Romance Writers of America provides a simple definition of a romance. Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. Okay, I’ve got that clear. I write romance.
Another critical element of a romance is its heat level.
I was listening to a romance writers’ panel recently and a question was asked about the level of spice in a book. There was a bit of chit chat, but what struck me was that some people have a desire for high levels of spice/steam/explicit sex in romance novels, without any reference to the specific characters in that book and where he/she/they might be on their journey towards sharing their body with someone else, not to mention the author’s comfort with sharing explicit descriptions of sexual and sensual acts.
Social media, especially TikTok is changing the heat level readers expect, or are looking for in romances, and in fact some new readers are equating romance with sex, often lots of explicit sex. In fact, sex = romance. That’s a pity because romance is so much more.
But it reinforces the view that clearer guidance to readers on what sort of romance they’re picking up is needed.
In thinking about this topic, I came across a few things. Lists, for a start. Way back in the mists of time—that would be 2022, Reedsy released a list of 12 romance subgenres.
- Contemporary romance
- Romantasy
- Young adult romance
- Erotic romance
- Historical romance
- Regency romance
- LGBTI+romance
- Romantic comedy (romcom)
- Religious romance
- Paranormal romance
- Gothic romance
- Romantic suspense
I can already think of three subgenres missing from this list: sweet, medical or now STEM romance (think Ali Hazelwood) and dark romance, which was described on a Q & A thread I was reading as “a specific genre, where the subject is typically very heavy, and dark romance can include mafiosos and assassins, and deal with other issues such as stalking, murder, Stockholm syndrome, etc, and is typically not recommended for ages 18 and under.” Trigger warnings are encouraged.
But lists don’t give you the heat level, and making your own decision via a hashtag or with a misplaced adjective can be a disaster.
I found a more thoughtful discussion in Emily Keyes 2024 blog Sweet, Steamy, Spicy: A Guide to Romance Novel Heat Levels She suggests covers no longer indicate heat levels, and readers want to know before they start to read a book.
This is true from my experience. In my current series Choosing Family (Books 1-4), I have had a reviewer decline to comment on Masquerade #1 on the basis that it was too spicy for them, and other reviewers say A Just Man #4 could have done with a bit more spice. I have open door sex in my books between consenting adults, who’ve established, at a minimum, trust and affection. I often use the term heat with heart, but I’m beginning to wonder whether that accurately describes my writing.
In a variety of contexts, authors are asked to rate the spice level in their books. Hard to do when expectations are constantly changing.
At one time, I might have rated my books at a 3.5 level on the 🌶️ scale. For some reason, I think the 🔥 scale is hotter, but really chillies and bush fires can’t be compared. They’re not even measured on the same scale. Bushfires can be over 1,000 degrees celcius, whereas chillies are scored using the Scoville Heat Units (SHO) which is a measure of heat or spiciness based on the concentration of capsaicinoids, among which capsaicin is the predominant component. But, that’s a digression …
Keyes concludes that the solution for now, is to make the heat level explicit in the blurb or extra descriptive lines available on book sites. Keyes includes smut/smutty romance novels, erotic romance novels and romantic erotica novels in her definitions. On occasion, I’ve used spicy or steamy to refer to my romance, but based on her November 2024 definition that might be a mistake …
“Both (spicy or steamy) of these describe romances where sex features heavily—we’re not talking just one or two sex scenes, but a sustained sexual connection that the main characters repeatedly explore throughout the story. This connection still won’t overshadow the romance, but it’s prevalent enough that if you took out the sex scenes, the book would be shorter and you wouldn’t have to worry about forgetting to pause the audiobook of it before taking your headphones out, thereby exposing your colleagues to your elevated literary tastes.”
None of these definitions cover the heat level in books based on “dirty talk” where the level of chitchat between the protagonists is arousing and implies sex is a micro-step away, then for plot reasons, they desist or sex is ultimately not on the page.
Readers want what readers want, but from this short excursion into definitions of heat, I’m probably best to stick with open door as a descriptor, and maybe keep testing if readers interpret heat with heart as meaning sex in my books is between consenting adults who are already emotionally engaged. The consoling thing is that there are readers for every style of romance. We just have to reach our tribe.
You can find me and my books here: website FaceBook Instagram
Find me on
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/romanceauthorjen/
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jenniferrainesauthor
- Goodreads—https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22577889.Jennifer_Raines
- Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-raines
- Diana Kathryn Penn’s Indie Reads Aloud podcast has recordings of me reading the opening 20 mins of my books:
- Dates soon available for upcoming episodes for Quinn, by design—Choosing Family Book 2 and Betrayal—Choosing Family Book 3
- Masquerade—Choosing Family Book 1 (episode 188)
- Lela’s Choice (episode 143)
- Planting Hope (episode 101)
- The Anderson Sisters (episode 54 Taylor’s Law and 80 Grace Under Fire) http://www.dkpwriter.com/indie-reads-aloud-podcast.html
You can also contact me directly via the contact page on my website if you have any other questions.
Jennifer Raines 