So… what makes a good sex scene?

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    Neon Gods by Katee Robert

    Why I love it: This book shows one of the most important elements of kink: negotiation. It also explores the different archetypes available — and how characters can challenge them.

  • Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

    Why I love it: It features a fabulous, large, sparkly purple dildo — not just for a gag, but as a way of giving Eve pleasure. Thanks to its accidental discovery, it also moves the plot forward.

  • Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

    Why I love it: A question I’ve often received boils down to, “Uh…how do you describe sex?” McQuiston does this beautifully in this M/M romance, opting for sparser language that doesn’t diminish the steam.

  • Invitation to the Blues by Roan Parrish

    Why I love it: The main character in this M/M interracial romance has depression. This story captures the ways that depression bleeds into everything in daily life — including sex.

  • The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi

    Why I love it: A near-dystopian fiction is not necessarily the genre you think of for featuring sex scenes. But the sex scene in this reveals character by showing two unlikely people connecting.

  • Exposed by Kristin Callihan

    Why I love it: This story shows how unexpected emotions can come up during sex. Callihan’s characters panic after they, as two sworn enemies, realize that they…might like each other? The emotional intensity gives the characters room to grow.

  • Unraveled by Lorelai James

    Why I love it: James shows how kink is as much about whips and chains as it is about feelings. Her characters negotiate and work through their disagreements before engaging in different scenes. Readers also get to learn about the emotions connected to D/s.

  • The New Bottoming Book by Janet Hardy and Dossie Eastman

    Why I love it: This non-fiction book is a great resource for writers interested in creating kinky characters. Hardy and Eastman offer tips on mindset and protocol for all types of play from a submissive’s POV.

  • The New Topping Book by Janet Hardy and Dossie Eastman

    Why I love it: This is another great resource for writers who want to write thoughtful dominant characters. Hardy and Eastman, who are both practitioners, talk about the different ways dominants can interact with their submissives during scenes.

  • The Ethical Slut by Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy

    Why I love it: This is a great go-to resource for writers building multi-partner relationships in their stories. It offers questions and obstacles that may come up for different people as well as the different types of polyamorous relationships one can build.