If you’re looking for BDSM books like Fifty Shades of Grey then you are in the right place.
Whether you want to check out one of the most popular romance books of the last decade or skip it and read something different instead, you’re sure to find a BDSM book to spark your interest in this book list!
Fifty Shades of Grey helped to normalize BDSM books in the romance genre and I’ve got the absolute best of the best that should claim a spot on your TBR list.
On this book list, I’ve included my favorite BDSM books as well as some of the most popular on Goodreads if you’re looking to see what the fuss is all about.
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
My Favorite BDSM Books
Desperate Measures
by Katee Robert
Once upon a time, I was a sheltered princess. On the night Jafar takes everything from my father, he offers me a bargain—walk with my freedom and nothing else, or attempt to best him and regain my inheritance.
In my arrogance, I play right into his hands. Now Jafar owns me, body and soul.
We fight during the day, but when night comes, we play out every fantasy I’ve never allowed myself to admit to having. He sees to my every need, no matter how carnal or extravagant. It’s almost enough for me to be happy.
But a gilded cage is still a prison, and I’ll do anything to obtain my freedom—even betray the man I’m falling for.
Robert gives a Disney princess “retelling” in this BDSM book that gives a modern look at the story if Jasmine actually ended up with Jafar.
It explores the development of a dominant/submissive relationship between these two within the context of Jasmine exploring her interests.
It’s a compelling story and one hot book that kicks off an entire series of retellings.
Beautiful Bastard
by Christina Lauren
Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate–and completely irresistible.
Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business.
He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative–completely infuriating–creature he now has to see every day.
Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules–or outright smash them–if it means he can have her. All over the office.
This book is so incredibly popular and with good reason as it’s one of Christina Lauren’s best.
It has the perfect enemies to lovers vibe within an office romance where two strong-willed people come together and the chemistry is off the charts.
While Bennett and Chloe don’t have a traditional dom/sub relationship, if you like alpha males who say and get what they want, then it’s a must-read.
The Duke I Tempted
by Scarlett Peckham
Having finally redeemed his family name, the Duke of Westmead now needs to produce an heir. Which means he must find a wife who won’t discover his secret craving to spend his nights on his knees.
Poppy Cavendish has never wanted to marry. Her only desire has been to build a successful botany business to keep her independence.
But when her reputation is ruined, Westmead proposes a marriage of convenience which she cannot refuse.
Looking for a historical BDSM book? Then this is it, and one of the best erotic historical romance novels.
Peckham pulled me in with her fantastic writing and a wonderful slow burn romance that I didn’t want to put down.
This book looks at a man who has a specific need that he keeps hidden but which ultimately comes out to the woman he’s falling for.
I loved Poppy’s reaction and how they ended up growing closer together because of it from an initial marriage of convenience. Check out my book review of The Duke I Tempted.
Owned by Fate
by Tessa Bailey
Journalist Caroline Preston can’t believe she set foot into Serve, New York City’s hottest BDSM club in the name of work. She’s determined not to like anything about this world but then she meets Jonah.
As the owner of Serve, Jonah Briggs doesn’t leave his post for just anyone. But when he sees Caroline, his only thought is that he wants her.
Caroline can’t help but fall under Jonah’s spell but she’s not about to risk her family’s reputation by extending her time with him past one night, no matter how much she craves more.
I loved Jonah in this book. He was the perfect alpha and despite others judging him for it, he didn’t change.
Caroline was a newbie to the BDSM club scene, so I’d recommend this one for people who want to check out a BDSM book that isn’t too hardcore.
The Farthest Edge
by Kristen Ashley
Branch doesn’t exist. Living off the grid, he’s looking for a way to forget his past and the guilt that plagues him. But no woman has ever been able to bring him to the edge he craves.
After a traumatic experience of her own, Evangeline stepped away from the decadent world of the Honey Club.
But when she gets Branch’s offer—to play without boundaries or commitments—it’s too tempting for her to refuse.
As their passion ignites, Evangeline and Branch push each other to their farthest limit, fulfilling their darkest desires while falling harder and deeper than they ever imagined.
This is another pick if you like reading BDSM books featuring a Domme and her sub. I enjoyed the storyline itself in this one.
Branch’s backstory in particular helped me to understand this man’s kink and how he craved one area in his life that he could escape into and give up control.
Priceless
by Miranda Silver
Christina is a junior in college whose life took a turn for the worse. She quit the cheer team, dropped her boyfriend, has grades in the tank and is hooked on uppers. Oh, and she’s now broke.
Patrick Caruthers, the senior with the icy stare only for her offers her a proposition she can’t really refuse, can she?
Three nights a week he’ll pay her to be in his bed, at his mercy.
Unlike Fifty Shades of Grey, this is a new adult BDSM book with both characters in college which gives it a unique twist and story angle.
It also explores humiliation as someone’s kink so if that intrigues you, give this one a try.
Asking for It
by Lilah Pace
Graduate student Vivienne Charles is afraid of her own desires—ashamed to admit that she fantasizes about being taken by a man who will claim her completely and without mercy.
When the magnetic, mysterious Jonah Marks learns her secret, he makes an offer that stuns her: they will remain near-strangers to each other, and meet in secret so that he can fulfill her fantasy.
Their arrangement is twisted but incredible. And—despite their attempts to stay apart—soon their emotions are bound together as tightly as the rope around Vivienne’s wrists.
This book looks at playing out a fantasy of both participants. Be forewarned that this book should have many trigger warnings because though all acts are consensual they depict non-consensual acts.
This BDSM book does however illustrate the importance of discussing scenes beforehand and the use of a safe word.
Popular BDSM Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey to Explore
Bound
by Lorelei James
Former small-town girl Amery Hardwick is living her dream as a graphic designer in Denver, Colorado. When her friend signs up for a self-defense class, Amery joins her for support. That’s where she meets him.
Ronin Black, owner of the dojo, is so drawn to Amery that he takes over her training—in public and in private.
The enigmatic Ronin pushes Amery’s boundaries from the start, and with each new tryst, Amery becomes addicted to the pleasure and to him.
But when Amery senses Ronin is hiding something, she questions her total trust in him, despite the undeniable thrill of his possession
I love how BDSM books have various alpha males as lead characters but I’ve yet to read a book that stars a martial artist!
This book looks at the Japanese practice, Shibari, that uses ropes for bondage tying. So if you’re into ropes or want to explore this type of bondage, check out this book.
Betrayal
by Aleatha Romig
Alexandria Collins has one week to live carefree—no ghosts of her past or pressures of her future haunting her. Reinventing herself as “Charli,” she is knocked off her feet by a mysterious man who brings her pleasure like she never imagined.
With her heart at stake, she forgets that decisions made in the dark of night reappear in the bright light of day.
Lennox “Nox” Demetri is wealthy, confident, and decisive–he knows what he wants. From the first time he sees Charli at an exclusive resort, he knows he wants her.
Although he is usually the one to make the rules, together they agree on one: One week. No more.
Alexandria is on vacation before starting law school and spends one week exploring her limits with a mysterious stranger. Sign me up!
This is the first book in a series so should you love it, you’ll be onto the next books.
Haven
by Rebekah Weatherspoon
City girl Claudia Cade’s carefree life is plunged into chaos when a camping trip with her brother in the national forests of Northern California turns into a dash for her survival.
Nature photographer Shepard Olsen has resigned himself to a quiet existence, with only his dog by his side, until a woman in need of his protection shows up on his doorstep and throws his universe into disarray.
The two begin an intense, passionate relationship of dominance and submission, pleasure and pain, but with dark memories haunting them and decisions about the future rapidly approaching, Claudia can’t help but wonder…how long can they be each other’s haven?
If you liked the aspect of suspense in the 50 Shades of Grey books then you’ll like Haven as it has that threaded within this story as well.
It’s also a look at dominance and submission as you’d come to expect in a BDSM book too. It does discuss physical and emotional trauma as well so if that would be a trigger for you then sit this one out.
Rush
by Maya Banks
When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel’s grand opening, he shouldn’t be having thoughts about his best friend’s little sister.
Gabe has starred in Mia’s fantasies more than once. So what if he’s fourteen years older? She’s an adult now, and there’s no reason not to act on her most secret desires.
As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know about him or how exacting his demands can be.
Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed—and vulnerable to a betrayal far more intimate than either expected.
This is a book for those who like the rich alpha male who likes to “own” his submissive.
A man with demands who gets what he wants, Gabe is Mr. Dominant if that’s what you’re looking for in a BDSM book.
Master of the Mountain
by Cherise Sinclair
When Rebecca’s lover talks her into a mountain lodge vacation with his swing club, she soon learns she’s not cut out for playing musical beds.
Logan, the lodge owner, finds her freezing on the porch and hauls her into his own bed. There the experienced Dominant discovers that Rebecca might not be a swinger, but she is definitely a submissive.
Rebecca believes that no one can love her plump, scarred body. Logan disagrees. He loves her curves, and under his skilled hands, Rebecca loses not only her inhibitions but also her heart.
This book gives us two characters who have their own struggles but who come together to find a dominant/submissive relationship that works.
Logan is the kind of guy who knows how to look out for his submissive and I love that Rebecca works through her own body issues in the process.
In Flight
by RK Lilley
When reserved flight attendant Bianca gets one look at billionaire hotel owner James Cavendish, she loses all of her hard-won composure.
For a girl who can easily juggle a tray of champagne flutes at 35,000 feet in three inch heels, she finds herself shockingly weak-kneed from their first encounter.
But what tempts her like never before is the dominant pull he seems to have over her from the moment they meet, and the promise of pleasure and pain that she reads in his eyes.
Cue the similarities in this book like Fifty Shades of Grey which has a billionaire introducing a young virgin into the BDSM scene.
Just because she’s a virgin doesn’t mean that James takes things slow, but you do get to see Bianca struggle with her interest and curiosity in BDSM.
The Reluctant Dom
by Tymber Dalton
Kaden’s time is running out, but before he goes he has one problem to solve- he must ask his oldest and dearest friend, Seth, to take over as Dom and Master to his beloved wife, Leah.
Seth has always seen himself as the perpetual screwup and Kaden as the strong and steady one, so his friend’s request rocks his world. He also knows there’s no way he can refuse him.
Now Seth finds himself immersed in a role he’s far from comfortable with-inflicting physical pain to provide emotional comfort to the woman he’s secretly loved for years.
Can he deal with his crushing grief over the impending loss of his oldest friend and still learn the skills he must master in time to become The Reluctant Dom?
I find the premise of this BDSM book so intriguing. There is so much wrapped into this book – the need to feel pain, the Dom/sub relationship within a marriage, an anticipated loss and a solid friendship between three people.
Though different in storyline from Fifty Shades of Grey, it looks to be one of the most interesting BDSM books to read.
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The Professional
by Kresley Cole
Mafiya enforcer Aleksandr “The Siberian” Sevastyan’s loyalty to his boss is unwavering, until he meets the boss’s long-lost daughter.
Ordered to protect her, Aleksandr will do anything to possess her as well–on his own wicked terms.
Grad student Natalie Porter has barely recovered from her first encounter with the breathtaking Siberian when he whisks her away to Russia, thrusting her into a world of extreme wealth and wanton pleasures.
While escaping an enemy’s reach, the two lovers tempt each other’s boundaries to discover whether their darkest–and most forbidden–fantasies really can come true.
This is a popular read featuring a young virgin and a man who’s deeply embedded in the mafia underworld as an enforcer. If you like BDSM books that are also mafia romances then give this one a go.
Marriage Games
by CD Reiss
Thirty days. That’s all Adam Steinbeck demands of his wife. Thirty days in a remote cottage, doing everything he demands.
After that, he’ll sign her divorce papers and give her complete ownership of their company.
That’s how long he has to rediscover the man he once was. The Dominant Master he hid when he fell in love with her five years ago.
She wants the business they built badly enough to go to the cottage for a month. Cut off ties to the world and do his bidding. She can submit to him with her body, but her heart will never yield.
I love that this story starts with a marriage that is failing.
If these two can find their way back to one another then it’s because Adam is going to live authentically as his dominant self and Diana is going to discover who she is and what she wants.
It ends with a cliffhanger as it’s a duet so be forewarned!
This Man
by Jodi Ellen Malpas
Young interior designer Ava O’Shea has no idea what awaits her at the Manor.
A run-of-the-mill consultation with a stodgy country gent seems likely, but what Ava finds instead is Jesse Ward–a devastatingly handsome, utterly confident, pleasure-seeking playboy who knows no boundaries.
Ava doesn’t want to be attracted to this man, and yet she can’t control the overwhelming desire that he stirs in her.
She knows that her heart will never survive him and her instinct is telling her to run, but Jesse is not willing to let her go. He wants her and is determined to have her.
This is another popular book that you should pick up if you like the alpha male who is very into control. Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without the young heroine that he must have.
Ten years later, Jodi Ellen Malpas is now releasing This Woman, told from Jesse’s point of view so check it out after reading this entire series.
Wicked Ties
by Shayla Black
Morgan O’Malley has seen a lot of kinky things as the hostess of a cable bedroom talk show. But she’s never met a man like Jack Cole before.
A self-proclaimed dominant, he’s as alpha as a male can get—and good for Morgan to have around when an obsessed stalker ratchets up his attempts to get to her.
Though Jack is a bodyguard, Morgan feels anything but safe in his presence because, slowly and seductively, Jack is bringing her deepest fantasies to the surface.
And when he bends her to his will, what’s more shocking than her surrender is how much she enjoys it—and starts to crave his masterful touch.
A willing player in Jack’s games, Morgan knows that his motives aren’t pure, but she has no idea how personal they are.
Shayla Black knows erotic romance and I like that this BDSM book is a bit different in bringing in some suspense to the story and the need for a bodyguard.
I also love how Morgan and Jack meet on a cable talk show 😊. If Black is writing it, I know it’s going to be a hot one!
How to Bang a Billionaire
by Alexis Hall
Arden St. Ives has no idea what he’s doing at Oxford, let alone any idea of what he’s doing after graduation but then he meets Caspian Hart. Turns out, he’s an alum who’s brilliant, beautiful and a billionaire.
It’s impossible not to be captivated by someone like that. But Caspian Hart makes his own rules. And he has a lot of them. About when I can be with him. What I can do with him. And when he’ll be through with me.
I’m good at doing what I’m told in the bedroom. The rest of the time, not so much. And now that Caspian’s shown me glimpses of the man behind the billionaire, I know it’s him I want.
Except that might be the one thing he doesn’t have the power to give me.
Looking for a MM romance book like Fifty Shades of Grey then check this one out.
You’ve got the naïve, younger man who becomes captivated by the emotionally detached billionaire with a past.
It delves into the dominant/submissive relationship but does end on a cliffhanger as it’s part of a three-book series.
Club Shadowlands
by Cherise Sinclair
Her car disabled during a tropical storm, Jessica Randall discovers the isolated house where she’s sheltering is a private bondage club.
At first shocked, she soon becomes aroused watching the interactions between the Doms and their subs. But she’s a professional woman–an accountant–and surely isn’t a submissive…is she?
Master Z hasn’t been so attracted to a woman in years. But the little sub who has wandered into his club intrigues him.
After he discovers her interest in BDSM, he can’t resist tying her up and unleashing the passion she hides within.
Those more interested in the bondage aspect of BDSM will enjoy this book with a look at a BDSM club and its participants.
It’s another book where the experienced Dom introduces a newbie to the scene who is the perfect submissive for him.
The Rise of Fifty Shades of Grey & BDSM Books
Is there anyone who hasn’t heard of Fifty Shades of Grey?
New York Times bestseller, Fifty Shades of Grey has captured the eyes and attention of many readers since the first book in the series came on the scene in 2011.
The first three books of the series later claimed the top three spots on the best-selling books of the decade list.
With the release of the movies beginning in 2015, fans who love Fifty Shades of Grey got to put faces with the names Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele as the book came alive on the big screen and became one of the hottest erotic romance movies.
EL James’ latest installment to the series, Freed, was released in 2021, which has only continued the books and series’ popularity.
To celebrate the book’s ten-year anniversary, a limited run of a special edition of Fifty Shades of Grey will be released in the US and Canada on April 5, 2022. Special editions of Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Free will be released later in the year.
What Made Fifty Shades of Grey So Popular?
If you’re hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard of Fifty Shades of Grey, then what is it that made this book so popular that its title became such a household name?
Some will argue that it isn’t the book’s writing or even its portrayal of a BDSM relationship (which have both been criticized) that’s made it so popular. But given its sales numbers, you can’t argue that this book is one of the most famous books published in the recent decade.
So why is this book so popular?
Bringing Fantasy to Life
EL James, with Fifty Shades of Grey, put into words a fantasy that many women have or now have after reading this book.
The themes of BDSM or even kinky bedroom activities are not new nor is Fifty Shades of Grey the first romance book to include these themes, but it did help make them more mainstream.
It also helped to create a discourse that intimacy, interests, and turn-ons can come in all forms, giving us one version of what a BDSM relationship might look like in detail.
A Favorite Storyline & Trope
The storyline of Fifty Shades of Grey in which a young, innocent girl falls for the rich, troubled hero with a dark past is also a tried-and-true plotline for romance books.
The millionaire/billionaire romance book hero is also a favorite romance book trope that’s popular in the romance genre, especially in erotic romance books.
They present a Cinderella-type romance where the poor heroine is “rescued” or ends up with the rich hero.
The power dynamic set up between an innocent female and older, richer hero lends itself easily to the idea of a dominant/submissive relationship that is often characteristic of BDSM books and other romance books alike.
What Did Fifty Shades of Grey Do for the Romance Genre?
While Fifty Shades of Grey is not the first erotic romance book or the first BDSM book, it did catapult these romance book categories into popularity and bring them to the forefront of the genre.
It also showcases the increasing popularity of fan fiction and independent publishing.
The Guardian calls Fifty Shades of Grey, “the huge erotic breakout novel of the digital download revolution,” revolutionizing publishing that anyone can publish a story online, create a buzz and build popularity that skyrockets sales.
E-readers and ebook publishing also saw an increase as readers could now read any type of book, including an erotic romance book, inconspicuously on their e-reader without a book cover giving their chosen book away.
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