Best Women's Erotica of the Year

Starred review from November 20, 2017
This year’s collection of erotic shorts lives up to its title, covering a variety of kinks and characters. Particular standouts are Thien-Kim Lam’s playful and sultry “Body Shots,” in which fiercely competitive Kit’s anniversary present to her husband threatens to defeat her; Brandy Fox’s gentle and sweet “Overexposed,” in which a lonely woman returns to her home turf and accidentally reconnects with the one who got away; and R.J. Richardson’s lingering, lovely “A Love Affair All My Own,” in which a lead ballerina finds an alluring new angle on “Swan Lake.” In Sommer Marsden’s “Demon Purse,” the cosmetics-loving heroine takes charge of her husband’s fetish. Tamsin Flowers’s “Red Satin Ribbons” turns a workplace acquaintanceship into a birthday threesome. Kinksters may want to check Dee Blake’s delightfully satisfying “Bibliophile,” in which a woman with a book fetish meets her perfect match, and Dr. J.’s “Infused Leather,” about a pair of leather fetishists helping each other face their pasts. With a refreshing variety of characters, configurations, and situations, all 21 stories in the collection deliver without becoming stale or repetitive.

October 15, 2018
Female empowerment is the uniting theme in this sexy anthology featuring powerhouse authors such as Megan Hart and Alyssa Cole. The anthology opens with a bang as Mica Kennedy’s “Take the Shot” introduces a plus-size, sensual woman of color posing for a hot photo shoot with her much younger teaching assistant. In the adrenaline-fueled “The Jump” by Rebecca Chase, a woman breaks out of a rut and away from a bad relationship by going tandem skydiving, followed by a little one-on-one time with her jump partner. Quieter but no less intense, “Breathe” by Patricia Elzie shows a young woman exploring her submissive side—and a tickle fetish—with a domme she meets online. “Her Invisible Prison” by Jocelyn Dex takes on a very different challenge as an agoraphobic woman works on conquering her fears with encouragement and sexy rewards from a man in her support group. Whatever her interests or circumstances, every woman in this fantastic and diverse collection is empowered by her steamy adventures.

October 28, 2019
Ranging from contemporary to historical, playful to kinky, and realistic to fantastical, the 21 stories in this spicy anthology are unified only by their focus on female pleasure. Alexa J. Day’s “Just Inappropriate” and Emerald’s “Something New” delve into sexual fantasies shared and explored by loving contemporary couples in sexcapades made all the sweeter by how plausible they are. Other stories serve up fantasies in a more traditional sense, as in “If the Ocean” by Loretta Black, in which a steamy tryst with a mermaid turns a woman’s life upside down. While some of these tales—including “Frosting” by Kathleen Delaney-Adams, about lesbian BDSM in a cupcake shop—strain credulity and push the boundaries of consent, others are full of fun, joy, and trust, as in Angora Shade’s “Vintage Treasures,” about a couple letting their wilder sides come out to play when they uncover a chest of unused vintage sex toys. Not all stories will appeal to all readers, but none are obvious turnoffs. There’s a flavor or two for any erotica fan in this wide-ranging sampler.

October 19, 2020
Twenty fan-favorite authors serve up tantalizing treats in this anthology of bite-sized erotica focused on female pleasure. There’s not a clunker in the bunch, but standouts include Elizabeth SaFleur’s “The Escape Room,” about a resort-owning dom and his devoted wife/submissive testing out a new game; Naima Simone’s “Inked on My Skin,” which casts a tortured tattooist who blames himself for a violent attack on his best friend’s sister as its romantic hero; and Shelly Bell’s “New Year’s Chance,” which reunites a woman with her high school crush. BDSM makes frequent appearances, recurring in Leah W. Snow’s “Change of Season” and Margot Pierce’s “Calyx,” while “Inflated Egos” by Evie Bennet and Alexis Wilder’s “The Instruction Manual” explore their heroines’ fetishes. Some variety comes in Zoey Castile’s “Far Side of the World,” an irresistible travelogue, and Jeanette Grey’s “Adult Time,” about a quickie between new parents. Fans of erotic romance will eagerly devour this scorching, well-selected anthology.

September 13, 2021
Bussel serves up blistering-hot desire in this excellent addition to the annual anthology series. In her introduction, Bussel notes that she wanted to push the genre into new territories and surprise readers, and she certainly succeeds. Standouts include Inga Gardner’s “Bitch,” about an overworked wife and homemaker who finds release in dominating her secretly submissive husband; Ann Castle’s science fictional “Sealing the Treaty,” about a female starship pilot from Earth who marries a Sagonite man to bring peace to their cultures—and the pair must publicly consummate the marriage; Adriana Herrera’s hot f/f offering, “Dripping,” about a plus-size Afro-Dominican model, her security guard, and thousands of dollars of diamonds; and Kristine Lynn’s “Before and After,” about a breast cancer survivor who works to feel sexy again after a double mastectomy. While geared specifically to women, there’s a little something for everyone here, with a variety of genres and fetishes and a diverse array of characters. This sizzling volume is sure to wow erotica lovers.