Buying Guides · Half or Nothing
More spicy romances and romantasy picks readers can't stop talking about, with spice levels, content warnings and Amazon deals at 50% off or more.
2026-10-11 · Written by Dann Nazario · 16 min read
Explore spicy romances, from billionaire and rom-com to dark romance and romantasy, with a simple guide to how much heat each one brings. Learn what "spicy" actually means and see my own heat rating, from one to five chili peppers, for every book. The Half or Nothing deals below are 50% off or more. Prices and availability can change, so check the Amazon page before you buy. You will find books in English and in Spanish; the Spanish ones are marked as Spanish editions. * These are only some of the books in this series. I keep adding more as I find them at 50% off or more. You can ask me to look up a book on social media.
In This Article
Okay, so apparently, we are not done talking about spicy romance. And honestly? Why would we be?
If you thought Part 1 was enough to keep your reading list busy, I have a feeling you are going to need a little more room on that TBR. There are just too many good stories out there, and some of them deserve a spot on your list immediately. You know the kind: the chemistry is ridiculous, the tension is doing entirely too much, and suddenly you are telling yourself, just one more chapter for the fifth time that night.
After more than 450 books read and logged on Goodreads, I have learned that finding a good romance is about more than a pretty cover or an intriguing blurb. I want characters I can get invested in, chemistry that actually delivers, and a story that makes me forget I have responsibilities waiting for me. And when a book manages to bring all of that together with just the right amount of spice? Well, you already know I am going to have opinions.
So here we are with Part 2, because one list was never going to be enough. Whether you are in the mood for slow-burn tension, a little delicious chaos, or a story that gets increasingly difficult to put down, there might be something here for you. I read in both English and Spanish, so keep an eye out for the Spanish editions, which are clearly marked.
As always, Half or Nothing is all about finding deals worth talking about. Some of these books may not have reached our 50% off or more threshold yet, but that does not mean I am crossing them off the list. When I find one of those discounts, I will let you know.
And if you have not checked out Part 1 of my spicy romance picks, you can start there, too. There are plenty of stories to get lost in, and I am certainly not running out of recommendations anytime soon.
Now, be honest: are you adding to your TBR, or are you about to abandon your plans for the evening and start reading?
Spicy is not a genre as such. It is a term readers use for books of any genre with highly erotic scenes and plenty of sexual tension, as Planeta de Libros explains, in Spanish. It took off on BookTok. Readers share their favorite spicy reads there and often rate them with hot pepper emojis on a scale of one to five, as CBC News reported.
There is no official rating, so here is how I use the scale: one chili is mostly tension and kisses, and five is as explicit as it gets. Every book below shows my own rating. Want a second opinion on heat? Reader sites like Romance.io and StoryGraph show how other readers rate each book.
New to spicy romance? Part 1 has the full guide, from open door vs. clean to romantasy and dark romance.
You'll see plenty of familiar favorites throughout this list. If you spot a trope in a book's "Why You'll Get Hooked" note that you do not know yet, Part 1 has a simple guide to what it means.
| Book | Author | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Twisted Games | Ana Huang | Royal romance, bodyguard |
| The Worst Best Man | Lucy Score | Rom-com, wedding party |
| Book Lovers | Emily Henry | Rom-com, rivals |
| Too Late, Definitive Edition | Colleen Hoover | Dark romantic thriller |
| Never After, books 1 to 3 | Emily McIntire | Dark romance, villains |
| What Lies Beyond the Veil | Harper L. Woods | Dark fae romantasy |
| A Touch of Darkness | Scarlett St. Clair | Greek myth retelling |
| Fairy Tale Retellings, Volume I | Scarlett St. Clair | Romantasy, fairy tales |
| House of Sky and Breath | Sarah J. Maas | Urban romantasy |
Deals checked October 11, 2026. Prices and availability can change. More deals are on the Half or Nothing Amazon Picks page.
At a Glance
Half or Nothing Find
Bloom Books paperback, 2022.
Checked October 12, 2026. Prices and availability can change.
Spice Level (My Take): 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 of 5
Content Warnings: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start.
What It Is About, No Spoilers
Rhys Larsen is an elite bodyguard with two rules: protect the client, and never get emotionally involved. Then he is assigned to Princess Bridget von Ascheberg, who is every bit as stubborn as he is.
Why You'll Get Hooked
Bodyguard, royal romance, forbidden romance.
At a Glance
Half or Nothing Find
Bloom Books paperback, 2024.
Checked October 12, 2026. Prices and availability can change.
Spice Level (My Take): 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 of 5
Content Warnings: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start.
What It Is About, No Spoilers
Maid of honor Franchesca Baranski has the wedding under control. Then the best man shows up with a big attitude and an even bigger checkbook. Aiden Kilbourn does not do long-term relationships, and she has no plan to be the exception.
Why You'll Get Hooked
Wedding party, rom-com.
At a Glance
Half or Nothing Find
Berkley paperback, 2022.
Checked October 12, 2026. Prices and availability can change.
Spice Level (My Take): 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 of 5
Content Warnings: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start.
What It Is About, No Spoilers
Nora Stephens is a cutthroat literary agent who is not the heroine type, and she knows it. When her little sister Libby begs her for a month-long sisters' trip to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, Nora expects a small-town transformation. Instead, she keeps running into Charlie Lastra, a brooding editor from back in the city.
Why You'll Get Hooked
Rivals, small town, books and publishing.
At a Glance
Half or Nothing Find
Grand Central Publishing paperback, Definitive Edition, 2023.
Checked October 12, 2026. Prices and availability can change.
Spice Level (My Take): 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 of 5
Content Warnings: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start.
What It Is About, No Spoilers
Sloan will go through hell and back for the people she loves, including paying for her brother's care. That is how she ends up tied to Asa Jackson, a notorious drug trafficker. His attachment to her turns into a dangerous obsession. When undercover DEA agent Carter enters the picture, Sloan feels an instant attraction. She also knows what Asa would do if he found out.
Why You'll Get Hooked
Obsessive love, an undercover agent, a dark romantic thriller.
At a Glance
Half or Nothing Find
Bloom Books boxed set, 2025.
Checked October 12, 2026. Prices and availability can change.
Spice Level (My Take):
Hooked: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 of 5 Scarred: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 of 5 * Wretched: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 of 5
Content Warnings:
Hooked: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start. Scarred: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start. * Wretched: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start.
What It Is About, No Spoilers
A dark, seductive series where the villains get their happy endings. The box includes Hooked, Scarred and Wretched. Hooked is a revenge plan against the daughter of an enemy that turns into something much harder to control.
Why You'll Get Hooked
Villain romance, revenge, dark romance.
At a Glance
Half or Nothing Find
Bramble Deluxe Edition paperback, 2025.
Checked October 12, 2026. Prices and availability can change.
Spice Level (My Take): 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 of 5
Content Warnings: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start.
What It Is About, No Spoilers
For nearly 400 years, the Veil has protected humans from the Fae. When it shatters, those who share a soul bond with a Fae are marked. They are hunted by humans and by the Fae who want them back. Then she meets him, and the bond grows stronger every day.
Why You'll Get Hooked
Fae romance, soul bond, dark romantasy.
At a Glance
Half or Nothing Find
Bloom Books paperback, 2021.
Checked October 12, 2026. Prices and availability can change.
Spice Level (My Take): 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 of 5
Content Warnings: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start.
What It Is About, No Spoilers
Another take on Hades and Persephone, this one in the mortal world. Persephone is the goddess of spring in title only. One hand of cards in a forbidden nightclub puts her across the table from the god of the dead.
Why You'll Get Hooked
Greek myth retelling, gambling, mortal world.
At a Glance
Half or Nothing Find
Bloom Books hardcover, 2025.
Checked October 12, 2026. Prices and availability can change.
Spice Level (My Take):
Mountains Made of Glass: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 of 5 Apples Dipped in Gold: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 of 5
Content Warnings:
Mountains Made of Glass: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start. Apples Dipped in Gold: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start.
What It Is About, No Spoilers
A hardcover bind-up of the first two novellas in the series. In Mountains Made of Glass, a cursed village sends Gesela to live with the seventh brother, the one they call the beast. He offers her a deal: guess his true name in seven days and she goes free. In Apples Dipped in Gold, Samara is on her way to marry a handsome prince when her carriage is ambushed by Lore, the Prince of Nightshade. He has pined after her for seven long years.
Why You'll Get Hooked
Fairy tale retellings, broody princes, high heat.
At a Glance
Half or Nothing Find
Bloomsbury hardcover, book 2 of the Crescent City series.
Checked October 12, 2026. Prices and availability can change.
Spice Level (My Take): 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 of 5
Content Warnings: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start.
What It Is About, No Spoilers
The sequel to House of Earth and Blood. Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal after saving Crescent City. But with the rebels chipping away at the Asteri's power, the threat the rulers pose is growing. Bryce, Hunt and their friends get pulled into the rebels' plans. They have to choose: stay silent while others are oppressed, or fight for what is right.
Why You'll Get Hooked
Sequel, rebellion, a couple fighting for what is right.
This is one of the most talked-about spicy romances right now. It has not reached 50% off or more yet, so it is staying on our watch list for now. We'll update this section when a qualifying deal appears.
At a Glance
Half or Nothing Find
No deal yet. We have not found this one at the discount we want right now. Find it on Amazon
Paperback, first book of the series.
Spice Level (My Take): 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 of 5
Content Warnings: Readers report content warnings for this book on StoryGraph. See the full list before you start.
What It Is About, No Spoilers
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to live a quiet life among books and history. Instead, her mother, the commanding general, orders her to join the candidates trying to become dragon riders at a brutal war college. Violet is smaller than everyone else, and dragons do not bond with humans they see as fragile. They incinerate them.
Why You'll Get Hooked
Dragon riders, a brutal war college, a heroine nobody expects to survive.
As promised in Part 1, this section is for readers looking for Spanish-language romance. We have not found any titles here at 50% off or more yet, so these are watch-list picks rather than current deals. When one qualifies, we'll add the verified price and link here.
| Book | Author | Edition | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piedras gemelas (El papel del destino 1) | Eva Pérez Carretero | Spanish, Kindle | Find it on Amazon |
| Culpa mía (Culpables 1) | Mercedes Ron | Spanish, Kindle | Find it on Amazon |
| En los zapatos de Valeria (Valeria 1) | Elísabet Benavent | Spanish, Kindle | Find it on Amazon |
| Pídeme lo que quieras, serie completa | Megan Maxwell | Spanish, Kindle | Find it on Amazon |
| Nosotros en la luna | Alice Kellen | Spanish edition, paperback | Find it on Amazon |
Found on amazon.com on October 11, 2026. Prices and availability can change. Check each one again before publishing.
Spicy is not a genre as such. It is a term readers use for books of any genre with highly erotic scenes and plenty of sexual tension, as Planeta de Libros explains, in Spanish. It took off on BookTok, where readers often rate spicy reads with hot pepper emojis on a scale of one to five, as CBC News reported.
In a clean or wholesome romance there are no sex scenes on the page, only romance and kisses. In an open door romance you will see sex on the page. Spicy or steamy books are the ones where sex features heavily, as The Romance Genre Specialist describes it.
Every book in this post shows my own spice rating, from one to five chili peppers, and a link to the content warnings readers report on StoryGraph. Check that list before you start, especially for dark romance and romantasy, which can carry heavy themes.
These are only some of the books in my romance series. As I keep finding books at 50% off or more, I will keep adding them in new posts. A sapphic edition is coming too. Is there a book or an author you would like me to look up? Send me a message on social media and I will go find the deal. Browse everything on the Half or Nothing blog.
About the author: Dann Nazario is a reader with more than 450 books logged on Goodreads. Dann writes about book deals for Half or Nothing.
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