My Accidental Dive into the Sexy Fairy Book Universe
When it comes to books, my reading habits tend to resemble a party platter: a little bit of everything. Thrillers that keep you up too late, emotionally devastating generational sagas, weird little novels that make you Google “symbolism in dreams,” and short story collections that make you feel smart in bite-sized portions.
But after finishing something particularly heavy (read: tears in public), I needed a literary palate cleanser. Something light. Something flirty. Something that wouldn’t crush my soul beneath 300 years of inherited trauma.
Enter: romance.
A friend casually mentioned a certain fantasy romance series that had “major fan energy” and “also some, uh, spicy scenes.” I was intrigued. So, I picked up A Court of Thorns and Roses, also known in many circles (okay, mostly TikTok) as the sexy fairy books.
The first book was pure plot-driven adrenaline: drama, intrigue, fae politics, and a looming sense that everyone might die—or kiss. I tore through 200 pages waiting for the big human-fairy hookup and, when it finally happened, it was… well, worth it. But I figured I was good with just the one. It scratched the itch.
Then another friend texted in all caps:
“YOU HAVE TO KEEP GOING. BOOK TWO IS WHERE IT GETS HOT.”
Reader, I kept going.
And she was right. The second book was hotter. Like, blushing-in-public hotter. I devoured it while lying on a beach towel last summer, trying to play it cool. At one point, I glanced up and saw a woman floating by in an inner tube, reading the exact same teal paperback. Her kids were throwing sand at each other, screaming about snacks, and she didn’t even flinch. Just turned another page. I knew then: we were part of the same secret society.
There’s something almost rebellious about fully giving yourself over to a romance novel as an adult. It’s indulgent. It’s dramatic. It’s fun. And, in a world that often demands so much seriousness, it feels downright radical to prioritize pleasure in a story.
So if you’re looking for a break from the bleak, maybe it’s time to meet some fairies. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself googling fan art or saying things like, “Honestly, Rhysand has a point.”
