More than a third of women who read steamy novels fantasize about their literary heartthrob in bed, according to new research.
A survey of 2,000 women who read romantic literature found that great sex shouldn’t just be saved for romance books.
More than a third of women admit they’ve imagined their partner to be a character from their book (38%).
Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of K-Y, to help provide sexual wellbeing and intimacy support, results found that the average respondent read these steamy books twice a week — and reports feeling turned on just as often.
From “Lights Out” to “It Ends With Us” and “A Court of Thorns and Roses,” respondents’ spice levels vary in their favorite reads.
While most think that intimate scenes in the books they read are realistic (60%), one in five isn’t always convinced.
Even when the books are well-written, 58% wish they were more realistic by better portraying emotions or nerves (33%) and incorporating more realistic dialogue (33%).
Others think these books can benefit from more realistic scene-setting (32%) and more tension or foreplay in the buildup (29%).
While six in 10 are interested in spicy books for fun (62%), others turn to steamy novels to escape everyday life (53%) and unwind and relax (52%).
A third (34%) say these scenes let them explore their fantasies and curiosities, and nearly a quarter even find sexual inspiration in their pages.
Romance novels are doing more than igniting imaginations; they are normalizing conversations that were once taboo.
Two-thirds of respondents believe that scenes in these books help normalize things that may have previously been misunderstood.
More than half of respondents think that the taboo around women being able to speak about their intimate desires has gotten better over the past year (53%) — lining up with the rise of #BookTok and other romantic reader communities.
Social sharing is common: 30% have engaged with romantic book content on social media in the past year, and 41% use these platforms to find inspiration for their next steamy read.
Half of the women surveyed revealed that they discuss the intimate books they read with their other female friends (52%).
And while it may be awkward to break the ice, 44% of these respondents now bond over originally feeling “weird” about it at first.
“Spicy books often skip the real-life details of sex that make it more comfortable and enjoyable — like using a lubricant,” said Bruno Funari, managing director of K-Y.
“Representation matters because it helps show readers that prioritizing comfort and pleasure is not only normal, but empowering.”
These spicy conversations are bringing the heat off the page and carrying them over to the bedroom.
Fifty-five percent of women surveyed feel more empowered to have open conversations about sex with their partner after reading romance books.
A similar percentage discuss the books they read with their partner (57%).
A third of those who don’t discuss their romance reads with their partner have said the main reason is that they feel awkward bringing it up.
That said, two-thirds of women who do talk about it openly have reported becoming even more comfortable with their intimate needs and more curious about trying new things in bed.
Most erotic readers have tried something in bed that they read in a book (53%), with 27% saying they’ve even roleplayed a specific scene from a book.
Thirty percent have discovered more of what they’re interested in — more appreciative of intimacy (29%) and using new toys, lubricants, and other extras (22%).
On average, respondents use “extras” in bed twice a month, like sex toys (35%), lingerie (31%), and lube (26%).
To turn the heat up even more, women surveyed shared that they’d like to get more experimental with sex toys (32%), restraints (24%), costumes (17%), and lube (16%).
“Women aren’t just reading spicy stories — they’re getting inspired and gaining real-life confidence from them,” Funari said. “We’re tapping into this cultural moment because women deserve products that support comfort and pleasure beyond the page.”
Women’s Favorite Romance/Erotic Books
- The Black Flamingo
- The Notebook
- Lights Out
- The Kiss Quotient
- The “Twilight” saga
- Fifty Shades of Grey
- Ugly Love
- Tell Me to Stop
- Fourth Wing
- A Court of Thorns and Roses
- Throne of Glass
- Wild Love
- The Coldest Winter
- It Ends With Us
- Twisted Love
- Haunting Adeline
Most Unrealistic Parts of Literary Intimate Scenes
- “They tend to leave out the natural things that may happen during sex.”
- “Length of performance.”
- “The people are always young, good-looking and have no issues with having sex.”
- ● “Sometimes they go from clothes on to off, or they don’t bother with proper lubricant.”
- “The characters have sex too soon in the story.”
- “Naughty deeds being done in public.”
- “How perfect everything seems to be. The characters always know exactly what to do, there’s never any awkwardness, and everything happens flawlessly.”
- “Some of the locations/positions do not seem possible.”
- “They are always in tune with their partner, and they both always orgasm.”
- “The frequency of intense sexual encounters.”
- “Often they go to full penetration without any foreplay.”
- “That the couple’s climax at the same time.”
- “Sometimes the size of specific body parts is a bit unrealistic.”
- “Both partners are ready to go immediately and are experiencing a high level of consistent pleasure and already are skilled at pleasuring each other. No one ever talks about protection.”
Research methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 women who read romance/erotic novels, half of whom are in a relationship, who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by K-Y and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Nov. 7 and Nov. 17, 2025. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.
