14 Books to Read For Your "Fifty Shades of Grey" Fix

Every editorial product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn commission.

Remember when "Fifty Shades of Grey" was the hottest book around? The 2011 novel — which then became a series, and then a movie series — took the world by storm, awakening the desires and enlivening the minds of thousands of readers. And in some senses, it gave the world of romance writing a much-needed makeover — or, rather, it opened many readers' eyes to how exciting and modern romance novels and books like "Fifty Shades of Grey" really are, not just the corny bodice-rippers they have a reputation for being.

In case you're not already a fan of erotic literature, let us make the case: romance novels are fun and often very well written, too, with interesting plots, compelling characters, and steamy sex scenes that are sure to give you a few ideas you can bring into your own bedroom. The Fifty Shades books (and movies) are a fine place to start, but if you want more books like "Fifty Shades of Grey," you have plenty of options. In fact, there's a whole side of BookTok totally devoted to swapping romance-novel recommendations. Not all of the 14 recommendations here are "Fifty Shades of Grey" dupes — they don't all deal with BDSM, for instance, and some are more on the "sweet and sensual" side of the erotica spectrum, while others are all about the graphic sex scenes. Consider checking them out — you might find the perfect book to scratch the same itch Fifty Shades did.

01
"Credence" by Penelope Douglas
amazon.com

"Credence" by Penelope Douglas

Amazon description: "Three of them, one of her, and a remote cabin in the woods. Let the hot, winter nights ensue . . . "

Additional details: With over 23,000 ratings on Amazon, "Credence" ($16) by New York Times bestselling author Penelope Douglas ranks 4.4 stars, with reviewers calling out the stellar writing, thorough character development, and steamy scenes as reasons to pick it up.

02
"My Only One" by Charlotte O'Shay
amazon.com

"My Only One" by Charlotte O'Shay

Amazon description: "'My Only One,' Book One of the Fortunato Family series by Charlotte O'Shay, is a friends to lovers, romantic suspense that's chock full of feels."

Additional details: One reviewer described the heat level of "My Only One" ($10) as "PG-rated" — but promised it gets hotter in the second half. Other readers called out the suspense and character development as reasons they couldn't put the book down.

03
"Eight Kinky Nights" by Xan West
amazon.com

"Eight Kinky Nights" by Xan West

Amazon description: "Newly divorced stone butch Jordan moves into her friend Leah's spare room, ready, at 49, to take on a new job and finally explore kink and polyamory. But moving to NYC during the holidays sends grief crashing through her, and Jordan realizes that when she isn't solely focused on caring for others, her own feelings are unavoidable. Including her feelings for Leah."

Additional details: One Amazon reviewer referred to "Eight Kinky Nights" ($14) as "serious BDSM erotica," and The Smut Report noted that the two main characters are "unfailingly kind and gentle with each other."

04
"The Kiss Quotient" by Helen Hoang
amazon.com

"The Kiss Quotient" by Helen Hoang

Amazon description: "Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases — a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old. It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice — with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan."

Additional details: "The Kiss Quotient" ($11) is a good book for anyone who values character development over straight-up erotica. But that's not to say the book slouches in the sex-scene department, either — it's just not the most graphic of the bunch.

05
"Dark Angel" by Sadie Kincaid
amazon.com

"Dark Angel" by Sadie Kincaid

Amazon description: "A dark and steamy romance, full of twists, turns and grit."

Additional details: Gabriel has been Sam's dad's best friend for years — but lines are crossed. "Dark Angel" ($19) is book one of a two-book series.

06
"The Devil You Know" by Veronica Eden
amazon.com

"The Devil You Know" by Veronica Eden

Amazon description: "'The Devil You Know' is a brother's best friend college romance with spicy tutoring lessons from the boy next door."

Additional details: You may have heard snippets of "The Devil You Know" ($15) told Wattpad style on TikTok — and the clips (and comments) agree, this plot is hot.

07
"One Last Stop" by Casey McQuiston
amazon.com

"One Last Stop" by Casey McQuiston

Amazon description: "For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don't exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can't imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there's certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures. But then, there's this gorgeous girl on the train."

Additional details: This Amazon reviewer of "One Last Stop" ($10) put it best: "What I Liked About It: Everything The chosen family, the peculiar plot, the queer love story that you can FEEL is written by a queer writer...all of it was great." Think of this pick as a rom-com with sex scenes, rather than porn on paper.

08
"Gifting Me to His Best Friend" by Katee Robert
amazon.com

"Gifting Me to His Best Friend" by Katee Robert

Amazon description: "This Christmas, my husband is going with an unconventional gift for his best friend. Me. It's only supposed to be for one night . . . But one night becomes two, becomes our entire vacation. There are no rules except the ones we make, and sharing me brings both Derek and Grayson closer than any of us could have imagined. This year, what happens in our bedroom will put all three of us on Santa's Naughty List."

Additional details: When it comes to summarizing "Gifting Me to His Best Friend" ($10), The Smut Report said it best: "This book is pictured next to the definition of "one-handed read.'"

09
"Lore & Lust" by Karla Nikole
amazon.com

"Lore & Lust" by Karla Nikole

Amazon description: "Haruka is alive, but not quite living. Surviving but not thriving. As an elite purebred vampire in the twenty-first century, he is broken. Content in his subpar existence. He is done with life. But life is not finished with him. When he receives a formal request to oversee an antiquated vampire ritual at Hertsmonceux Castle, Haruka grudgingly leaves his home to meet another purebred. The vampire is not what he expects. Truly, he is unlike any vampire Haruka has ever encountered: cautious, innocent and with the warmth and gravitational pull of the sun."

Additional details: "Lore & Lust" ($14) hits many of romance readers' favorite tropes: slow burn, friends to lovers, and vampire fantasy.

10
"Get a Life, Chloe Brown" by Talia Hibbert
amazon.com

"Get a Life, Chloe Brown" by Talia Hibbert

Amazon description: "A witty, hilarious romantic comedy about a woman who's tired of being 'boring' and recruits her mysterious, sexy neighbor to help her experience new things—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne, Jasmine Guillory, and Helen Hoang!"

Additional details: "Get a Life, Chloe Brown" ($11) falls more on the sweet side of the spectrum, with reviewers loving the representation of chronic illness and the realistic and steamy sex scenes.

11
"Perfect Addition" by KB Alan
amazon.com

"Perfect Addition" by KB Alan

Amazon description: "Now that Jesse has found a perfect partner in Grant, the new Dom in his life, he figures there's just one thing that will make their relationship ideal. And her name is Stephanie. He's not at all surprised when Grant's on board with his plan. Now they just have to convince Stephanie to take a chance on them."

Additional details: "Perfect Addition" ($9) is technically volume three in a series, but it can be read on its own without having read the earlier two installments.

12
"The One Woman" by Laura May
amazon.com

"The One Woman" by Laura May

Amazon description: "Right Person. Wrong timing. Julie manipulates what the eye can't see as a graphic designer but no matter what lens she uses, her life and her relationship with her boyfriend Mark remain mundane. Until she meets Ann. Ann is successful, beautiful, and charismatic. Julie can't deny the spark during their chance meeting. When their present entwines once again in Barcelona the spark is impossible to extinguish. When tragedy strikes, Julie must decide between her devotion to Mark and her love for Ann. Can true love survive when the timing is all wrong?"

Additional details: One Amazon reviewer called "The One Woman" ($12) a "sapphic beach read," and another called out its masterful handling of the insta-love trope.

13
"Teach Me" by Olivia Dade
amazon.com

"Teach Me" by Olivia Dade

Amazon description: "When Martin Krause arrives at Rose Owens's high school, she's determined to remain chilly with her new colleague. Unfriendly? Maybe. Understandable? Yes, since a loathsome administrator gave Rose's beloved world history classes to Martin, knowing it would hurt her. But over the course of a single school year, the two of them will find out just how hot it can get when an ice queen melts."

Additional details: "Teach Me" ($13) is another option that prioritizes character development and storyline as much as it does turning the heat up on the sex scenes.

14
"You Had Me at Hola" by Alexis Daria
amazon.com

"You Had Me at Hola" by Alexis Daria

Amazon description: "After a messy public breakup, soap opera darling Jasmine Lin Rodriguez finds her face splashed across the tabloids. When she returns to her hometown of New York City to film the starring role in a bilingual romantic comedy for the number one streaming service in the country, Jasmine figures her new 'Leading Lady Plan' should be easy enough to follow — until a casting shake-up pairs her with telenovela hunk Ashton Suárez."

Additional details: Plenty of reviewers called out the descriptive sex scenes in "You Had Me at Hola" ($12), which has become a national bestseller.