Much like the male love interest in a book I should not have been reading in public, the world of smut is huge. There’s sci-fi smut, historical smut, rom-com smut, smut about overeducated young women milking minotaurs to pay the bills. Whatever kind of story you like, there’s a smutty version of it — and if it’s not at your bookstore, it’s definitely on Kindle Unlimited. If you’re still feeling overwhelmed (sorry I brought up the minotaur smut), don’t worry. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular tropes and subgenres within the wild and wonderful world of smut.
A Selection of Tropes
There are approximately one million tropes throughout the smut-iverse — and there is almost always a ton of overlap — but here are a few of the most common ones for those of you looking to dip your toes in.
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Enemies to Lovers
To me, this is the classic trope. Just as it sounds, enemies-to-lovers fiction features two people who can’t stand each other but end up boning. You’re probably familiar with this one because it is the foundation for most rom-coms, going all the way back to It Happened One Night.
Examples: The Viscount Who Loved Me, by Julia Quinn (which inspired Bridgerton season two); Mile High, by R.J. Lloyd
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Friends to Lovers
If “enemies to lovers” is a little too mean for you, might I interest you in “friends to lovers”? This one can be even more intense because there are actual stakes involved: Will sleeping together ruin a yearslong bond? Time to find out.
Examples: Some Sort of Crazy, by Melanie Harlow; The Roommate Risk, by Talia Hibbert
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Grumpy Sunshine
This trope goes hand in hand with “enemies to lovers.” Usually, it involves a brooding bad boy and a cheery sweetheart of a woman. How could they ever get along? As it turns out, these two often have a crackling chemistry in the bedroom. If you’re really in your emo bag, I’d look for books with a “double grumpy” trope. Just as it sounds, it’s when both parties are big ol’ grumps.
Examples: It Happened One Summer, by Tessa Bailey; Birthday Girl, by Penelope Douglas
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Forced Proximity
Uh-oh … two people are stuck close together for reasons outside of their control. Maybe they already like each other, maybe they despise each other; whatever the case may be, they’re gonna wind up fucking.
Examples: Flawless, by Elsie Silver; Act Your Age, Eve Brown, by Talia Hibbert
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Only One Bed
A subcategory of “forced-proximity” romances, this one specifically goes like this: Uh-oh … these two people who don’t really like each other have ended up at a hotel and their reservation has been messed up. Uh-oh … they’re only booked for one room and all the other rooms are occupied. Uh-oh … it’s a room with just a queen bed. Something will get pulled out tonight, and it’s not the couch!
Examples: People We Meet on Vacation, by Emily Henry; A Week to Be Wicked, by Tessa Dare
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Reverse Harem
You understand what a harem is, yes? Well, reverse it. One woman, several men, very hot. You might also see this trope referred to as “Why choose?” Great question.
Examples: Den of Vipers, by K.A. Knight; Three Swedish Mountain Men, by Lily Gold
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Omegaverse
If we get too deep into the Omegaverse, we’ll be here all day, but what you need to know is that it basically boils down to smut that takes place in a world where humans are divided into Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. Like animals, people in the Omegaverse go into heat and begin to crave sex, and their rank determines how they go about that. If this sounds interesting to you, I implore you to read about “knotting” before you go any further.
Examples: Lola & the Millionaires, by Kathryn Moon; Bride, by Ali Hazelwood
Read about how monster smut — including the Omegaverse — took over your For You Page here.
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Size Difference
Simply put, one party is really big and the other is much smaller. These are usually paranormal romances involving some kind of mythic creature, but this trope pops up in smut about humans too.
Examples: The Orc Sworn series, by Finley Fenn; Sem, by Cora Rose
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Cinnamon Roll
A cinnamon roll is a type of character, usually a man, who is a real sweetie. Like a cinnamon roll, he’s got a soft and gooey center. There are different types of cinnamon rolls, too: A grumpy cinnamon roll has a dour exterior and a soft inside; a stabby cinnamon roll is when the sweetie is also violent.
Examples: Bohemian, by Kathryn Nolan; Falling for My Enemy, by Claire Kingsley
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Fake Relationship
You are probably familiar with this trope — Anyone But You was a very popular movie. A fake relationship can happen for several reasons, running the gamut from wanting to make your ex jealous at a wedding to needing a green card. Oftentimes, the main character doesn’t like the person they’ve found themselves in a fake relationship with (enemies-to-lovers alert), but by the end? Well, maybe that relationship is getting a little real.
Examples: The Spanish Love Deception, by Elena Armas; Hothead, by Stella Rhys
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Happily Ever After and Happy for Now
I’ll go out on a limb and guess that you know what a “happily ever after” ending is. Our two lovers have overcome adversity to wind up together; they’re lovingly kissing (and more) as the metaphorical credits roll. The “happy for now” trope leaves our main couple in a good place, but the future isn’t quite so certain. If you see people talking about HEA or HFN, this is what they mean.
Examples: Well, that would be a spoiler now, wouldn’t it?
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Playboy in Love
He has a date every night of the week, but what happens when he finally finds a woman he can see a future with? By the way, that woman? Probably could not give less of a shit about this guy; that’s what makes it hot! This trope occasionally swaps out the word playboy for “manwhore”— it’s really personal preference. I like to think of it as smut for people who secretly hope that Leonardo DiCaprio will just end up with Kate Winslet.
Examples: Hook, Line, and Sinker, by Tessa Bailey; Totally Folked, by Penny Reid
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Second-Chance Romance
Two people were hot and heavy years ago, but lost touch. Maybe it was an explosive breakup, maybe one of them moved across the country and they didn’t want to do long distance, maybe someone more serious entered the picture. Whatever the case may be, they’ve found themselves back in the same place, ready to explore what might have been and avoid talking about all their long-dormant feelings until they inevitably explode.
Examples: Seven Days in June, by Tia Williams, Count Your Lucky Stars, by Alexandria Bellefleur
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Sworn Off Love
Our protagonist has decided that she’s done with relationships. Be it because of trauma or heartbreak, she’s cynical about all things having to do with love — that is, until someone comes along who manages to get through that icy exterior via the power of sex (and love, I guess).
Examples: On Dublin Street, by Samantha Young; Tools of Engagement, by Tessa Bailey
Subgenres
Maybe you don’t care about the tropes in your smut but have strong feelings about the kind of story you’re reading. Lucky for you, smut comes in all forms and genres. From bad-boy faeries to rakish hockey players, there’s a book out there for you.
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Romantasy
Do you have friends who went through a Court of Thorns and Roses phase? Well, you should know that they were reading romantasy, lovingly called faerie smut. Just like it sounds, romantasy combines romance and fantasy and is a subgenre that’s produced several massive hits in the last few years. If you’ve ever wanted to be turned on and learn a lot about dragons in the same book, romantasy is going to be your jam.
Examples: A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas; Fourth Wing, by Rebecca Yarros
“Eyes locked with mine, he pushes into me with one long roll of his hips, consuming every inch and then taking another until he’s seated to the hilt.” ― Fourth Wing
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Historical Romance
Pick a time period and you can probably find a book in which two people are getting down in the midst of World War I, the settling of the American West, or 18th-century Scotland.
Examples: The Outlander series, by Diana Gabaldon; Indigo, by Beverly Jenkins
“‘I want to own you, to possess you, body and soul.’ I struggled slightly and he pressed me down, hammering me, a solid, inexorable pounding that reached my womb with each stroke. ‘I mean to make ye call me ‘Master,’ Sassenach.’ His soft voice was a threat of revenge for the agonies of the last minutes. ‘I mean to make you mine.’” — Outlander
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Regency Romance
You might think that Regency romance novels would fall into the same category as historical romance novels, but they are really their own thing. Originally made popular by Georgette Heyer in the mid-20th century, these books specifically concern the period from 1811 to 1820 in England. While Heyer’s books are not the smutty novels we’ve come to expect today, they laid the groundwork for books where people are getting it on in a carriage.
Examples: The Bridgerton series, by Julia Quinn; Ne’er Duke Well, by Alexandra Vasti
“Simon stopped breathing until her forefinger touched his nipple, and then his hand shot up to cover hers. ‘I want you,’ he said. Her eyes flicked downward, and her lips curved ever so slightly. ‘I know.’” — The Duke and I, book one of the Bridgerton series
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Rom-Com
For those of you who like a few jokes to go with your spice, there is a whole world of romance novels waiting for you. These books are usually set in the present day, and most contemporary romance novels fall into this category. Why should you read a rom-com when the Nancy Meyers universe exists? Well, you may be spending a summer day by a body of water or trying to escape the sweaty reality of your morning commute. And in these books, as opposed to the PG-13 movies, there’s no fade to black: Because of things like “ratings,” your typical onscreen rom-com can’t really get into what happens when two hotties finally get into bed together. Not an issue here, and while these books might be less explicit than other smut (though not always), you’ll still find a nice level of spice.
Examples: You Had Me at Hola, by Alexis Daria; It Happened One Summer, by Tessa Bailey; Funny Story, by Emily Henry
“Came here to be neighborly, Piper? Is there anything neighborly about the way I’m giving you this cock?” — It Happened One Summer
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Suspense and Thriller
If you want to get your blood pumping, allow me to point you in this direction. There is still plenty of sex in these books, but there are also usually murders and lies and deep, dark secrets. I don’t know that I can in good faith recommend reading a Colleen Hoover book, but this is where she made her bones.
Examples: Does It Hurt?, by H.D. Carlton; Verity, by Colleen Hoover
“Why did you get to be God’s favorite?” He stares down at me with a savage expression.
“You can ask him yourself when I take you down to see him.”
“Oh, God,” I cry, trying to keep my voice down but failing miserably.
“Can you see him, baby? Ask him for forgiveness.”
“Why?” I pant, another high-pitched moan nearly swallowing the word.
“Because you worship me now.” — Does It Hurt?
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STEM
Yeah, scientists get horny, too. This is basically a subgenre just for Ali Hazelwood books, although she’s not the only one asking, “What if a woman were a scientist who thought everything in the world could be explained by data … until love came along?”
Examples: Love, Theoretically, by Ali Hazelwood; The Kiss Quotient, by Helen Hoang
“His fingers stay deep inside, as if to give me something to contract around while I ride it out, and it’s perfect, this. It’s explosive, crashing, nuclear. Somewhere in the universe antimatter is being produced, and it’s all because of this.” — Love, Theoretically
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Dark Romance
These are the kinds of books that come with trigger warnings. The people who love dark romance think that 50 Shades of Grey might as well be Dr. Seuss. These books often depict violence, a lack of consent, abuse, and the most taboo kinks. Imbibe if you’re into that.
Examples: Butcher & Blackbird, by Brynne Weaver; Corrupt, by Penelope Douglas
“Pick a safe word. Do it now.” I swallow. Hard. “Chainsaw.” He huffs a laugh, a burst of warmth against my core. “How fitting, love. Now be a good girl and find something to grab on to…” he says, then passes one long, slow lick over my center. “ …Because I’m about to destroy you.”
— Butcher & Blackbird
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Sports
If you aren’t traveling in spicy circles, you probably wouldn’t know this, but people are really into hockey smut. In fact, this subgenre should actually just be called “Banging a Hockey Player.” I’ll be inclusive of the baseball romances as well, but if you want the good stuff, you’re going to be reading about goalies and their big sticks, and there’s going to be a pun in the title.
Examples: Icebreaker, by Hannah Grace; You Should Be So Lucky, by Cat Sebastian
“Nathan stalks toward me and with every step he takes forward, I take one back until my back hits the wall. The excitement begins to build as I concentrate on his furious face and for some masochistic reason, there is nowhere more excited than the spot between my legs that’s freaking pulsing.
A hand settles on either side of my head and leans down to my eye level. ‘Take off Jaiden’s jersey, or I will rip it from your body.’”
— Icebreaker
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Paranormal Romance
One of the wackier subgenres, paranormal romance includes everything from werewolf-vampire affairs to women who have sex with their doors. It’s a big tent, and everyone is welcome. A lot of it is about vampires and werewolves exploring each other’s bodies, but sometimes there’s a human in the mix, too. Awoooo!
Examples: The Black Dagger Brotherhood series, by J.R. Ward; The Immortals After Dark series, by Kresley Cole
“An overwhelming, possessive instinct flashed through him. With dread, he realized he wanted to mark her. Mark her as his. He wanted that special scent all over her so no other male would come near her. So that they would know whom she belonged to.” — Dark Lover, book one of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series
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Sci-fi
As it turns out, some aliens make for incredible lovers. You’ll also get classic sci-fi themes like space politics and dystopian futures, but the sexy aliens are what really draw me in.
Examples: The Ice Planet Barbarians series, by Ruby Dixon; Polaris Rising, by Jessie Mihalik
“He looks down at me, blue eyes glowing brightly, and his chest rumbles with the continuous purr. His hand goes between my breasts again, and I wonder if he’s checking for a purr of my own. ‘Humans don’t do that,’ I tell him. ‘We get wet instead.’ And I take his hand and guide it to my pussy, so he can see for himself.” — Ice Planet Barbarians
Read about how monster smut — including Ice Planet Barbarians — took over your For You Page here.
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Mythology
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to have sex with an incredibly powerful, immortal being? Or maybe you just want to read a familiar tale with an erotic twist? The people who write these books have you covered, and they go into a lot of detail about it.
Examples: The Dark Olympus series, by Katee Robert; The Court of the Underworld series, by Alessa Thorn
“Persephone.” He says my name like it’s a song he’s recently memorized. “Who said anything about warning off everyone else?” He nips my earlobe lightly. “What if I want to share? What if I pull your panties to the side and let whoever is interested come over here and fuck you against my chest?” — Neon Gods, book one of the Dark Olympus series
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Mafia Romance
Bada bing, indeed. These books all have a fairly similar plot: A civilian woman falls for a handsome Italian American man, only to end up in several dangerous situations because he’s the son of a capo. Or maybe she’s the daughter of an extremely powerful mafia boss, and he’s looking to move up in ranks. Whatever the case may be, she’ll probably be conflicted about his morality but stick around because the sex is really hot.
Examples: The Sweetest Oblivion, by Danielle Lori; Bound by Honor, by Cora Reilly
“I loved the taste of you, principessa. I loved how you rode my fucking mouth. I loved my tongue in you.” — Bound by Honor
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Loosely Reworked Fan Fiction
Not exactly a subgenre, but a fairly common occurrence in the smut world — let’s not forget that 50 Shades started as Twilight fic. If you wrote a really good and sexy piece of alternative-universe fanfic about, say, Kylo Ren and Rey from Star Wars crossing lightsabers, why not give them new names and share with your other stans? These writers are often reticent to acknowledge that this is what they’ve done, but with a little bit of research, you can pretty easily find out where these books (allegedly) originated.
Examples: The Love Hypothesis, by Ali Hazelwood; The Idea of You, by Robinne Lee
“The thought crossed my mind that this could be dangerous. Not the ill-advised sex with the just-out-of-his-teens pop star, but the cuddling. The lying there, drinking in his scent, watching his chest rise and fall, allowing myself to bask in my own happiness. I could fall in love this way.” — The Idea of You
More From This Series
- The Summer of Smut Has Only Just Begun
- Read Every Single Smut Book We Featured This Week
- Everything You Need to Enhance Your Smut-Reading Experience
