Have you ever been reading a romance novel only to stop when you get to a trope, acronym, or phrase you don’t know? Yes? Then this guide is for you!
As a romance reader, I have yet to come across a detailed guide of these acronyms, tropes, and phrases we see in our deliciously smutty novels that stop us in our tracks. I wanted to take hold of that overlook and create one for you, for us. I have no doubt I will continue to turn to this guide because books shock me with something new every day.
I am constantly stopping a book to search the internet for the word I don’t know; this experience is part of the joy of reading. At university, we were always told to look up words we didn’t know while we were reading intense literary criticism. If I skip over the word, I’m not getting the full experience of the writing, which would be a shame.
Without further ado, here is any romance reader’s dream reading guide!
DISCLAIMER- This article will discuss mature topics and is highly encouraged only to be read by those 18+
Acronyms
BDSM– Bondage and Discipline (BD), Dominance and Submission (DS), and Sadism and Masochism (SM)
DP– Double penetration
DVP– Double vagin*l penetration
E2L- Enemies to lovers
FF– Female-female romantic pairing
FMC– Female main character
F2L– Friends to lovers
FTB – Fade to Black; when a sex scene begin, but is not described. (Think Twilight)
LI– Love interest
MM– Male-male romantic pairing
MC– Main character
MF– Male and female characters romantically involved with each other
MFM– Two men, one female. The men are only engaged with the female
MMC– Male main character
MMF– Two men, one female. The two men are involved with the female but also with each other.
MMFM– Three men, one female. Two men are sexually involved, while one is only involved with the female.
If you are interested in a MMFM romance, let me recommend Pucking Around by Emily Rath.
I unashamedly picked up this book only to read its well-loved spicy scenes, but then actually read it out of interest. Let me tell you, I read this 700-page monster twice in two days and already want to read it again! There is now a prequel and a short sequel that satisfies me deeply. I am looking forward to much more from this series! It deserves all the love; I can’t get enough.
RH / WC– Reverse Harem / Why Choose; one female MC that has three or more partners
STFUATTDLAGG– No explanation needed for our Spicy Romance Friends
TVP– Triple vagin*l penetration
Phrases
Alpha – Love interest who is in charge, bossy, and typically growly
Alphahole – An alpha with toxic masculinity traits
Beta – A love interest that is neither necessarily dominant nor submissive; they’re comfortable with their partner.
Bodice Ripper – Historical romances, usually referred to as Grandma’s romance books. Usually refers to misogynistic, non-consensual sex and stereotypes.
CNC / ConNonCon – Consensual Non-Consent, when the love interest enacts a SA fantasy with all parties consenting to the events.
Cinnamon Roll – A male love interest that is sweet and teddy bearish in nature.
Dominant– the more assertive and commanding person during a sexual encounter
Ah, dominance… A dominant male is so often present in romance novels I had a hard time picking some recommendations. The entire Twisted Series comes to mind, specifically Twisted Games and Twisted Hate. Rhys Larsen’s infamous “crawl to me” scene lives rent-free in my mind, and you can’t go wrong with a little Josh and Jules hate sex. The series is an addictive twisted fantasy.
Dubcon – Dubious consent, consent was given but maybe not for that specific action
Fast burn – Sexual content happens quickly
Medium burn – Sexual content heats up around the middle to ¾ of the way through the book.
Non-con – Non-consensual
Slow burn – Romance novel with little to no sexual content until the end but plenty of sexual tension.
Smut– When two or more characters engage in a sexual act within a book
Spice / Spicy – Sexual content, aka heat level, sometimes referred to as chili peppers when in discussion
Submissive– Someone who likes to be bossed around and takes orders from a dominant person during a sexual encounter
Tropes
Breeding– A character enjoying the idea of getting the female character pregnant
Degradation– Degrading someone/being degraded during sexual acts
Enemies to Lovers – The love interests do not like one another and are usually competitive or enemies before romance brings them together.
Exhibitionism– When a character enjoys performing sexual acts for someone to watch
Fated mates – Romance trope where the love interests were destined to be together and often used in paranormal romances.
Forced Proximity– Forcing somebody to be close to you or characters happen to be inseparable due to work/living arrangements
Friends to lovers – Love interests were friends before beginning a romantic relationship
Fake Relationship – A romance trope where the love interests begin their relationship under false pretenses
Forbidden Love – Some cultural/social/political force prevents the couple from being together.
Insta-love – Love at first sight
Knotting- A werewolf kink. Usually, werewolves climax in their mates and hold it there for maximum efforts of a child. This term is also used in alpha/omega verse.
Love Triangle – When two people, usually rivals, are pursuing a relationship with one person.
Metamour– The platonic partner of your partner in a polyamorous relationship
Neko/Uke- The “bottom” in a boy’s love story (manga culture)
Opposites Attract – When the love interests have very different personalities and likes, but somehow this only makes them want each other more.
Praise– Receiving/giving praise for your actions during sexual acts
Second Chance – When the love interests have had a prior relationship that failed but is going to try again
Stockholm Syndrome– Falling in love with the person that kidnapped you
Sunny vs. Grumpy – The love interest, usually the female, has a bright, playful personality, and the other love interest, usually the male, is more gruff and growly.
Sunny vs. Grumpy, also known as Grumpy Sunshine, is a trope I am slowly falling in love with. I have always seen myself falling for the guy that is grumpy to everyone else but not to me, so I am not surprised that I have fallen so hard for this trope. Two books I would love to recommend are Too Sweet from the Hayes Brother Series by I. A. Dice and Bittersweet by Morgan Elizabeth. Both explore a brooding man that falls for a sweet, seemingly innocent sunshine girl.
Bittersweet is a standalone that I have read multiple times. The Hayes Brother Series is so deliciously addictive you can’t go wrong with any of the books; all the brothers embody a different trope, written to perfection.
Tachi/Seme- The “top” in a boy’s love story (manga culture)
Opposites Attract- The love interests are drastically different from each other (but that’s their favorite part)
Voyeurism– When a character enjoys watching others during sexual acts
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Writing this list has me itching to pick up a book. I am so addicted to this genre I hope it’s clear as I make this reading guide.
Did I forget anything that should have been added to this list? Be sure to let us know!
In need of some new romance recs? Be sure to look out for more from me as a part of this series. For now, click here!
