Let's Talk About Spice, Baby 🌶️ | My Personal Guide to Romance Book Heat Levels

Closed door. Open door. Vague details. Play-by-play descriptions that make you blush. In the romance book world, there is something for everyone.

Not every reader wants the same heat, and that's okay. Spice levels can make or break a reading experience and knowing your spice preference helps you find your perfect book match. Whether you’re a soft-and-sweet kind of reader or you want to see the bed break and get all the kinky details, there’s a romance out there for you.

So, let's demystify what all those little pepper emojis mean.

DISCLAIMER - spice level is SUBJECTIVE people. 100% subjective. This scale is specific to my perception and how I'd rate my writing. 

🫑 Sweet & Subtle

Green pepper level. Think closed-door kisses, soft glances, and hand brushes that feel like earthquakes. The spice is more of a tease than a full-course meal. Emotional intimacy takes center stage, and the fade-to-black scenes leave the rest to your imagination.

🌶️ The Slow Simmer

This level delivers on chemistry and payoff. Closed door, mostly kissing or some serious make-out sessions, but heavily focused on the emotions and the buildup, in addition to the character development. Think soft lighting, tasteful details, and plenty of “he touched her arm and she forgot her own name” moments.

🌶️🌶️ Open-Door Heat

At least one, possibly two, open-door scenes, but still vague in description. Playful chatting, and more descriptive detail but the author's not throwing out c***'s and c***'s all over the page.

🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spicy With a Side of Sweat

Creative use of surfaces. Characters who get after it, with consent, of course. Perhaps a character learns they have a surprise kink or two. Spice is a key part of the relationship arc and is used to deepen connection, drive tension, or even cause conflict. 

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️  NSFW Territory

Welcome to the land of toe-curling scenes, spicy language, and maybe a few toys or kinks thrown in for good measure. Dirty talk for days, and there is definitely creative use of everyday items.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Off the Charts

At this point, the spice is the plot. Think kink exploration, multiple partners, or more adventurous tropes. It's still romantic, still character-driven, but absolutely not for the faint of heart.

So, where do I rate my books? I'm in the 🌶️🌶️🌶️ to 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ range. I like to build the slow burn…and then let it burn the place down.

In Sweet Heat, you can expect a solid 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, with all the flirty banter, slow burn tension, and open-door scenes, and dirty talk you crave. 

Do you have a favorite spice level? Let me know in the comments!

🩵💋 Babette