In the era of BookTok, there’s no doubt that “spicy” books are seemingly everywhere. Whether it’s romcoms, romantasy, historical romance, and more, spicy titles often reign supreme on many readers’ FYPs.

Of course, spicy (or sexually graphic) books have existed way before TikTok was a thing; older generations can likely recall “bodice-rippers” and mass market paperbacks that could be purchased at the drugstore. But in the digital age, access to book recommendations is easier than ever for all of us — and that includes teens.

If you’re a parent or caregiver of a teen reader, they may have come across spicy novels either on their social media feed (ones like Heated Rivalry are hard to miss) or right in the bookstore. They very well could be reading them, too. There’s a variety of reactions parents might find themselves having to this scenario, but it’s important to keep in mind that there are many reasons teens could be drawn to these types of books. (And, if we’re being honest, many of us can probably remember reading “spicy” books in secret as teens ourselves.)

When "spicy" romance novels become mainstream pop culture, parents don't need to freak out.

We turned to some experts to learn more about how to talk to teens about their reading choices, what questions to ask and how to approach these discussions with a sense of compassion, rather than shame.

Understand Why Teens May Want To Read ‘Spicy’ Books

One major reason why young people are drawn to books containing sexual scenes is simple: pure curiosity. “As children undergo puberty and related hormonal changes, it makes sense they will be curious about sexual content,” Emily Edlynn, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and author of Autonomy-Supportive Parenting: Reduce Parental Burnout and Raise Competent, Confident Children, and the Parent Smarter, Not Harder Substack, told HuffPost.

Just as adults sometimes read books as a way to escape reality and explore something new, so do teens. For young people who are curious about intimacy but aren’t ready to experience it themselves, books can be a safe avenue to navigate those feelings.

“The teenage [years] are a time of exploration, curiosity, and trying to make sense of a world they’re still figuring out,” Lily Thrope, founder of Thrope Therapy LCSW PLLC, told HuffPost. “Books that include romantic or sexual content often offer a way to explore experiences they haven’t had yet, like love, intimacy, desire, vulnerability, and connection in a private, low-risk way.”

It’s worth keeping in mind, too, that we’re in the midst of an age where

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