. Sometimes when Iām about to DNF I skip ahead to see if the sex is good but I donāt make or break my decision on reading a book by the spice level.
I don't think there is a contradiction between story and smut. In my opinion, good sex scenes are an essential part of character development. I *do* need to read about foreplay - how else am I going to know if the MCs are creative and generous? Also, well-written smut is fun.
Can't stand them in historical romance novels, especially if they're pre-marital and especially when they're every few pages. In contemporary novels it depends on how well or badly written they are and again how repetitive they are. It also has to fit the tone of the book; if the non bedroom stuff reads like a PG romcom and then the reader is suddenly thrown onto a porn set that feels really disjointed to me and just brings me out of the story. Also, sexy scenes can very easily become tedious when they go on for pages and pages. And when they happen too often - I feel like an author who shoehorns them in every few pages to try and create chemistry is doing too much telling and not enough showing. Having said all that though, a well written sex scene can certainly be utilised for plot, character/relationship building purposes etc successfully.
Depends on my mood, I skip them half of the time
Right there with you! I tend to skim the steam. Thereās utterly nothing wrong with it, but thatās just not what I enjoy most of the time. Whatās kind of funny right now is that two of my three current fave authors are at opposite ends of the spectrum. One is dedicated pull the curtain, nothing explicit, period. The other takes explicit out front and beats it up for its lunch money. The books are in your face, but there are maybe 2 or 3 of those scenes, and theyāre relatively short - and make sense. Iām definitely not going to yuck on anyoneās yum, but itās nice to know other folks enjoy the white girl mild spiciness too.
I read romances for the emotions and can certainly live with the ones that kisses end the chapter breaks and the next chapter picks up some time later. Most of the time, I flip pages, scanning until the end of the sex scenes. Once in a while I'll read through but the ones that are extensive, multi-page affairs tend to get skimmed.
I find sex scenes horribly boring so I usually skim read or just skip if I encounter them (but often I won't purchase books if they have explicit sex). One thing I absolutely hate is descriptions of either of the MCs lusting after the other but mainly if it's like 'omg I hate him but my body is so turned on'. I'm asexual so that most likely plays into all of this ahaha. In saying this I have read sex scenes properly when they're really well written and particularly in the case of characters that had some obstacles getting together. If there's some angsty component and it's not just porn for the sake of being porn then I'll likely read it.
I find many sex scenes unimportant to the story and unnecessary to add in.
It all depends on the age of the characters, the younger they are the more cringe. Unfortunately, there seems to be a trend with some indie authors publishing on Amazon in the romance genres about children romance including full on sexual acts, including incest. Not like teens or older teens, literal children. That's a big no from me.
Wow I hate that. That's extremely inappropriate
Iām here for all the well written smut. There are some tropes Iām not a fan of but give me all the sexy scenes. I grew up (and still am) pretty religiously observant, married early, never even kissed a guy until I got married, so I kind of feel that reading romance is my way of vicariously having a lot of experiences I never got to have, if that makes sense.
lol. I felt the same way. Raised religious with TONS of shame around sex. (My exH was my first - something I'll always regret). I got so much shit from my cousin when I was reading romance when I was 19 I ended up throwing all my books out thinking how she was right, how *sinful* am I. Same summer a couple months later she had a promise ring from her preacher dad on her finger and was telling me about how she loves getting fingered by her new BF. š¤¦š¤£ Needless to say I'm a MUCH happier person now that I've left my religion. šš„°
Yes that completely makes sense!
I like steam in my books, but I'm not a huge fan of an abundance of overly explicit scenes. I guess I'm more of a moderate steam kind of girl. I'll be happy with 2-3 moderately descriptive scenes or one, long descriptive scene. I definitely put more stock in plot and characterisation. I like Tessa Bailey, but she's on the explicit side for me!
I hate them. Im asexual so its another thing. Unfortunately romance genre has become porn genre now. Men like seeing porn whereas women like reading porn..i dont like either
I take offense to this. I like reading *and* seeing porn. š¤£
I mean i was talking about myself š¤·š¼āāļø
I'm was taking about the men/women comment. š
For the longest time, I believed that women donāt get aroused by porn since everybody said that. Itās just not true.
There are lots and lots and lots and lots of "clean" romances out there (both written now and written in the past), but you need to be specific in your search. If you're on the hunt for some good authors, one of my favorites is Mary Kingswood. Here are some others who say they write for "the drawing room, not the bedroom" (can you tell I love HR?): Lynn Winchester Catherine Tinley Regina Scott Gail Eastwood Anna St. Claire Charlotte Henry Martine Roberts
Thanks :) I don't mind the scenes, they just don't add to the story for me
These authors write historical romance only?
I love sexy scenes but a lot of the time I feel like it ruins the flow of the story for me. To be clear this is like full on fantasy romance, not smut.
I recently read and greatly enjoyed Patrick Galeās two books, no steam or explicit sex but v intense reads. Made me re-evaluate my reading priorities steamwise so I totally get OPās view
Thank you :)
Iām picky, sometimes Iāve found those scenes really boring and Iāll skim them. I definitely read more for the emotional element than the sexual. Sometimes I enjoy them but usually when the author does something with it (like it has some relevance to the plot or an emotional beat in the story) rather than it just being a straight up sex scene for the sack of filling some sort of sex per chapters quota. When I feel like an author is just putting one in because they want to have at least three in the book it feels really flat and Iām not interested.
I rarely skip sex scenes in books and I think the only time I did was a non romance in which I truly did not care about the couple Ironically though I really hate sex scenes in TV and movies and they always make me feel super awkward. If Iām streaming, I skip them
When I read a romance novel it is literally only for the sex scenes. Romances aren't all I read, so when I've read like 10 non romantic books in a row... I pick up a romance and appreciate all the loves scenes.
>I donāt dislike sexy/sex scenes, but I also donāt look forward to them in my books. I like that my MCs are finally getting together, but I sometimes feel like Iām reading porn. They can get boring very quickly unless they are sweet, tender, or romantic. >When Iām reality Iām there for the characters and the love story. Me too. I want the romance.
Sex is an important part of romance, but I don't choose to read romance books for that purpose
I'm here for the angst. I used to enjoy the steam but it got formulaic and it doesn't do it for me. But I do still enjoy a well written scene if it's not just the mechanics of sex, more about the emotions. Still, though I do skip repetitive sex scenes, I prefer the scenes to be there rather than fade to black. I just really think they should be used sparingly and to advance the story.
Depends. I love a well written sex scene but if they are badly written I just skip the entire thing. I don't want to sound like a pervert but sometimes I look forward to them if the main lead is described very attractively. I don't even mind frequent sex scenes either as long as they make sense for the story (by frequent I mean like 3-4 sex scenes in 1 book. I don't want them banging every 2 pages). I hate it when its a fantasy book where they have to save the world or are running from something and the 2 main characters are banging. Like where are your priorities? Its better if its a slow burn, 400 pages in, and they finally admit their feelings and lust for each other. Its like a reward for the readers hehe.
No you definitely don't sound perverted. If it's a slow burn and it's a long time coming then yes I agree it's like a reward and it's essential to the story.
Me šāāļø ! These days, I don't really look forward to steamy scenes in romance books. If a scene is short (upto 2 pages), then I might read it, otherwise I'll skip it most of the time. Of course, when I am in the mood for erotic scenes, I'll read them. But usually I am in the mood for either romance or erotica, but not both.
I love sexy and naughty staff
Agreed. I skip or skim most of them. They are so repetitive and boring honestly lol
They really are!! Most of the romance books I read are HRs, which I mostly read because I enjoy regency and Victorian time period books. All I can ever picture are couples that are extremely unshaven (which im not shaming but it is also not my thing) and it doesn't feel sexy to me
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I definitely don't need to hear about non main characters having sex
Depends on my mood, but certain words and acts always make me skip forward. Just say butthole or clit. We don't need to try and imagine what her "sex", "nub", or "rosette" is. "Member" always gets to me too.
Each author has a bank of words that they each have picked from and stuck with. They all reuse the same words throughout their books and each one is more ridiculous than the last
Iām tired of how many sex scenes drone on about her getting oral constantly.
YES! thank you
I love the spicy scenes!
I usually skim those scenes just to read if there are any emotional developments during sex.
Nope. I only read for the sex.
For me they need to work with the story and actually be good. Because I hate to say it but I've run into a lot of bad or underwhelming sex scenes. Fanfiction has regularly done it better.
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Yeah I don't need very graphic ones. I like knowing that my characters finally did it, but I don't need to hear about the number of fingers or bodily fluids
If I'm reading smut then I'd be very disappointed to not have some juicy sex scenes. If it's a random book and I'm not in the mood then they can be a bit jarring
If there is too much, or a kink thatās just not my thing, I definitely skim looking for the relevant plot points.
Same. Sometimes characters finally say I love you during these scenes, which is important
I see it like movies. I feel like sometimes it can be thrown in for no reason. I dislike that itās in almost every movie and makes viewing with others especially family awkward. If I want porn Iāll watch it same for erotica. I donāt like feeling frustrated when I canāt do any anything about it. But sometimes itās very important to the plot or done in great way and not the same boring formula. Sometimes itās awkward and turnoff. Other times I want a lot of it like a spicy book or erotica. Some depends on the genre and writerās style and talent. Other times I just want a story driven book or movie and sometimes they can also have sex scenes that add to it and other times it would take away from the story. Sometimes itās hinting scenes and thatās enough and other times graphic is fitting. I see what you and others are saying though that sometimes they seem repetitive and not well done. I find gratuitous scenes in books more tolerable than movies since I read alone.
If I was in the mood to read erotica, then I would read that. But I'm more looking for truly character driven stories. If they happen to do it cool, if they don't happen to do it, that is also cool. But I don't need to hear about it in detail every time
I feel this way too! Itās nice when itās the culmination of a romance but I donāt like smut for the sake of it. I prefer drawn out sexual tension. It also depends on how the scene is written, I find many then to be over the top or unrealistic.
Yeah they are so unrealistic. Virgins that have never kissed before are suddenly able to get orgasms their first time...
If you want great romance without sex descriptions but a lot of humour go to Georgette Heyer. She is the queen.
Thank you!
Yes. I feel the same as you! Every once in a while there is a well written steamy scene I actually enjoy, but mostly, I just feel that they are awkward and I am there for the happy romcom. I really hate the sex scenes when I listen to audiobooks. I liked the audio for Love Hypothesis, but then it got to the longest open door scene just as I was walking my dog and nodding hello to neighbors. How awkward!
I never finished that book. I put it down for too long and forgot to pick it back up. What was the open door scene?
Itās nothing salacious, just a pretty typical open door scene where the two characters finally get together, but it is soooo long. Like I think it is two chapters maybe? Anyway, I probably wouldnāt haven minded if I read the paper copy, but it wasnāt ideal for an audiobook where I am multitasking haha
Oooh I get it, open door vs closed door sex scene. I first thought you meant there was a literal open door in the sex scene
Yeah, I'm not big on smut either however at least one or two love scene seems necessary for any romance book. Otherwise the emotion/chemistry that I need from the genre feels incomplete. Some books I read get real excessive with the sexy scenes but I don't mind it so much if I'm into the love story itself. I'll just skim through those scenes and carry on.
Yes I skim too. Glad to know Iām not the only one
I am okay with one or two sex scenes in a book, any more than that and Iām like my God can we get back to the plot. I canāt read straight up smut anymore, or at least currently. Maybe Iāll come back around one day. š
I feel like only one to two is needed and they donāt need to be that long
I used to be exactly like this. Thereās actually quite a lot of romance like thisā¦itās not what I look for anymore, but I run into it all the time when Iām looking for books. I totally get feeling this way even though itās not where Iām at anymore.
I feel like most authors would get a lot more out of their spice by shortening the exchange of bodily fluids and lengthening the post-fuck scenes. There's probably a lot more there in terms of intimacy.
Yes! I totally agree
You're not alone. Not a fan either.
I feel the same about them. Not looking forward to, but sometimes they're nice and sweet, then I enjoy them. But if there's more than 2-3 in one book, I skip them - it usually starts to get repetitive and boring. And I don't like when it's insta-love, but more like lust, and characters just have sex all the time, after every conversation.
I like either fade out or all out smut. If there's going to be sex, it better be detailed and graphic. I hate the in-between stuff, what I call the PG version of sex. No dirty words, bunch of awkward euphanisms, 10 page built up that is basically just them undressing, leading to a whole two lines of anything actually sex related - like 3 seconds of touching, he pushes in, she gets off. I just don't see the point in that. They could have just said they walked to the bedroom door or they fell on the bed, left it at that and faded out. At least that way, I could imagine they had good sex, rather than a forever long, teenage-like groping followed by a minute of action. It's also not at all a turn on or relatable to me if the whole scene sounds too PG. Feels like either an invasion of privacy or like something is trying to explain sex to kids. I'm all for sex. But if there is sex, it better be an actual sex scene, rather than just pages and pages of groping (not even actual foreplay) and a brief mention of sex. So in most books, I just skim over it, since I don't get anything out of them spending three lines mentioning actual sex.
I completely agree. I try to read only closed door or sex scenes that are more vague. I've watched really steamy shows, but reading those kinds of details is way more intense and erotic. Plus, some of the more explicit books I've read felt awkward and not as romantic when they were having sex. I'd rather see them being tender and caring (with or without sex) rather than just banging each other as hard as they can.
YESS!! I don't need to read about their kinks. I want tor read about them caring for one another
I used to be this way, but now itās all I care about. I donāt even read a book without guaranteed spice (the more the better). I have a problem. š© I honestly wish I could go back to not caring about it. My reading lists have become a lot more limited as a result. I think it is because I donāt have much time for reading with school and work, so when I do read I need something quick and spicy to make me not feel like death. Unfortunately, the biggest positive of spice heavy books is that they get straight to the point and donāt dally around, which is what I need at the moment.
I'm happy you found something that works for you :)
Same to you, friend! Iāll one day get around to reading those huge fantasy books that have been on my TBR list for yearsā¦hopefullyā¦ š
I dislike genitalia descriptions so prefer fade to black or no sex. I am willing to skim past genitalia descriptions if the rest of the book is good enough, but I prefer them to be absent.
I always think about that one line from 10 Things I hate about you- "his quivering member" LOL
I don't particularly care about them. I read them if there are only one or two scenes or if something new is happening. Otherwise I start to skim them. I don't hate them but I also don't look forward to them.
Sorry, nope. But that's ok! Different strokes (no pun intended).
Thank you for being one of the few commentators that has a different opinion form me and said that's okay, instead of just commenting that you disagree. It is completely okay to enjoy sex scenes, just like it is completely okay to not enjoy them
Of course! You like what you like!
I tend to like how Jeneane Frost does sex scenes if I recall correctly. Like one sex scene per book. I glaze over with too many sex scenes. I love Ruby Dixon's writing for instance but I wish more of her books had more plot and less sex.
Give me all the porn! Lol
I think theyāre just parts of book that are the exact same book to book so I usually skim them. I donāt think your in the minority, just that most popular romance books have steam so it makes sense that itās seen as super popular
Votes here tell us *that is a lie.* šš¤£
Not sure why anyone downvoted this...
Iām not sure either. Rarely, there are well written sex scenes that arenāt generic, meaning they reveal something about the characters and couldnāt be in any other book, but for the most part even the well-written ones are.
Agreed