Good Sex Award Finalists

The Good Sex Awards brings together sex positive writers, activists, thinkers and feminists to celebrate good sex in literature.

The Awards are an initiative of The Good Bits and Rachel Kramer Bussel supported by NORMAL, Bellesa, Frolic Media, Dipsea, Pleasure Mechanics, All About Romance, and Fly Media Productions.

Below are the 45 Good Sex Awards finalists, with 10 in Sexiest Consent, which received the largest number of submissions, and 5 in our other categories: Sexy Talk, Feminist Sex, Best Kink, Best Use of Sex Toys, Best LGBTQI Scene, Thought Leadership, and Fan Fiction. You may vote for a winner or winner and runner-up in any or all categories by 20 June at 11:59 pm EST. The single entry with the most votes will receive the Readers’ Choice prize.

Finalists were chosen by The Good Sex Awards based on the following criteria, where relevant: Writing quality, imagination, consent, titillation, diversity, body positivity, characterization, dialogue, sex positivity and how well they fit the category. Judges will then select a winner in each of the above categories, with 2 separate sets of judges awarding 2 winners in Sexiest Consent. Judges were allowed to enter their own work in categories they are not judging.

Show these authors some love and submit your Readers’ Choice vote by 20 June.

Sexiest Consent Finalists

Expressed verbally or physically, sexy consent writing is a fine art.

Up for Air by Christina Berry originally published by Black Rose Writing
The Princess Deception by Nell Stark originally published by Bold Strokes Books
Hate Crush by Angelina M. Lopez originally published by Carina Press
Absolve Me by Morgaine Cameron originally published by Carina Press
Seaworthy (Character Bleed Book 1) by K.L. Noone originally published by JMS Books
Instructions for Fucking Your Postpartum Wife by Megan Pillow originally published by Lost Balloon
The Love Bet by G.L. Tomas originally published by Rebellious Valkyrie Press
Take Me by Jen Trinh originally self-published
The Words to Bind by P. Stormcrow originally published by Totally Bound Publishing
Fearless by Katie Golding originally published by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Best Kink Finalists

The best sex writing exploring BDSM or fetishes.

Down by the River by Anna Sansom originally published by Sugarbutch
Rattling Chains by T. Strange originally published by Pride Publishing
Taking the Fucking Compliment by Quenby originally published by Quenby Creatives
The Knots that Hold by P. Stormcrow originally published by Totally Bound Publishing
Your Task for Today by The Gentle Domme originally published by The Gentle Domme

Best LGBTQI Scene

The hottest, sweetest or most compelling LGBTQI love scene.

A Fantasy Getaway, published in Escape to Pleasure: Lesbian Travel Erotica by Jeannie Levig originally published by Bold Strokes Books
Jellybean Futurium by Victoria Brooks originally published by Lickerish Library
The Companion by EE Ottoman originally self-published
Parker by Jack Harbon originally self-published
If The Seas Catch Fire by L.A. Witt originally self-published

Best Feminist Sex

The sexiest scenes that embody feminist values.

Up for Air by Christina Berry originally published by Black Rose Writing
Forbidden Desire by Robin Lovett originally published by Entangled
A Study in Circuits and Charcoal by Jem Zero originally published by The New Smut Project
Once I Was An Animal by Megan Pillow originally published by jmww journal
Ink: Coven of Desire by Ellen Mint originally published by Totally Bound

Best Use of Sex Toys

The hottest scenes with a bit of help from our sex toy friends.

Vintage Treasures by Angora Shade originally published by Cleis Press
Discovering Orgasms in my 30s by Ilex originally published by Girl On The Net
Her Night With Santa by Adriana Herrera originally self-published
What Lies Beside by Sonni de Soto originally published by SinCyr Publishing
Worth the Wait by Jae originally published by Ylva Publishing

Best Sex in Fan Fiction

*By popular demand* The award for the sexiest fan fiction.

Look What You Made Me Do by accio-broom originally published on Archive of Our Own
I Sing the Body Electric by JustAnotherBlonde originally published on Archive of Our Own
The Twelve Fucks of Christmas: A Wolfstar Story by Keep_Calm_And_Expecto_Patronum originally published on Archive of Our Own
Horny Dangerpunk by Magpie Laurence originally published on Archive of Our Own
Power and Chance by Xekstrin originally published on Archive of Our Own

Best Thought Leadership

Who’s moving the conversation forward? Non-fiction.

Zoloft by Carly originally published by AURORE
Coming Out Like a Porn Star (“How to Come Out Like a Porn Star: An Introduction”) by Jiz Lee originally published by ThreeL Media
Fucking Law: the search for her sexual ethics by Victoria Brooks originally published by Zero Books
14 Knuckles: Always a Fistee, Never a Fister by Mary Ann Thomas originally published by Autostraddle
Becoming Cliterate by Laurie Mintz originally published by HarperOne

Best Sexy Talk

Great banter can make for a great sex story, be it witty, dirty or romantic.

You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria originally published by Avon/HarperCollins
Naming It in Best Lesbian Erotica 2015 by Jean Roberta originally published by Cleis Press
Sweethand by N.G. Peltier originally self published in the U.S. and published by Piatkus for the UK edition
Just This One Summer by Clare Connelly originally self-published
Touch from Erato: Flash Fiction anthology by D. Fostalove originally published by The New Smut Project