If you’re here, you already get it: sometimes you want a romance that’s sweet and steady… and sometimes you want spicy romance books that grab you and refuse to let go.
I’m writing this at the start of a brand-new year with that familiar “fresh notebook” feeling—phone full of screenshots, a notes app stuffed with titles, and a TBR that’s honestly a little dramatic. (Same.) And if you’re building your 2026 reading life right now, welcome. You’re in the right place.
This is your beginning-of-the-year check-in for Raunchy Reads: what we’re doing differently, what we’re keeping, and what kind of spicy romance book recommendations you can expect here in 2026.
What Raunchy Reads is focusing on in 2026
I want 2026 to feel like a year where reading is fun again—not performative, not stressful, not a “race.” Just genuinely good stories that hit the mood you came for.
Here’s what you’ll see more of on this romance book blog in 2026:
- High-heat romance recs when you want the spice turned up
- Trope-focused lists (because sometimes you don’t want “a book,” you want a vibe)
- More “if you liked this, try this” style recommendations
- New category hubs so you can find what you want faster (dark, age gap, paranormal, etc.)
- Clear “what you’ll get” style notes so you’re not guessing the tone before you start
And yes—there will be plenty of BookTok romance energy… without the pressure to read what everyone else is reading that week.
My 2026 reading goal (and the only rule I’m keeping)
My goal this year is simple:
Read what matches my mood.
That’s it. That’s the rule.
Because nothing kills a good reading streak like forcing yourself through a book you’re not in the headspace for, trust me, it will take you so long to get through the book. If you’re in your “soft and emotional” era, lean into it. If you’re in your “give me unhinged, intense, and messy” era… lean into that too.
This year, I’m planning to rotate through a few core lanes, so my reading doesn’t start feeling the same:
- Dark romance (when I want intensity and edge)
- Age-gap romance (when the tension is the whole point)
- Paranormal romance (because sometimes reality is boring)
- MM romance (when I want chemistry, connection, and a love story that hits different)
- MC romance (for gritty found-family vibes, loyalty, and that “ride or die” energy)
- High-heat contemporary (fun, flirty, fast reads)
- Romantic suspense (for that page-turner feeling)
- Historical Romance (I haven’t really dived into this genre, although I love it.)
If you’re setting your own romance reading goals, try choosing 3–5 “home base” tropes you always come back to. It keeps your TBR from becoming chaotic.
(Okay… less chaos.)
The 2026 vibe check: what you can expect from my recs
Let me be really clear about what Raunchy Reads is NOT doing in 2026:
- We’re not pretending every book is for everyone.
- We’re not forcing “clean girl reading” energy onto spicy shelves.
- We’re not tiptoeing around the fact that a lot of us read romance for escapism, comfort, and yes… head. So there will always be a HEA on this blog.
What you can expect:
- Honest, mood-based recs
- Specific trope notes
- Clear heat + emotional vibe
- A “read this when…” approach that actually helps you pick your next book
Because “5 stars!” doesn’t tell you anything if you don’t know whether it’s sweet, chaotic, dark, funny, slow-burning, or immediately feral.
A simple 2026 reading plan you can steal
If you want a plan that doesn’t feel like homework, try this:
Pick one theme per month (or per season) and read loosely around it.
Examples:
- January: “New year, new obsessions” (try a trope you don’t usually read)
- February: “Messy feelings” romances (emotional + romantic tension)
- March: “Protective MMC” month (bodyguard, grumpy/sunshine, who-did-this-to-you)
- Summer: “Vacation reads but make them spicy”
- Fall: “Dark romance + romantic suspense” season
And if you fall off for a couple of weeks? So what? You didn’t fail. You just… lived your life. Come back when you’re ready.
How to use Raunchy Reads this year (so you find what you want fast)
Sometimes you don’t want to scroll forever. You want:
“Give me a spicy romance book recommendation that matches THIS mood.”
So, here’s how I’m organizing things in 2026 to make your life easier:
- Trope-based posts (age gap, fake dating, found family, etc.)
- Theme lists (high heat, emotional damage, cozy-but-spicy, etc.)
- Quick rec formats for “I need something tonight”
- Better internal linking so every post leads you to your next read
Basically: fewer dead ends. More “oh wait, add that to my list too.”
A quick “start the year strong” checklist
If you want a clean, simple reset for your romance reading life, here you go:
- Pick your Top 3 tropes for 2026
- Choose 1 wildcard trope (something you normally skip)
- Decide your “comfort reread” series for bad weeks
- Make a short TBR (10–15 books) you’re genuinely excited about
- Keep a “DNF is allowed” note somewhere you’ll see it
Your reading life should feel good. Let it.
Helpful Resources
Read next: 9 Dark & Spicy Romance Books That Everyone’s Obsessed With if you want a fast list of bold, high-heat romance picks to kick off your 2026 TBR. Here is one of my favorite Dark and Spicy Romance books, Twisted Love, on Amazon.
Read next: 10 Best Age Gap Romance Novels if your favorite kind of tension is the kind that feels a little risky (in the best way). Here is one of my favorite age-gap romances, Darling Psycho, on Amazon.
Try this: Set a yearly reading goal inside Goodreads or StoryGraph so you can track your progress without overthinking it.
Try this: Use Romance.io when you want quick trope and steam-level notes before you commit to a book.
Final Thoughts
I want Raunchy Reads to be the place you come to when you’re tired of vague recommendations, and you want the truth: what kind of romance is this, how does it feel, and is it worth your time?
So, here’s to 2026: fresh tropes, better picks, fewer meh reads, and more stories that hit hard.
Some romances leave a mark—and those are the only ones worth reading.
~Kay~
