Sex scenes in romance novels: what I like

Sex scenes in romance novels, I feel, need to move the plot along by encompassing some sort of character change or modulation. But what else makes a sex scene a success? Clearly, it’s one of those questions in which individual mileage can vary. Here’s a list of what I think makes a great sex scene, though I don’t think all of these things necessarily need to be in the same scene.

1. At least one character with an emotional stake in the proceedings, who needs/wants something from the sex or from the relationship.

2. A character who is hiding something. This may be emotional, physical, or plot-related, but I think it adds a level of tension to the scene.

3. Intense focus from at least one of the characters. If at least one of the characters is deeply involved in what’s going on, I as a reader am usually going to be involved, too.

4. Something new is revealed about at least one of the characters, preferably a thing that implies many other things. The relationship and the characterizations can thus grow and deepen after the scene is over.

5. Economy of action: only the actions essential to the scene are described, i.e., those actions that underline the scene’s emotional or thematic arc, or explicate character, or both. This is mainly because I love tidiness.

What do you like to see in romance novel sex scenes?

About Victoria Janssen

Victoria Janssen [she, her] currently writes cozy space opera for Kalikoi. The novella series A Place of Refuge begins with Finding Refuge: Telepathic warrior Talia Avi, genius engineer Miki Boudreaux, and augmented soldier Faigin Balfour fought the fascist Federated Colonies for ten years, following the charismatic dissenter Jon Churchill. Then Jon disappeared, Talia was thought dead, and Miki and Faigin struggled to take Jon’s place and stay alive. When the FC is unexpectedly upended, Talia is reunited with her friends and they are given sanctuary on the enigmatic planet Refuge. The trio of former guerillas strive to recover from lifetimes of trauma, build new lives on a planet with endless horizons, and forge tender new connections with each other.
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2 Responses to Sex scenes in romance novels: what I like

  1. Nicola O. says:

    Wow, interesting — and ambitious!

    I think the main thing I look for in a sex scene is that it has meaning for the relationship — it should mark a change in the development of the relationship. Deepen the connection, raise the stakes for the plot.

    Sometimes, like real life, a sex scene can resolve the tension in a story arc, so you can start up another one.

    It’s nice too, if an intimate scene reveals a little something unexpected about either or both of the characters. A humorous penchant, a surprising insecurity. Not necessarily something kinky, unless that fits the direction the author is trying to take the character, yanno? But getting naked with a character ought to be… revealing, doncha think?

  2. Victoria Janssen says:

    it should mark a change in the development of the relationship

    Definitely. I like the unexpected reveal, as well. And dialogue; I forgot to mention dialogue!

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