It’s true. There was a time where I devoured every single sex scene with abandon. My jaw dropping, eyes bugging out and my mind thinking…. OOOOOH YEAH!!! WHAT. IS. THIS???
Whhhhooooooooo hoooooooooo!!!
After all, year after year of horror reading and autobiographies, romance opened up a whole new world to me. 😉 And then of course… the world of erotica. Good times. Oh yes.
But as in most that read every day, and have read that way for years… we become… somewhat immune (or book-sex jaded?) Oh sure. We’re still affected, but it’s gotta be GOOOOOOOOOOOD. And for me, it appears gooooooooood = super-slow burn, and completely unexpected lead up until… OMG. IT’S HAPPENING and it seems so real. Mind, heart and *ahem* … parts. 😉 The super-intimate seems to really get me.
But, this is how I find myself reading, when I hit a sex-scene that I consider “the usual/same ol’ same ol‘”. This is pretty much what I see as I hit each page, skimming and scrolling, until I finally get back to the story… *sigh*
*skim skim skim*
…s*cking and l*cking…
*skim skim skim*
…throb…
*skim skim skim*
…Oh GOD yes!!…
*skim skim skim*
…tongue flicked…
*skim skim… *skimmmmmmmm*
Whoa… we haven’t even had penetration yet….
*characters rolling over and smiling (or snuggling) in satisfaction*
Annnnnnnnd the story is back! 😉
But it could be just me. How about you?
Yes! I completely agree. I’m getting tired of the insta-love romance. Sure, sometimes it works depending on the writing and the plot. But lately, I keep searching for THE one. The book that not only draws you in with great writing but also contains a slow burn romance. I think that’s why I prefer “friends to lovers” books. I love that moment when the hero finally realizes he’s in love and he knows he’s screwed (haha). The anticipation makes it so much sweeter. Out with the insta-love, in with the slow burn!
Ok I totally understand what you mean by getting immune to book erotica but it’s all about the lead up. Personally the biggest let down to me is getting invested into a book emotionally and when the deed finally happens, it’s a quick fade to black scene. I’ll get pissed. I’m invested by that point and I need closure. This is why young adult isn’t my favorite genre. Storylines area must. A good erotica book is a romance with good sex, porn is just sex with slim romance which aren’t enjoyable reads. Romance is a must and slow burns are the best but only if the ending a sex scene is worth the waiting. Does that make sense? Lol
I am TOTALLY with both of you!!!! Oh I am still completely taken by a good steam-scene, but that lead up is what gets me there. 😀
Yup Maryse, I am a sex scene skimmer. I have been an avid romance reader for 7 years and I am definitely immune to a lot of it. (Been there, read that!) However, some authors know how to balance just the right amount of sexy times with story….that makes for a perfect read for me.
I’m a skimmer too, but I like fade to black anymore or none at all. I get annoyed really easily reading them. *So and so, please!, please what baby?, please naughty stuff, naughty stuff…beg for it* Or even the ‘I’ve been checked, we can do it bare, wanna see the papers?.’ And, you know ;), SO many times…I just can’t do it anymore. Even when they undress with the eyes and they can feel it in all the places.
I just read a book that EVERYONE suggested I read, an oldie, and I mean there was sex on ALMOST every page. It got old real fast.
It just got to be too much for me and I ended up skimming through most of it.
I think it just depends on the author. I personally like slow burn where there is anticipation and sexual tension between the characters. With this kind of romance, when the did happens I savor it. By the way, I hate to anticipate and then when it happens the author does not describe the scene instead give us a kind fade and next morning deal. What I also hate is when sex happens so early on in the story that it cheapens the whole thing. It is instances like this where I skim the sex scenes. As many of u guys mentioned, it depends on how the author balances the sex scenes with the story telling!
I agree with Blanche. It depends on the author. A good author can make even the fifth time interesting, while some make me skim even the first one after a slow burn romance. I admit I like the dirtier talk. The ones that are just standard without any true emotion just BORES me. However, my favorite of all is the unexpected first kiss. 🙂 Not even the whole steamy moment, just that first kiss. The one that catches you off guard and just stops the heart for a second from emotion. If done right, it says more to me than any sex scene can.
I agree with what many have already stated it really depends on the author and story. I too like a good slow burn with some tension involved between the characters. Like you maryse I have read so many romance over the years that I have become not only jaded but even picky on the descriptive language utilized. Young adult books generally drive me insane with either fade to black sex scenes or ones where I feel its like the scene is so polite. Give me a hot descriptive down and dirty scene any day. But I often find myself rolling my eyes and skimming back to the story.
I recently read a book that started with a sex. “Harder…Harder” I was about to skim over it because I too thought, really, already? I love the writer and didn’t want to give up so soon. The next thing is him stopping and her getting upset. The line that gave me desire to continue was the H’s line “Did you hear me saying wetter? Tighter?” More follows and I lost it. Laughing so hard my co-worker at lunch just looked at me like I lost my mind. In this book there is a slow build to the relationship that happens with a very unique story. Here is a link to it if you’re interested. It’s a great series by Carian Cole.
https://www.amazon.com/Talon-Ashes-Embers-Book-4-ebook/dp/B018EWIDIQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1509640493&sr=8-2&keywords=talon
We are on the same page girl. I just recently discovered that I was doing this and even rolling my eyes during the sex scenes. It is like the saying you have seen it once you have seen it a million times. It must be really special and unexpected for me to not skip through it. Even with re reading books that I thought were sooooooooo amazing especially the naughty bits that got me squirming (lol). They don’t have the same effect anymore…. I am so jaded now
DITTO!!!! Lol
I’ve definitely become a sex-scene skimmer. I want that slow, painful burn of blossoming love and romance and the anticipation. Give me one good sex scene, the first one, where they connect for that first time, and the rest can be fade to black for all I care. And I want it emotional, their hearts connecting not just their body parts.
Me too Stacey!!! EXACTLY that.