Bibliography of Erotic Reading for Women

Recommended by
The Medical Center for Female Sexuality

Suggesting erotica, whether written, oral or visual, is always a risky business. What one woman finds arousing, another finds laughable. What one woman finds a “turn on,” another finds “over the top” or “too much.”What one woman finds exciting, another may find boring. We are all so individual in our sexual fantasies and likes and dislikes.

I have included here a list of books with brief descriptions. I need to be honest and say that this is a very random list. There are hundreds of erotic books out there of every size, shape and predilection. To try to read through them and “review” them would be ludicrous, even if I though my personal taste in erotica was universal, (which I don’t). So, this is a listing of books that our staff or patients have read, used and enjoyed, but you should go into a book store or go onto an online website and look around. You will have to find your own way by trying some on for size. See what you like and what turns you on, and above all, have a great time.

Friday, N. (1998) My Secret Garden: Women’s Sexual Fantasies. New York: Pocket.

This is an old book, one of the first to explore women’s fantasies published over 30 years ago. The editor asked women to mail in their fantasies and the result is a collection of very short responses, some explicit some very general. This may be good as an introduction to erotica as much of it is not explicit.

Madore, N. (2006) Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories for Women. Don Mills: Spice.

This book has an interesting twist as it goes “behind the scenes” of favorite fairy tale stories with all erotic details. It’s clever, cute and fairly explicit although tame in its language. This book can work well as an introduction to women’s erotica, for the more conservative or someone who just loves fairy tales.

Blue, V. (2007) Lust: Erotic Fantasies for Women. New York, Cleis Press.

These are fun short stories of 3-5 pages which are extremely explicit, some explore light BDSM with some tying up, playful role playing etc. This is a great basic book of women’s porn.

Burton , J. (2007) Wild, Wicked and Wanton. New York, Berkley Trade.

This is a novel about three girlfriends (and any number of guys) with a kind of a Sex and the City undertone and explicit sex scenes. This is not a collection of short stores so there is some character development for those of you who want to know who is having sex! The writing of the novel is mediocre but you’re not reading this as great fiction.

Mohanraj, M.A. (2000)Aqua Erotica: 18 Stories for a Steamy Bath. New York, Three Rivers Press.

This book is clever in that it includes short stories about water, and the book itself is waterproof so you can read it in the bathtub. The short stories (4-7 pages each) are very varied, explicit and include, married couples, singles, threesomes, lesbians etc.

Editor Blue, V. (2007) Best Women’s Erotica 2008. New York, Cleis Press.

Generally, the stories are about 4-8 pages and run the gamut of tame to more kinky with two on one sex, lesbian sex and some light BDSM. Strikingly, this collection of erotic short stories is quite well written and could even be considered literature.

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Contact: Anne Young Albanese
(914) 328-3700
anne@centerforfemalesexuality.com