Audiobooks are a great way to sneak in a little reading time into a packed schedule. Stuck commuting? Swap your favorite podcast for an audiobook! Making dinner? Audiobook time! On a hot girl walk? You guessed it—grab your earbuds and queue up a spicy audiobook.
From theatrical dramatizations that are like a movie for your ears to full cast audiobooks to single narrator stories, there’s no bad way to consume an audiobook. From contemporary romance to fantasy epics, it’s easy to find a love story for any listener.
The key to a good spicy audiobook is walking the fine line between the steam we love and the storylines and characters that make us swoon. Grab your headphones and get your playlist ready to go, because these audiobooks check every box!
1. “Priest” by Sierra Simone
Tyler is a priest who finds himself in a tough situation: He’s incredibly attracted to Poppy, a new member of his congregation. As a priest, he’s expressly forbidden from marrying, but that doesn’t stop him from breaking his vow of celibacy...on the altar of his own church (whoops!).
This is one spicy audiobook, so prepare yourself! Once you finish, you can dive right back into the series with “Sinner” and “Saint.”
2. “The Local” by Dipsea
If there was ever a place for an Irish accent to shine, it’s an audiobook and “The Local” is no exception!
American college student Sabrina is just looking for a quiet place to study. The bustling pub downstairs is distracting, and Killian, the bar’s infuriatingly handsome (and irritating!) bartender even more so. What starts as innocent flirty banter across the bar quickly devolves into more and they can’t decide if they love or hate each other.
This spicy audiobook is split into 11 chapters (plus bonus content!) and each one clocks in around 10 minutes. Grab your headphones and dive head-first into this world!
3. “Unravel Me” by Becka Mack
Adam is the star goalie for the Vancouver Vipers but all he wants is for someone to love him, and not his massive paycheck (Taylor Swift’s “The Prophecy” was written for Adam and you cannot convince me otherwise!). Watching all his friends fall in love while going on date after date has him feeling more hopelessly single than ever.
Single mom and vet student Rosie is minding her own business on a walk through the forest when she gets mowed down by Bear, Adam’s massive teddy bear of a dog. Their woodsy meet-cute catches them both off guard and before long, their sweet flirtation turns into a steamy romance for the ages.
It’s the third in the series, and while you can read it as a standalone, this whole series is sweet, spicy, swoony perfection, so I recommend reading them all! The characters in this series are so funny and the banter is top-tier, which makes for an incredible listening experience. As an added bonus, the women in this series love romance books and especially love listening to their spicy stories via audiobook (main characters—they’re just like us!).
4. “Forbidden Fruit” by Dipsea
In this retelling of everyone’s favorite forbidden love story, Persephone has just been inducted into the Pantheon, which is all she’s wanted. She ducks out from the party (it was getting rowdy) and meets Hades, who shows her what a different life could be like. The series alternates between Persephone’s time in Mount Olympus and the Underworld and we get a front row seat as she learns what it is she truly wants and where she belongs.
The story is spread out over six chapters and then there’s bonus content, where you, the listener, take over the main role as Persephone. This series is an immersive and captivating listen—I was hooked from the first minute! It’s romantic, mystical, and spicy—what more could you ask for?
5. “Terms and Conditions” by Lauren Asher
In order to receive his hefty inheritance, Declan has to get married and have a child. A billionaire executive at Dreamland, he’s a workaholic bachelor with no prospects on the horizon. Marriage of convenience trope to the rescue!
After Declan’s would-be fake fiancée flakes out at the last minute, his assistant Iris steps up to the plate. She’s worked with Declan for years and is a pro at navigating his wild schedule and cranky moods. Sure, there’s a bit of an age gap (12 years to be exact) but no one knows how to wrangle Declan like Iris. But the more time they spend together—and the more they try to sell their relationship—the more the line between what’s real and what’s pretend starts to blur.
It’s the second of the excellent Dreamland series (the Kane brothers are chef’s kiss!) but you can read it as a standalone if your TBR doesn’t have room for the whole series.
6. “A Not So Meet Cute” by Meghan Quinn
Need another series about a trio of billionaire brothers with the last name Kane/Cane? Do I have a treat for you!
Lottie is on a mission to find herself a rich husband (a relatable queen) on a hot girl walk through Beverly Hills when she runs smack into Huxley Cane. The billionaire businessman is struggling to close a deal and in a last-ditch effort to seem relatable, said he was engaged to the love of his life. The problem? He’s super single.
Desperate to save his deal, Huxley convinces Lottie to be his fake fiancée. It would be an easy sell if Lottie wasn’t constantly landing them in situations where they have to act nauseatingly in love. Their chemistry is off the charts and what started out fake starts to feel very real.
It’s the first in the series and exists in the broader Meghan Quinn universe (be prepared to say hello to some other favorite Quinn characters!).
7. “All American” by Dipsea
An A-list celebrity and a charming, charismatic football player? Sign me up!
After a hard breakup, actress Harper flees Los Angeles for the grit and chaos of New York City. Between healing her broken heart and training for the role of a lifetime, love isn’t on Harper’s radar whatsoever. When she’s invited by an SNL cast member friend to an afterparty, she tags along (she needed a chance to shine, can you blame her?) and meets Logan, the host of that night’s show and NFL star.
What starts as a casual conversation turns into a very public kiss. Caught in a paparazzi whirlwind, Harper and Logan get even closer.
If you love a good sports romance (and who doesn't??) you’ll love this! This is a four-chapter series, making these short stories the perfect palate cleanser between longer listens.
8. “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas
Sure, maybe you’ve already read “A Court of Thorns and Roses” (or ACOTAR, as fans call it) but have you listened to it? This is a five-star series any way you consume it, but it really shines in audiobook format!
Feyre, a human, is hunting near the border of her world to keep her family from starving. She kills a wolf, but before she can get back to her family, she’s kidnapped by Tamlin, a faerie, and dragged to an enemy land. The wolf she killed was actually a faerie and now she’s facing the consequences.
Clocking in at just over 16 hours, this audiobook is a commitment but it’s perfect for when you want to get lost in the book world. If you really want to immerse yourself, give the dramatized version a try!
When you’re done, check out our list of books like ACOTAR for similar vibes.
9. “Done and Dusted” by Lyla Sage
If you’re looking for a book that has it all (cowboys, the brother’s best friend trope, and steam), then do I have the audiobook for you!
An accident has left barrel racer Emmy afraid to get back in the saddle (literally and figuratively) so she leaves Denver to go back to her family’s ranch in her tiny hometown.
Meadowlark is the last place Emmy expected to find herself. Still, she’s grateful to be around her friends and family. Even if that group includes the infuriating Luke Brooks, her brother’s best friend.
As Emmy works through her fears about coming back to barrel racing, she surprises herself by turning to Luke for advice and support. The way they go from irritating each other to forming a deep, unbreakable connection is so sweet.
10. “Fangirl Down” by Tessa Bailey
Fangirls, this one's for you!
Wells was golf’s rising star, but now he’s on a losing streak and his gruff exterior has driven away all his fans—except for one. She’s always there, cheering him on but when he suddenly (and dramatically) quits, even she packs it in and goes home.
Josephine believed in Wells and was disappointed to watch him call it quits. So when he shows up at her door with a proposal to have her as his new caddy to help him turn his game around (and split the prize winnings), it’s a no-brainer.
This audiobook is steamy, classic Tessa Bailey perfection. Run, don’t walk!
11. “On the Apps” by Dipsea
When Dave finds himself newly single, he does what any reasonable person does: head to the apps. While he’s never been an online dating kind of guy, he finds himself rethinking things after matching with Aviva.
When one steamy night turns into another, Dave finds himself navigating the challenges of modern dating and single life while falling for Aviva.
Each chapter in this series is about 6-10 minutes long, making this a bingeable series!
12. “Twisted Lies” by Ana Huang
When Stella’s stalker reappears after a long period of silence, she’s downright terrified. Living on her own (even though she’s in one of D.C.’s safest buildings) makes her feel even more vulnerable.
Christian owns Stella’s building and lives in the penthouse. He knows Stella through mutual friends (the couples from the other books in the Twisted series!) so he proposes that they pretend to date to force her stalker to back off. But Stella’s stalker is determined and as he increases his antics to get to her, she finds herself retreating further into the arms of Christian, who will do anything to protect her.
This is the fourth book in the Twisted series, but it can be read as a standalone. Popular audiobook narrators Cindy Kay and Aiden Snow team up as narrators for the whole series, and their chemistry is off the charts, so you’re in for a treat if you decide to listen to the full series.
If you liked these steamy audiobook recommendations, check out even more options on the Dipsea app. Sign up for a 30-day free trial and get lost in any of Dipsea’s collection of original swoon-worthy and spicy audiobooks.
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