by Alba Galvan
Books are often created as a way for people to escape reality or reduce stress, but what most don’t realize is that books are also there as a way to be self-expressive and learn new things about yourself.
A common misconception people have about erotica is that it’s just pornography, but in words – it’s not. Erotica is mainly deep storytelling that explores intimacy, relationships and personal desire with the help of sex as a way to bridge human connection. For example, pornography is aimed at sexual arousal and immediate gratification; whereas, reading it allows readers to enter characters’ thoughts and feelings, creating a more meaningful outlet for exploration, as it encourages people to actively engage with desire rather than passively consume it.
Everyone has their own comfort zones, so this isn’t meant to push anyone, but have you ever wondered about sexual desires you’re too scared to personally try or look up online? Maybe you might not even know what to look up, but are curious about it. Well, books are a way to safely explore desires, intimacy and connections.
Erotica in books can differ; romance books are more on the lighter side, whereas dark romance introduces a more explorative side of sex that also touches on subjects like psychological or taboo relationships, characters who have experienced trauma and abuse. Some books are in between, but a BookToker — a.k.a, a TikTok book influencer — would be able to give recommendations with a slight synopsis if readers are interested.
BookTok is a community on TikTok that promotes reading books, and there are different spaces or creators that can help one further learn and explore different genres. Many creators create content for dark romance or romance readers, each trying to target different audiences with the same goal: to recommend books. A few top creators are @cassiesbooktok, @larissa.cambusana and @madicantstopreading, who frequently make recommendations for new readers.
An anonymous person on the site ‘Medium’ that goes by “The Bookaholic” writes about why erotica commonly gets dismissed or stigmatised with a post called Why You Should Read More Erotica: How Turning Pages Can Be a Turn On, where they talk about what erotica is and how it can be helpful.
“Erotica offers the chance to explore different dynamics, kinks, or power structures, all from the comfort of your imagination,” The Bookaholic said. “Think of it like travelling to exotic locations you might never visit — it’s a way to broaden your horizons, but for your sensuality.”
Here are a few recommendations from me, personally. Penelope Douglas is a bestselling dark romance author who pushes boundaries with psychological tension, taboo dynamics and explicit intimacy. They are known for books like Punk 57, Credence and The Devil’s Night series — all of which got heavy attention on BookTok. Lauren Asher, bestselling author and known for her Dreamland Billionaires series, is a popular romance contemporary author who creates books with slow-burn tension, chemistry and relationship intimacy. Other bestselling authors who are highly recommended are Elle Kennedy, Ali Hazelwood, Tessa Bailey, H.D Carlton, Ana Huang, Emily McIntire and Katee Roberts. The authors listed create their books in a way that helps readers stay engaged with the content, and good flow and writing styles are easy to understand, with stimulating storytelling.
Alba she/her, LumberJack reporter. Journalism major who loves to read and write. She’s very passionate about sharing and listening to different opinions and loves self-expression. Contact email: agg83@humboldt.edu
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