20 Unforgettable Contemporary Romance Books You’ll Fall in Love With
Ready to get swept off your feet — and maybe a little hot under the collar? We’ve rounded up 20 unforgettable steamy contemporary romance books that are guaranteed to make your heart race and your cheeks flush. From irresistible bad boys to sizzling slow burns, these stories bring all the heat and all the feels. Grab a glass of wine, find a cozy spot, and get ready to fall hard (and maybe a little dirty) for your next favorite read!
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Spice Level Guide
1 — Sweet & Subtle: Flirty tension, kisses, and fade-to-black scenes. Just a hint of heat.
2 — Lightly Flirty: Suggestive moments, heated kisses, and a little steam — but the door mostly stays closed.
3 — Medium Heat: On-page steamy scenes that balance sexy and emotional. Just enough to make you blush but still leaves a little to the imagination.
4 — Hot & Heavy: Multiple detailed steamy scenes, lots of physical chemistry, and very little left to the imagination. Definitely NSFW reading.
5 — Scorching: Explicit, frequent, and blazing. These books bring the heat hard — you’ll need a fan (and maybe a cold shower).
by Tessa Bailey
Summary:
Piper Bellinger, an L.A. socialite, gets banished to a small fishing town where she meets Brendan, a gruff, no-nonsense fisherman. Sparks immediately fly — and when opposites attract, they combust.
Spice Level: 4/5
Steamy with dirty talk that'll have you fanning yourself.
by Sally Thorne
Summary:
Lucy and Joshua are coworkers who despise each other — or so they think. Their fierce competition hides a very different kind of tension, and when a steamy elevator kiss changes everything, neither can pretend anymore.
Spice Level: 3/5
Medium heat with a deliciously slow burn payoff.
by Samantha Young
Summary:
After a disastrous flight, Ava and Caleb can't stand each other... until they can't stay away. Forced proximity, biting banter, and off-the-charts chemistry make this enemies-with-benefits story seriously addictive.
Spice Level: 5/5
Explicit and oh-so-satisfying.
by Christina Lauren
Summary:
Millie and her guy friends make a pact to find dates online — but when Millie secretly matches with her best friend Reid, things get complicated (and very steamy). Best friends to lovers never looked so good.
Spice Level: 3/5
Sweet and spicy, with lots of heart.
by Alice Clayton
Summary:
Caroline moves into her dream apartment — but there's one problem: her neighbor's nightly "activities" are keeping her up. When they finally meet, it's enemies-to-lovers perfection with a healthy dose of laughter and longing.
Spice Level: 4/5
Teasing, build-up, and eventual fireworks.
by Cora Carmack
Summary:
Bliss is a college senior who decides it's time to lose her V-card — but a one-night stand gone wrong leads to her sexy new British professor instead. Awkward, hilarious, and so much tension you could cut it with a knife.
Spice Level: 3/5
Cute with a little extra sizzle.
by K.A. Tucker
Summary:
City girl Calla finds herself in remote Alaska reconnecting with her estranged father — and sparring (and later, much more) with rugged pilot Jonah. Emotional, atmospheric, and simmering with slow-burn tension.
Spice Level: 3/5
Emotional heat with cozy, satisfying spice.
by Meghan Quinn
Summary:
A fake engagement turns very real and very steamy between Lottie and billionaire Huxley. Expect laugh-out-loud moments and lots of heat.
Spice Level: 5/5
Super steamy and laugh-out-loud funny.
by Jana Aston
Summary:
Sophie’s awkward first-time trip to Planned Parenthood takes a sexy turn when she meets the hot OB/GYN she keeps running into... and eventually ends up dating. Taboo-ish, ridiculous, and wildly addictive.
Spice Level: 5/5
Dirty and completely unapologetic.
by Elizabeth O’Roark
Summary:
College runner Olivia is struggling with secret trauma, and her coach Will knows he should keep his distance — but their chemistry is impossible to resist. A deeply emotional slow burn that absolutely wrecks you (in the best way).
Spice Level: 4/5
Angsty, forbidden, and utterly electric.
by Ivy Smoak
Summary:
Penny falls for her mysterious, brooding professor — a forbidden romance packed with jealousy, obsession, and undeniable heat.
Spice Level: 5/5
Forbidden tension and possessive alpha energy — very explicit scenes throughout.
by Christina Lauren
Summary:
Chloe and Bennett hate each other…until they don't. Sparks fly (and clothes drop) fast in this steamy office enemies-to-lovers romance.
Spice Level: 5/5
Spice Vibe: Rough, intense encounters and dirty talk — sizzling chemistry from page one.
by Christina Lauren
Summary:
Olive and Ethan fake a honeymoon vacation — and maybe fake their hate, too. Enemies-to-lovers with a splash of humor.
Spice Level: 2/5
Spice Vibe: Slow-burn sexual tension — more chemistry and banter, with one payoff scene.
by Christina Lauren
Summary:
Emily has an unforgettable one-night stand… with her future boss. Expect wild chemistry and workplace drama!
Spice Level: 5/5
Spice Vibe: Alpha dominance, possessiveness, and frequent steamy scenes.
by Anna Todd
Summary:
Good girl Tessa falls for Hardin, the ultimate bad boy, in a messy, angsty, passionate love story.
Spice Level: 4/5
Spice Vibe: Toxic tension, emotional highs and lows, intense make-up sex.
by Emma Chase
Summary:
Cocky bachelor Drew tries — and fails — to resist falling for the one woman immune to his charm. Hilarious and very spicy.
Spice Level: 4/5
Spice Vibe: Dirty, cheeky, hilarious narration with steamy, frequent encounters.
by Christina Lauren
Summary:
Evie and Carter navigate dating and fierce work competition. Light enemies-to-lovers with witty, smart tension.
Spice Level: 3/5
Spice Vibe: Playful chemistry, moderate open-door scenes with emotional connection.
by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward
Summary:
A grumpy CEO and a sassy heroine clash in a sexy, electric enemies-to-lovers romance.
Spice Level: 5/5
Spice Vibe: Alpha male heat, dirty talk, and high-voltage steamy scenes.
by Mariana Zapata
Summary:
Soccer star Sal develops a forbidden connection with her grumpy coach — the ultimate Mariana Zapata slow burn.
Spice Level: 2/5
Spice Vibe: Long, slow-burn tension with a final emotional and steamy payoff.
By Lacie Waldon
Summary:
Flight attendant Ava’s last trip turns into an unexpected second chance with a dreamy rival.
Spice Level: 2/5
Spice Vibe: Low heat, mostly flirty kisses and swoony romance with one intimate scene.
If you’re craving a romance read that delivers both the swoon and the spice, any of these BookTok favorites will hit the spot. From small towns to fake dating to forbidden kisses, there's something here to light a fire in every romance lover’s heart. Grab your coziest blanket (and maybe a fan) — it’s about to get hot in here.
Which one’s your favorite? Or which are you bumping up your TBR?