Adult Novel Complete Guide: What is, Spotlight, History, Culture, Genres, Websites & Guidelines

1.Adult Novel Brief Introduction

1.1 What is Adult Novel

Adult novels constitute a literary genre that delves deeply into the exploration of desire, human nature, and intricate relationships. These works go beyond mere depictions of sexuality, aiming to provide profound insights into human desires and emotions.

1.2 Why People Love to Read Adult Novel

Far from being confined to the physical realm, adult novels explore the intricate layers of human nature, challenging traditional moral norms and literary conventions. Whether through nuanced emotional depictions or authentic portrayals of desire, adult novels offer a unique perspective, inviting readers into a literary realm filled with challenges and contemplation.

2.Adult Novel Spotlight

2.1 What Defines the Essence of Adult Novels 

Adult novels are not solely focused on the physical aspects but also emphasize character development and psychological portrayals. Within this genre, narratives often transcend traditional moral boundaries, courageously revealing various facets of human nature. Plots may revolve around love, desire, betrayal, or delve into more complex psychological analyses, presenting multi-dimensional character relationships.

2.2 How the Author and Reader of Adult Novels Combines

Adult novel provides authors with the space to express complex emotions and deep reflections, allowing readers to engage in the inner journeys of the characters and resonate with their struggles, pleasures, and emotional eruptions. Through bold storytelling techniques, authors create stories full of tension and allure, guiding readers to contemplate the interplay between sexuality and emotion.

3.Adult Novel in History and Culture Significance

The development history of adult novels is rooted in the long evolutionary process of literature. Over the course of history, adult novels have not only reflected the evolution of society’s sexual concepts, but also profoundly recorded the challenges of human emotions, desires and moral boundaries.

3.1 Ushered in the 18th Century

As early as the beginning of the 18th century, John Cleland's "Fanny Hill" challenged contemporary social norms, establishing itself as one of the earliest adult novels in English literature. Marquis de Sade's "The 120 Days of Sodom" left a vivid mark on the 18th century with its extreme sexual descriptions and moral subversion. 

3.2 Banned in the 20th Century

Entering the 20th century, Henry Miller's "Tropic of Cancer" explored freedom, sexuality, and existence, facing bans due to its explicit sexual content.

3.3 Popular in Recent Years

In recent years, Julie Maroh's graphic novel "Blue Is the Warmest Color" sparked extensive discussions with its authentic portrayal of same-sex love and coming-of-age.

The development history of adult novels is rooted in the long evolutionary process of literature. Over the course of history, adult novels have not only reflected the evolution of society’s sexual concepts, but also profoundly recorded the challenges of human emotions, desires and moral boundaries.

4.Adult Novel General Genres

Adult Novel spans a variety of genres, each with a unique style that explores themes of sex, relationships, and humanity. According to Five major categories: Sexual Orientation, Setting, Style, Identity and Plot, the following are General Adult Novel Genres for your reference. (You can click on the link to learn more about one certain Genre of Adult Novel.)

4.1 Sexual Orientation

BL

The BL (Boys' Love) novel genre explores romantic and often intimate relationships between male characters, delving into the complexities of love, emotions, and societal acceptance in LGBTQ+ narratives.

GL

The GL (Girls' Love) novel genre explores romantic and often intimate relationships between female characters, delving into the nuances of love, emotions, and the exploration of LGBTQ+ narratives.

BG

The BG (Boy-Girl) novel genre encompasses stories centered around heterosexual relationships, exploring the dynamics of romance, love, and interpersonal connections between male and female characters.

Bisexual

The bisexual novel genre explores stories featuring characters with fluid sexual orientations, navigating relationships and experiences that transcend traditional boundaries, showcasing the diversity and complexities of bisexual identities.

Transgender

The transgender novel genre delves into narratives that focus on the experiences, challenges, and journeys of transgender characters, exploring identity, acceptance, and the complexities of gender in diverse and compelling stories.

Asexual

The asexual novel genre explores stories that center around characters who identify as asexual, navigating relationships, self-discovery, and societal expectations while embracing the diversity of experiences within the asexual spectrum.

Bestiality

The Bestiality novel genre explores intimate relationships between characters and mysterious or fantastical creatures, depicting stories of desire and adventure that blend reality with fantasy elements.

4.2 Setting

Beginnings

Stories about Budding Adult Relationships between Strangers.

College

Stories involving Colleges, Universities, and Fraternities.

Encounters

Stories about Fleeting Adult Encounters and One Night Stands.

Exhibition & Voyeur

The Exhibition & Voyeur novel genre involves portraying protagonists showcasing themselves in public or private settings, or observing others, exploring desires and challenging societal norms.

First Time

Collection of Stories about First Time Experiences from a BBS.

High School

Stories involving High School-aged Students.

Historical

Stories set in the non-Recent Past.

Medical

The medical erotica novel genre explores intimate and sensual narratives set within medical contexts, weaving desire and passion into the complexities of healthcare environments.

Occupations/Office Sex

The office sex novel genre explores narratives where workplace dynamics blend with intimate relationships, delving into the passionate and often taboo encounters that unfold within office settings.

Rural

Stories set in Rural or Rustic Locales.

Camping

Stories involving Camping and the Outdoors.

4.3 Style

Flash Erotica

The Flash Erotica genre explores themes of love and desire in a rapid and thrilling manner through concise narratives and intense emotions.

Hardcore

The hardcore sex novel genre involves explicit and intense sexual content, exploring the raw and uninhibited aspects of intimate encounters.

Horror

The horror sex novel genre intertwines elements of horror with explicit sexual themes, creating narratives that evoke both fear and arousal.

Humor

The humor sex novel genre combines comedic elements with explicit sexual themes, crafting narratives that aim to entertain through laughter and sensuality.

Hentai

Hentai novels are a genre of adult literature originating from Japan, characterized by explicit sexual content and often featuring fantastical or animated themes.

Microfiction

Microfiction erotica is a genre that skillfully weaves brief yet intense narratives, exploring erotic themes in a compact and tantalizing storytelling format.

Science Fiction or Fantasy

Stories involving Science Fiction or Fantasy.

Steampunk

The Steampunk novel genre combines Victorian-era aesthetics with futuristic technology, creating imaginative narratives set in alternate worlds where steam-powered machinery, adventure, and romance intertwine.

Supernatural

The supernatural sex novel genre explores narratives where intimate encounters are entwined with paranormal elements, weaving desire and sensuality into worlds populated by vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural beings.

Smut

The smut novel genre delves into explicit and titillating narratives, focusing on passionate and sensual encounters, catering to readers seeking stories rich in adult content and erotic exploration.

R18/18+ 

The R18 novel genre caters to mature audiences, featuring explicit content and themes intended for readers aged 18 and above, exploring intimate relationships and desires in a bold and unrestricted manner.

Yandere

Yandere novels explore the unsettling theme of obsessive love, where characters display extreme and sometimes violent devotion towards their romantic interests.

4.4 Identity

Adult Friends

Stories about Adult Friendships that become Relationships.

Athletics

Stories involving Athletics, Gyms, Sports, and Athletes.

Adult Youth

Stories about Cross-Generational Relationships.

Celebrity

Fantasies about Celebrities, Fan Fiction, Slash Fiction.

Interracial

Stories involving People of Different Ethnicities.

Military

Stories involving the Military and Armed Services.

Mature

The mature sex novel genre explores intimate relationships and sexual experiences involving older characters, delving into the complexities of desire and connection in mature adults.

Monster Sex

The monster sex novel genre explores stories featuring intimate encounters between characters and supernatural or fantastical creatures, delving into the realms of desire and the unknown.

Swingers

The swinger sex novel genre explores stories where characters engage in consensual, open relationships, navigating the dynamics of partner swapping and the exploration of diverse and adventurous sexual encounters.

Teen

Stories about Teen's love and complexities of relationships.

Young Friends

Stories about Friendships and Relationships among Kids.

4.5 Plot

Authoritarian

Stories involving Bondage, Control, S&M, and authority figures.

Anal

Anal novels explore intimate and explicit relationships with a focus on the exploration of anal experiences and dynamics.

BDSM

BDSM novels explore the intricate dynamics of power, control, and desire within intimate relationships.

Cheating

Novels with cheating themes delve into the complexities of relationships, exploring the emotional turbulence and consequences of infidelity.

Cross-dressing

Cross-dressing novels explore the captivating narratives of characters embracing and navigating the intricacies of gender identity and expression.

Cuckold

Cuckold novels typically depict protagonists whose partners engage in intimate relationships with others, challenging traditional dynamics and exploring stories woven with themes of jealousy, desire, and intricate emotions.

Femdom

The Femdom novel genre portrays female dominance, exploring emotions and desires as women take a leading role in guiding male partners through power and control, challenging traditional gender roles.

Facesitting 

The Facesitting novel genre typically depicts protagonists establishing physical contact by sitting on their partners' faces, exploring stories of power dynamics and intertwined emotions.

Fetish

The Fetish novel genre depicts protagonists pursuing or indulging in specific sexual fetishes, delving into stories that explore individual desires and emotional entanglements.

Group Sex

The group sex novel genre delves into stories where multiple individuals engage in sexual activities together, exploring the dynamics, desires, and complexities of group encounters.

Incest 

Stories about Relationships among Siblings and other Family Members.

Masturbation

Stories about Masturbation and Solitary Exploration.

MILF

The MILF novel genre explores stories centered around mature women, often mothers, navigating intimate relationships and desires, offering a perspective that combines sensuality with the complexities of motherhood.

Mind Control

The mind control sex novel genre delves into narratives where characters manipulate or control the thoughts and desires of others, exploring the intricate interplay of power dynamics and sensuality.

No Sex 

Stories involing Erotic (possibly Fetish) but Non-Sexual Activities.

Oral Sex

The oral sex novel genre explores narratives that prominently feature intimate encounters involving oral activities, delving into the sensual and intricate aspects of this form of physical intimacy.

Spanking

The spanking novel genre delves into stories where characters explore the dynamics of discipline and desire, often involving the sensual and provocative aspects of spanking within intimate relationships.

Taboo

The taboo sex novel genre delves into narratives that explore forbidden or socially unconventional intimate relationships, confronting societal norms and challenging the boundaries of desire.

Toys

The toy erotica novel genre delves into narratives where adult toys play a central role, exploring sensual and intimate experiences that revolve around pleasure, desire, and sexual exploration.

Urination

Stories in which Urination or Raunch is a Primary Plot Element.

Wife lovers/NTR

The NTR (Netorare) novel genre explores stories centered around characters experiencing the emotional complexities of infidelity, often involving the heart-wrenching themes of one partner being seduced or taken by another.

Harem/Reverse Harem

Harem novels depict a protagonist surrounded by a group of romantic interests, while reverse harem novels feature a female protagonist with multiple male admirers, exploring complex romantic dynamics.

5.Adult Novel Reading Websites and Communities

Archive of Our Own (AO3)

AO3 is a widely-used platform where writers can share and readers can explore a vast collection of adult novels and fan fiction across various genres.

Literotica

Literotica is a popular adult literature website offering a wide range of stories, audio, and other content catering to diverse tastes and preferences.

Nifty Archive

Nifty Archive is a repository for a diverse collection of adult stories, including themes like gay, lesbian, and transgender, providing a platform for writers and readers.

Dark Erotica Goodreads Group

This Goodreads group is dedicated to dark erotica, offering a community for readers interested in exploring more intense and unconventional adult literature.

6.Best Adult Erotica Books and Authors for 2023 

Trick Shot: A Spicy Christmas Novella by Kayla Grosse

Tangled in Tinsel by Trilina Pucci

The Sinner: A Dark College Romance by Shantel Tessier

Ryan Rule: New York Ruthless Book 1 by Sadie Kincaid

Scream For Us: A Dark Romance Halloween Novella by Molly Doyle

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

You Make a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi

The Pisces by Melissa Broder

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

Priest by Sierra Simone

The Mindf*ck Series by S.T. Abby

7.Adult Novel Reading Guidelines and Principles

Enhance your experience of reading adult novels by adhering to some fundamental principles:

Respect and Consent: Choose stories that emphasize healthy relationships and clear consent, fostering an appreciation for respect and agreement.

Diversity and Inclusivity: Explore adult novels covering diverse characters, perspectives, and relationships, enriching your literary experience with greater diversity.

Critical Thinking: Approach adult novels with a critical eye, evaluating literary quality, character development, and plot depth.

Mindful Content Selection: Before delving into specific adult novels, be mindful of personal comfort levels and take note of trigger warnings to ensure you're comfortable with the themes presented.

Avoiding Stereotypes: Opt for adult novels that steer clear of perpetuating harmful stereotypes, favoring literature that challenges preconceived notions.

Support Ethical Creation: Be aware of and support platforms and authors adhering to ethical writing practices, advocating for fair compensation and respect for intellectual property rights.

These guidelines aim to enrich your exploration of adult novels in a respectful, diverse, and conscious manner, creating a meaningful reading experience.

Adult Novel is a literary field full of surprises and depth. I hope these suggestions will help you better explore and enjoy the unique experience each book brings you.