Spicy Romance Books Ranked by Spice Level

Some readers want a sweet kiss and a happy ending. Others want the pages to catch fire. If you've ever bought a romance and found it much spicier (or much tamer) than you expected, this list is for you.

Every book below is in stock at Readers Warehouse, and every one has a Spice Level on its product page, from one pepper 🌶️ (Mild) up to five peppers 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Scorching). We've grouped them from the hottest down, so you can jump straight to your comfort zone.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Scorching

The spiciest books we stock. For adult readers who want the steam turned all the way up.

• Pucking Around by Emily Rath – The first book in the Jacksonville Rays series. Two months ago, Rachel Price walked away from the perfect man after one magical night – no names, no strings. A "why choose" romance with found family at its heart.
• Between Two Kings by Lindsay Straube – A dark, high-spice fantasy romance caught between two rival kingdoms, with a love triangle and plenty of political intrigue.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Very Hot

• Twisted Love by Ana Huang – Book one of the Twisted series. Alex Volkov has a heart of ice and a past he can't escape – but for her, he'd burn the world.
• Mile High by Liz Tomforde – The first Windy City book: a spicy enemies-to-lovers ice hockey romance following Stevie and Zanders, with found family and a whole lot of spice.
• It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey – Book one of the Bellinger Sisters. A small-town, forced-proximity, enemies-to-lovers summer romance.
• Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey – Golf's fallen star Wells Whitaker has one loyal supporter left: the sunny redhead who never stops cheering for him.
• Wildfire by Hannah Grace – From the Maple Hills series. Russ and Aurora spend one night together after a university party… then both turn up on their first day at the same job.
• Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn – A steamy standalone rom-com with a marriage of convenience and a forced-proximity summer.
• The Kiss Thief by L. J. Shen – Francesca Rossi, daughter of a powerful Chicago mafia family, has her whole future planned – until ruthless Wolfe Keaton steps in.
• Flawless by Elsie Silver – Chestnut Springs book one. Professional bull riding's golden boy, the one woman he's been told to keep his hands off, and only one bed.

🌶️🌶️🌶️ Hot

• Beach Read by Emily Henry – Two writers, one holiday, and a rom-com waiting to happen.
• Game On by Navessa Allen – A dark romance with a morally grey hero who'll manipulate anyone to get revenge on his father – including Stella.
• The Right Move by Liz Tomforde – Windy City book two. A fake relationship between an NBA captain and his sister's messy best friend, who's just moved into his apartment.
• Fight by Sloane St. James – The first Sky Ridge Hotshots book: a wildland firefighter and a secretive EMT.
• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – What happens when America's First Son falls for the Prince of Wales? This Collector's Edition includes an extra chapter from Henry's point of view.
• Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score – Knockemout book one. Bad-boy barber Knox meets a stranded runaway bride.
• The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent – A romantasy set in the Crowns of Nyaxia world, following Mische after her ultimate sacrifice.
• Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey – Bellinger Sisters book two, a friends-to-lovers story.
• The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn – Bridgerton book two: Anthony's story.
• The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore – A spicy grumpy-sunshine Christmas rom-com in Dream Harbor. Kira hates Christmas… and has just bought a Christmas tree farm.
• Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas – Alexis Hert is sent to the Spartan War Academy, where monsters are made and immortality is won.
• Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young – High school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb, seventeen years on, wondering who they are apart.

🌶️🌶️ Medium

• The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros – Two sworn enemies, one unfinished manuscript, and the love story of a lifetime.
• It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover – Lily has worked hard for the life she wants – but sometimes the one who loves you is the one who hurts you the most.
• Happy Place by Emily Henry – Two exes, one pact, and one holiday with their favourite people in the world. Could this trip change everything?
• Starside by Alex Aster – The first adult romantasy series from the author of the Lightlark Saga.
• The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent – Book three in the Crowns of Nyaxia series.
• Bridgerton: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn – Simon and Daphne's fake courtship – where it all began.
• Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole – A slow-burn epic romantasy, book one of the Kindred's Curse Saga.
• The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore – Jeanie is gifted the beloved Pumpkin Spice Cafe in the small town of Dream Harbor and jumps at a fresh start. Then there's Logan, a local farmer who avoids the town's gossip at all costs.

🌶️ Mild

Swoony, romantic and light on the steam – ideal if you want more romance than heat.

• We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han – Book three in The Summer I Turned Pretty series.
• Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman – A Heartstopper novella about first love (this edition includes a notecard).
• Thorn Season by Kiera Azar – Forbidden love and court intrigue in an enemies-to-lovers fantasy.
• Fearless (Special Edition) by Lauren Roberts – The Powerless Trilogy, with rebellion and a slow-burn romance.

How to find a book's spice level

Look for the pepper chip next to the format and age on any romance product page. If a book doesn't show one yet, we haven't rated it – so feel free to ask us in store or online.

Want even more heat? Browse our High Spice collection, or shop the whole romance range by trope, from enemies-to-lovers to romantasy.