We may be visual creatures by nature—which is why well-executed sex scenes in movies can be so, well, stimulating—but let’s also not forget the joy that lies in being able to conjure such saucy vignettes in our own imaginations.
Of course, we’re all for freestyle fantasizing, but a little bit of literary inspiration can be an excellent means of getting yourself (and your mind) in the mood.
In the spirit of bookish foreplay, here’s a list of worthy reads:
The Lover by Marguerite Duras: The heart-aching (and very sexy) tale of a French teenage girl and her Chinese lover set in Saigon in prewar Indochina.
Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman: The balmy Italian summer, the 80s, and one very juicy peach—need we say more?
The Good Mother by Sue Miller: The sexual awakening of a divorced mother, and her inner conflict about tending to her own needs while still being an attentive parent.
Outline of My Lover by Douglas Martin: Set in Athens, Georgia, in the 90s, this tale navigates the experience of being queer in the Deep South, as well as the obsession with celebrity.
Lost Girls by Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie: Ever wonder what would happen if Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Alice from Alice In Wonderland and Wendy from Peter Pan met up with each other in an Austrian hotel and shared their sexual escapades? This graphic novel will satisfy your whim.
Find more recommendations from Electric Lit here.
