Books like Fifty Shades of Grey

While nothing has gained quite the same level of popularity as the Fifty Shades trilogy, we’ve got a slew of billionaire romance novels, stories filled with controlling men, and kinky BDSM-filled books like Fifty Shades of Grey for you to enjoy.

Books like Fifty Shades of Grey

I’ll never forget reading Fifty Shades of Grey for the first time after hearing about the book all over the news. It was such a different kind of book for me, but with a newborn it got me looking forward to midnight feedings!

Now I choose to read books like Fifty Shades of Grey whenever I am nervous or need a great distraction (hello airplanes travel) because I am immediately swept into these beguiling stories. Below are my favorites!

The Best Books like Fifty Shades of Grey

Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.

Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey with BDSM

this man

Author: Jodi Ellen Malpas

Year: 2013

Genre: Erotica

More info: This Man #1

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Age Range: 18+

Looking for your next 50 Shades-style book boyfriend? Let me introduce you to Jesse Ward. He’s rich, handsome, controlling, and an ace in the sack. His love story with Ava is all cliches and “central Jesse Cloud 9s” and I was totally into it.

Ava is an interior designer eager to design The Manor, owned by handsome bachelor Jesse Ward. Their instant attraction is not what Ava wanted but Jesse is relentless in his pursuit of her!

Look, sometimes we need a little fluffy palate cleanser and This Man is the perfect book series for that. Seriously, it’s 50 Shades 2.0 minus the kinky parts (well until the rest of the books in the series.)

Find this book in: Stalker Books / Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey / Billionaire Romances

Deep end

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Year: 2025

Genre: Sports Romance

More info: New York Times Bestselling Author of The Lost Hypothesis

Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹

Age Range: 18+

Scarlett is a platform diver at Stanford who is concentrating on getting into med school. Lukas is a swim captain working toward the Olympics and has no time for drama. The no-pressure fling they start seems like the perfect solution. Afterall, the both have particular tastes that mesh very well together. They may be in deeper than they think when they start working together in a lab and start to depend on each other emotionally as well. #gifted

Strong sexual content, consensual BDSM

This was a departure for Hazelwood in that she brought in the sports aspect as well as some different sexual preferences. Think more along the lines of 50 Shades of Grey. The storyline is always great in these very steamy romance books.

Find this book in: Steamy Romance Sports Books / Ali Hazelwood Books Ranked / Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey

Tempt Me

Author: K. A. Tucker

Year: 2015

Genre: Erotica

More info: The Wolf Hotel #1

Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹

Age Range: 18+

Abbi is an innocent, virginal young girl whose long-time love recently dumped her to see other women. Heartbroken, Abbi takes a job for the summer at a Wolf Resort in Alaska, as far away from her home state of Pennsylvania as she can get.

She thought the time away would help heal her heart and open her life up to new opportunities – she did not expect one of those opportunities to begin as the personal assistant to Henry Wolf, billionaire playboy heir to the Wolf Hotel fortune. Henry is trying to impress his father into handing over the reigns of the hotel business with this Alaskan venture, but his attraction for Abbi might just get in the way.

I was instantly sucked into this fast-paced novel. It was cheesy, steamy, predictable, and exactly the kind of book I love to read on vacation. When I finished the first book, I immediately started in on the rest of the series.

Find this book in: Billionaire Romances / Hotel Novels / Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey

Bared to you

Author: Sylvia Day

Year: 2012

Genre: Erotica

More info: New York Times Bestseller

Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹

Age Range: 18+

Gideon Cross is a more dominant Christian Grey, IMO. He’s more man than boy and Ava is as experienced and ballsy as he is making their dynamic absolutely sizzle. He owns a business empire and she is at the top of her game in her new job. Each has their own issues and they need to put in the work to make their relationship a success.

I was instantly pulled into Gideon and Ava’s romance and I devoured 2 of the books on vacation. The series sort of reminds me of Fifty Shades without the whips and chains. It’s a steamy romance full of chemistry and characters with dark secrets.

Find this book in: Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey / Billionaire Romances

Books With Controlling Men Like Christian Grey

Flock

Author: Kate Stewart

Year: 2020

Genre: Erotica

More info: Ravenhood #1

Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹

Age Range: 18+

This steamy book is the first in The Ravenhood series by Kate Stewart about modern-day Robin Hood-type characters and the woman who falls for them.

Cecelia is spending the year with her ultra-rich, distant father to gain her inheritance and get her mother out of poverty. But when she falls in with the wrong crowd, she loses her head and her heart.

Immediately upon finishing this billionaire romance, I jumped into book 2 which is even better. It’s gritty and dark and has lots of steamy sex scenes so this book is not for the faint of heart.

after

Author: Anna Todd

Year: 2014

Genre: Romance

More info: After #1

Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹

Age Range: 18+

Todd’s smash hit is set in college when bookworm Tessa meets bad boy Hardin. Their relationship is toxic and terrible and yet, anchored in love.

Emotional Abuse

Hardin and Tessa’s push-and-pull is at times frustrating but their chemistry is so good! Just make sure you have the second book in the series ready to go. This one ends on a cliffhanger.

This hit book series is now a motion picture series starring Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin! Not as popular with the US market, the Netflix book adaption was a smash over seas.

Find this book in: Long Books / Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey / Netflix Book Adaptations

Twilight

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Year: 2005

Genre: YA Fantasy

More info: The Twilight Saga #1

Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹

Age Range: 16+

When Bella Swan goes to live with her father in Forks, Washington, she needs to start a new school. As she begins to settle in and make friends, she is drawn to Edward Cullen, a mysterious teenager with an old soul.

But Edward and his family are keeping secrets – they are more dangerous than they look. Can Bella stay away or will she fall for Edward and risk her life in the process?

The way I binged this book series…. it took over my life! When the movie came out, I decided to finally read this series I had heard so much about. I finished each book in about a day and then promptly dragged my husband to see it with me. I haven’t been this obsessed with a series since HP.

Twilight started a phenomenon and obsession with vampires in the same way that Harry Potter created an obsession with magic. It was addictive to read! This is my opinion but I am sticking with it. This is a must-read young adult fantasy book and it inspired Fifty Shades of Grey!

Find this book in: Fantasy Book Series / Books Set in High School / High School Romances / Twilight Books in Order / Urban Fantasy Books / Vampire Books / List of YA Fantasy Books / Best YA Romance Books

Beautiful Disaster

Author: Jamie McGuire

Year: 2011

Genre: Romance

More info: Beautiful #1

Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹

Age Range: 18+

Abby is trying her hardest to be a good girl. She has a new life at college, has cut ties with her past, and is determined not to fall for her typical bad-boy tastes. However, when Abby meets Travis, she has met her match.

Travis wants Abby at first glance. Unbeknownst to Abby, Travis is a street fighter who tricks her into making a bet. If she loses, she must move into his apartment. If he loses he must stay abstinent. A totally ridiculous scenario that somehow works.

Toxic relationship, violence

Travis is the ultimate bad boy. Self-destructive, Tattoo-covered, but man, when he fell, my heart exploded! If you like standoffish boys like Edward Cullen, Christian Grey, or Reid Royal as much as I do, this is a great series for you.

Find this book in: Books set in College / Sports Romance / Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey

Steamy Millionaire and Billionaire Romances

Betrayal

Author: Aleatha Romig

Year: 2015

Genre: Erotica

More info: Infidelity #1

Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹

Age Range: 18+

If you are a fan of Fifty Shades of Grey, you will love Aleatha Romig’s addicting 5-book series. While on vacation, Alex has a one-week affair with a billionaire, but he can’t let her go. Their love grows and so does the drama. When they get back to reality, life just gets crazier and crazier.

Physical Abuse

This series is all drama is WILD. It’s fast-paced and unbelievable, but total reading chocolate.

twisted love

Author: Ana Huang

Year: 2021

Genre: Contemporary Romance

More info: Twisted #1, New York Times Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller

Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹

Age Range: 18+

Alex is singularly driven in his pursuit of vengeance for the death of his family. When his best friend goes abroad and asks him to look after his sister while he is gone, Alex begins to feel something he swore he would never feel again.

This steamy romance is the grumpy sunshine trope at its finest. It was a fun and quick read.

Find this book in: Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey / Grumpy Sunshine Trope Books / Billionaire Romance Books

Tangled

Author: Emma Chase

Year: 2013

Genre: Romance

More info: Tangled #1

Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹

Age Range: 18+

Drew is used to getting the ladies of New York City to fall into his bed with ease. But when smart and beautiful Katherine joins his father’s firm, she doesn’t fall as easily. Which of course means he wants her more!

If you like your steamy billionaire romance books with a side of humor, you will love Emma Chase’s Tangled series. It was predictable but fun and is the first in a series.

Find this book in: Hot Office Romance Books / Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey

Dirty Billionaire

Author: Meghan March

Year: 2015

Genre: Erotica

More info: Dirty Billionaire #1

Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹

Age Range: 18+

Crey and Holly’s love story starts as a one-night stand but turns into a marriage so she can get out of a contract with her record company and he can take control of her. He’s a billionaire businessman from NYC, she’s an up-and-coming country singer from Nashville.

They are worlds apart and that push-and-pull goes a long way in creating the tension of the series….but be warned. This celebrity romance book about music has very little story and a whole lot of sex.

Find this book in: Billionaire Romances / Celebrity Romances / Books about Musicians / Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey

The Mister

Author: E. L. James

Year: 2019

Genre: Erotica

More info: Mister and Missus #1

Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹

Age Range: 18+

The premise is that Lord Maxim Trevelyan is struggling with life as a newly minted Earl. He then falls for his housekeeper, who we come to find out is a victim of sex trafficking. My biggest issue? If you hated that Anastasia used to think about her “Inner Goddess” you will hate that Maxim says Fuck a Duck all the damn time.

Human Trafficking

I was not a fan of this book because I didn’t think the characters had any chemistry, but I had to include it on the list. Everyone wants to know if E.L. James’s other series is worth reading…. but I would not recommend it.

More Books like Fifty Shades of Grey

There are lots of other books like Fifty Shades of Grey out in the world. Maya Banks, Christina Lauren, J. Kenner, and more authors all have books similar to the Fifty Shades trilogy that you can find below.

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  • If you are having trouble picking which book to read on this list, choose one under the category you liked most about Christian and Anastasia’s love story.
  • Check the kisses for the steam factor on these books. Most are NSFW!

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I read if I liked Fifty Shades of Grey?

If you are looking for a new romance series like Fifty, take a look at the Crossfire series by Sylvia Day and the This Man series by Jodi Ellen Malpas! Both have characters just like Christian Grey.

Are there other romance novels that have achieved notoriety comparable to Fifty Shades of Grey?

Yes! After the successful adaptation of Fifty Shades, other books also received the Hollywood treatment. Beautiful Disaster is one, After is another, and now Twisted Love is getting adapted too.

Epilogue

Did you find any books like Fifty Shades of Grey to add to your to-read list? Am I missing anything that you would recommend? If so…TELL ME!!! I’m always on the lookout for a guilty pleasure read!

Fifty Shades of Grey Books in Order

Fifty Shades of Grey Books in Order

Looking to relive your Fifty reading? Check out this fun article with multiple ways to read it!

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