7 spicy books popular on booktok right now (FYI: ‘Ice Planet Barbarians’ is still trending)
Look, I’m not proud of my self-control, or lack thereof, when it comes to smutty books I see on booktok and bookstagram. They all get lined up on my Kindle Unlimited, or thrown in a basket to buy ASAP. The popularity of these titles comes and goes faster than I can keep up with, however, so here’s a list of the titles I’m currently seeing a lot of. ‘Ice Planet Barbarians’ just won’t leave us alone, though… It’s the O.G. of spicy booktok, right?
Here’s the list of 7 series’ I’ve been seeing everywhere on socials recently:
‘The Fine Print’ by Lauren Asher
Yes, I bought the paperback of this. No, I haven’t read it yet. But soon! What really drew me to this was the cover design. It’s very different for a book moving in these circles. Don’t let the styling fool you, however, it promises to be every bit as swoon-worthy as you expect from your booktok recs.
The second book comes out this month and I’ll probably buy that too. Because the COVERS.
SYNPOSIS
Rowan
I'm in the business of creating fairy tales.
Theme parks. Production companies. Five-star hotels.
Everything could be all mine if I renovated Dreamland.
My initial idea of hiring Zahra was good in theory, but then I kissed her.
Things spiraled out of control once I texted her using an alias.
By the time I realized where I went wrong, it was too late.
People like me don't get happy endings.
Not when we're destined to ruin them.
Zahra
After submitting a drunk proposal criticizing Dreamland's most expensive ride, I should have been fired.
Instead, Rowan Kane offered me a dream job.
The catch? I had to work for the most difficult boss I'd ever met.
Rowan was rude and completely off-limits, but my heart didn't care.
At least not until I discovered his secret.
It was time to teach the billionaire that money couldn't fix everything.
Especially not us.
The Fine Print is the first book in a series of spicy standalone novels featuring three billionaire brothers.
‘Twisted Love’ by Ana Huang
The paperback “special edition” is available but you can start reading the series on Kindle Unlimited right now. I’ve been seeing this series all over the place. I even saw it pop up on Booktube too! I haven’t read any of the books yet, but it’s queued up on my Kindle. So watch this space!
There are currently 4 books in this series.
SYNOPSIS
He has a heart of ice...but for her, he'd burn the world.
Alex Volkov is a devil blessed with the face of an angel and cursed with a past he can't escape.
Driven by a tragedy that has haunted him for most of his life, his ruthless pursuits for success and vengeance leave little room for matters of the heart.
But when he's forced to look after his best friend's sister, he starts to feel something in his chest:
A crack.
A melt.
A fire that could end his world as he knew it.
***
Ava Chen is a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can't remember.
But despite her broken past, she's never stopped seeing the beauty in the world...including the heart beneath the icy exterior of a man she shouldn't want.
Her brother's best friend.
Her neighbor.
Her savior and her downfall.
Theirs is a love that was never supposed to happen-but when it does, it unleashes secrets that could destroy them both...and everything they hold dear.
Twisted Love is a brother's best friend/opposites attract romance with a hint of suspense. It's book one in the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.
WARNING: This book contains a jealous/possessive antihero, explicit sexual content, and profanity. Recommended for 18+.
‘Addicted to You’ by Krista and Becca Ritchie
What we seem to be seeing is a revival, or rediscovery, of books that were released a couple years ago. And I like that a lot! This 5 book series was first debuted in 2020. So it’s not “old” but these books come out so hard and fast it’s easy to lose some in the rush.
SYNOPSIS
She's addicted to sex. He's addicted to booze...the only way out is rock bottom.
No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway's biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.
Loren Hale's best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they've pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They've mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.
But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex.
Their real vice may be each other.
‘The Deal’ by Elle Kennedy
Oh how this makes my heart happy to see this series gaining more attention. The ‘Off-Campus’ series was one of the first New Adult, spicy romances to truly capture my heart. There are 5 books to devour and the covers have had an overhaul (even though I was quite fond of the original ones) if you want them in paperback. Otherwise, Kindle is your friend.
SYNOPSIS
She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy…
Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.
…and it’s going to be oh so good
All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.
‘Barbarian Alien’ by Ruby Dixon
‘Ice Planet Barbarians’ book two has received the same treatment as book one and you can buy a special edition paperback. I have book one… And naturally I’m going to get book two because I love the design. It’s so cute! But yeah, if you liked ‘Ice Planet Barbarians’ then you’ll probably like the follow up.
SYNOPSIS
Liz Cramer swears she'll find a way off of this alien planet she's stuck on - then she meets Raahosh, the burliest and strongest alien, who won't leave her alone, and she just might be okay with it...Twelve humans are left stranded on a wintry alien planet. I'm one of them. Yay, me.
In order to survive, we have to take on a symbiont that wants to rewire our bodies to live in this brutal place. I like to call it a 'cootie.' And my cootie's a jerk, because it also thinks I'm the mate to the biggest, surliest alien of the group. Raahosh thinks the cootie's right, because he steals me away from the group, determined to make me like him - or else. He has no idea who he's up against. And if I didn't want his insufferable self so much (thanks, cootie), I'd let him know just what I'm thinking.
As it is, I'm doing my best to fight this instant attraction. Just because the symbiont thinks we're meant to be together doesn't mean I have to go along with it. And if we fool around a little, it's just biology. It doesn't mean I'm in love. Or that I'm meant to be his.
‘Electric Idol’ by Katee Robert
Another follow up book! This is the next in the ‘Dark Olympus’ series, leading on from the previously popular ‘Neon Gods’. I’ve got ‘Neon Gods’ but I haven’t read it yet and I’ve made a deal with myself that I can’t buy this one until I have.
Seems fair, right?
SYNOPSIS
He was the most beautiful man in Olympus.
And if I wasn't careful, he was going to be my death.
*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Psyche and Eros that's as sinful as it is sweet.*
In the ultra-modern city of Olympus, there's always a price to pay. Psyche Dimitriou knew she'd have to face Aphrodite's jealous rage eventually, but she never expected her literal heart to be at stake...or for Aphrodite's gorgeous son to be the one ordered to strike the killing blow.
Eros has no problem shedding blood. Raised to be his mother's knife in the dark, he's been conditioned to accept that he's more monster than man. But when it comes time to take out his latest target…he can't do it. Confused by his reaction to Psyche's unexpected kindness, he does the only thing he can think of to keep her safe: he binds her to him, body and soul.
Psyche didn't expect to find herself married to the glittering city's most dangerous killer, but something about Eros wakens a fire inside her she's never felt before. As lines blur and loyalties shift, Psyche realizes Eros might take her heart after all...and she's not sure she can survive the loss.
‘Locked Up Liars’ by Elle Thorpe
This is book one in the ‘Saint View Prison’ series. To be honest, I have only seen these books mentioned on Booktok twice… But it was all I needed. I was on the lookout for something to read as a palate cleanser before diving into more podcast reading, and this seemed perfect!
I’ve now read all three. Fast and dirty, and features polyamory, something less common in this category of books. It’s available as a paperback, but also on KU. Stack it up!
SYNOPSIS
Nothing prepares you for finding your sister’s lifeless body covered in blood.
But when the police arrest her ex, a man I know is innocent, I can’t sit by and do nothing.
Not when I’ve been secretly in love with him for years. Heath may not want my help, but I won’t take no for an answer.
To catch a killer, I’m forced to take a job at Saint View Prison. Maximum security. The place they send the worst of the worst.
But it’s not just Heath who doesn’t want me there. Rowe, the sinfully sexy head guard has made it clear I don’t belong. I’d tell him where to go with my middle finger up, if my skin didn’t prickle with awareness every time he touches me.
And then there’s Liam, hotshot lawyer and my old high school enemy. All that tension and chemistry is still there, burning between us like flames. I need his help, but I’ll be damned if I beg for it.
With every lie we uncover, every secret we expose, the danger mounts. Until there’s only one thing we know for sure.
The killer is still out there. And I’m his next target.
Do you have any booktok recs for me? DM me on Insta!
Written by Sarah
