5 steamy books that will heat up your reading list (and your bedroom!)

Picture this: It’s the weekend, you don’t have any plans and intend to either binge-watch Friends for the umpteenth time or reluctantly do some chores or take endless naps. But, may we suggest something more exciting? The Internet, specifically Bookstagram (AKA the part of Instagram that is dominated by book enthusiasts) is full of spicy romances that will guarantee you have a good *wink* time. Cosmopolitan India rounds up five scintillating reads that deserve a spot on your bedside table. 

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

An easy-breezy, cute romance on your mind? Check out It Happened One Summer, a book that features all the markings of a successful romantic comedy with a grumpy-sunshine lead pairing and knee-buckling levels of spice. In this Schitt’s Creek-inspired plot, Hollywood socialite Piper Bellinger is shipped from LA to the middle-of-nowhere, or more specifically, to a small fishing village in the Pacific Northwest by her stepdad after he’s fed up with her partying ways. There, she must manage her late father’s dive bar. Running a business is not exactly Piper’s cup of tea until a prickly local sea captain comments negatively about her skills, and she is determined to prove him wrong. In the process, they end up catching feelings for each other (of course) and bless us with a number of hot scenes. 

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 

A historical fiction that takes a spicy turn? We're already sold! Husband and wife duo Claire and Frank are reunited after World War II and go on a second honeymoon in the charming city of Inverness, where Claire stumbles upon a supernatural fairy circle and travels back in time to mid 1700s Scotland. There, she bumps into James Fraser, or Jamie, a young Scottish warrior who she falls in love with. If you're willing to endure many chapters of sizzling, slow-building tension, you'll be rewarded with some no-holds-barred steaminess.

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman

A young, ambitious journalist meets (read: interviews) a Hollywood heartthrob, and their story doesn’t end there. Ten years, they bump into each other and what ensues is a whirlwind, sexy romance you won’t be able to get enough of. One of the easier, engrossing reads from the list, we love the fun plot of this one. And while there are only two elaborate ‘spicy’ scenes in the book, the swoon-worthy chemistry between the characters will keep you hooked. 

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

A slow, steamy romance that is set in picturesque Spain? Yes, please! Catalina can’t stand Aaron, but when he offers to pretend to be her boyfriend at her sister’s wedding, she reluctantly agrees. It’s only a matter of time before their fake relationship blossoms into a real one—it’s the world of rom-coms, after all! If you’re a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope (we definitely are), then this book will fit the bill. The plot is peppered with enough erotic scenes that are sure to leave you hot and bothered. 

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma

The fake relationship trope has given us some of the sultriest romances (thank you, slow burn!), and this one by Nisha Sharma is no different. The plot revolves around Kareena, who must find a prospect within four months in order to keep her mother’s house, or her father will sell it off. The male lead on the other hand, is Dr. Prem Verma, who needs funding for a community medical center. In a twist of planned fate, the two enter into a fictitious relationship to solve each other’s woes but end up falling for each other. Cue plenty of *spicy* scenes that will leave you sweating. Grr!