The year 2025 is shaping up to be a sizzling one for romance readers! With steamy releases from bestselling authors and new voices alike, this year’s lineup of spicy and smut-filled romance novels promises to deliver everything from dramatic love stories to laugh-out-loud rom-coms, and a whole lot of heat in between. Whether you’re into small-town charm, LGBTQ+ love stories, or high-stakes passion with a dash of mystery, there’s something for everyone to savor.

Here’s your guide to the most anticipated spicy romance and smut books releasing this year. Get ready to heat up your TBR list!

1. Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

Jasmine Guillory, a favorite among romance readers, offers her fans something fresh in Flirting Lessons. This delightful foray into queer romance tells the story of Avery and Taylor, two characters who couldn’t be more different. Avery, a shy and self-doubting newbie to dating women, teams up with bold and confident Taylor, who’s determined to win a bet about staying celibate for a summer. The result? Fireworks, playful banter, and plenty of steam as flirtation lessons turn into something much more personal.

A highlight of this novel is its stellar representation of queer love, a lively supporting cast, and Guillory’s signature charm. If you enjoy opposites-attract romances with just the right blend of humor and heat, don’t miss this one!

2. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore

Laurie Gilmore’s The Strawberry Patch Pancake House, set in the cozy small-town world of Dream Harbor, is as heartwarming as its title implies. This time, Gilmore turns up the spice with the story of Archer, a single dad reconnecting with his newly discovered daughter, and Iris, the live-in nanny who becomes much more than just an employee.

Between delectable pancake-house banter and simmering glances in the kitchen, their chemistry is undeniable. What truly sets this book apart, though, is Gilmore’s ability to explore themes of family, grief, and healing, even as she dives into steamy territory. Perfect for those looking for romance with depth alongside the heat!

3. Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura

What happens when an ambitious archaeologist, a grumpy co-leader, and a hot investigative journalist are thrown into the depths of the Amazon in search of the Lost City of the Moon? Answer: lots of sassy comebacks, sweltering jungle steam, and literal vine-swinging adventures!

Jo Segura’s Temple of Swoon has it all. Think Indiana Jones, but make it sexy. Dr. Miriam Jacobs, a klutzy but clever academic, must prove herself on this high-stakes expedition, all while dodging ancient traps and the growing pull toward the irresistible journalist who’s documenting their every move. Sexy tension meets action-packed thrills in this unputdownable romance that will leave your pulse racing.

4. The Relationship Mechanic by Karmen Lee

Karmen Lee’s second entry in the Peach Blossom series, The Relationship Mechanic, is a sapphic small-town romance that raises the temperature. Jessica, a woman on the run from scandal, finds herself stranded in Peach Blossom, where she crosses paths with Vini, a skilled mechanic who’s as fiery as her blowtorch.

Their romance is full of sweet misunderstandings and laugh-out-loud moments, with plenty of tender, steamy scenes that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Lee’s thoughtful exploration of identity and belonging, combined with her ability to write deliciously spicy encounters, makes this book a must-read for fans of queer romance.

5. The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea

If you love forbidden romances with high-stakes drama, Amy Lea’s The Bodyguard Affair should be at the top of your reading list. Political assistant Andi Zeigler finds herself in a scandal that could risk her career, and fake-dates none other than her boss’s ruggedly gorgeous bodyguard. What starts as a ruse quickly spirals into intense passion that neither of them can ignore.

Lea expertly mixes sizzling chemistry with deeply emotional moments, creating a romance full of heart and heat. With its fake-dating trope and high-profile setting, this book promises to captivate readers who love intense, scandal-filled romances.

6. Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage

For fans of western romances, Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage is here to sweep you off your feet. This installment of the Rebel Blue Ranch series focuses on Cam, a single mom whose carefully planned life is turned upside down when her ex-fiancé calls off their wedding. Enter Dusty, her smoldering high school sweetheart, who wastes no time reminding Cam that love in all its messy, passionate, and satisfaction-filled glory may not be so bad after all.

With cowboy charm and second-chance romance vibes, this book is as tender as it is spicy. Lyla Sage knows how to serve up love, laughter, and longing against the backdrop of a beautifully depicted ranch life.

7. The Princess and the P.I. by Nikki Payne

Genre-blending meets steamy romance in The Princess and the P.I. by Nikki Payne. Fiona Addai is a social media sleuth by day, but when her real-life mystery leads her straight into a tech scandal, she’s forced to team up with a broody private investigator to solve the case.

This romance comes with twists, turns, and plenty of sexual tension that will have readers staying up late to find out how Fiona’s story unfolds. A unique plot, coupled with Nikki Payne’s razor-sharp characters and knack for penning seriously spicy moments, makes this book a standout of the year.

8. A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander

For lovers of historical romances with a queer twist, TJ Alexander’s A Gentleman’s Gentleman offers a delightful slow burn with a healthy dose of Regency-era drama and self-discovery. Christopher Eden, a trans man with pressing inheritance issues, must marry quickly, and while he strategizes his way out of societal expectations, his valet James Harding becomes an unexpected source of comfort, strength, and attraction.

Though the slow build of their relationship is steeped in emotional depth, the steamy payoff is worth the wait. Alexander’s stunning prose and nuanced characters make this one of the year’s most exciting historical romances.

9. Onyx Storm by Scarlett St. Clair

Scarlett St. Clair returns with her signature romantasy touch in Onyx Storm, a dark tale of gods, mortals, and forbidden love. The story follows Elara, a mortal cursed to wield destructive power, and Cadan, the storm god tasked with ensuring her demise. Sparks fly – literally and figuratively – as their connection deepens and they uncover secrets that could reshape the balance of their world.

With hypnotic prose, vividly imagined worlds, and scorching intimate scenes, St. Clair proves once again why she’s a master of blending romance and fantasy. This book delivers the perfect storm (no pun intended) of emotion, tension, and spice.

10. Shadows of the Fae by Mariana Frost

Closing the list is Mariana Frost’s Shadows of the Fae, a debut that’s already making waves in the romantasy genre. Set in the magical kingdom of Aeloria, the book follows Oriana, a fierce fae warrior seeking vengeance against the traitors who destroyed her family. Unexpectedly, her path crosses with Kaelan, a half-fae assassin with a dark past and a hidden agenda.

The tension between the two is electric, and their slow-burning romance creates the perfect balance of angst and passion. Packed with lush world-building, political intrigue, and sizzling chemistry, Shadows of the Fae offers an immersive reading experience that romantasy fans will adore.