The Honeypot: June's Sweet & Spicy Book Picks
- Noah Kennedy
- Jun 10
- 6 min read
Welcome to our tantalizing journey through the literary spice rack! We're diving deep into the world of books, exploring the spectrum from the mild to the fiery hot. Just like spices add flavor and excitement to our favorite dishes, books can range from subtle and understated to bold and intense in their storytelling. Join us as we embark on a flavorful adventure, uncovering titles that offer a little extra zest and heat to your reading experience. Whether you're craving a gentle simmer or a full-blown inferno of emotions, there's something on this spicy bookshelf for every palate. So, sit back, relax, and prepare to spice up your reading like never before!
Content & Trigger Disclaimer: The books featured below contain mature themes and explicit sexual content that may not be suitable for readers under the age of 18. While we strive to offer a diverse selection of literature in our Honeypot section, we acknowledge that some content may not be appropriate for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised, and we encourage adult readers to explore these titles with an open mind and awareness of their content. Additionally, we remind parents and guardians to exercise caution and discretion when selecting reading material for younger audiences. |
The Beeswax
The first of the three ratings is Wax. Just like handling wax, which can be slippery yet becomes brittle when dried, Wax books contain no explicit sensuality. While physical romance may be hinted at or described in general terms, it will not be detailed. These picks aim to provide recommendations for readers seeking wholesome and enriching stories without the added spice found in some novels.
Finally Fitz
by Marisa kanter
Ava “Fitz” Fitzgerald has worked hard to create the picture-perfect life she’s always wanted. She spent her junior year transforming her passion for sustainable fashion and upcycling into a viral online platform, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and spending every free second with her soon-to-graduate girlfriend, Danica. And this summer she plans to take it all to the next level by attending a prestigious summer fashion program in New York City and convincing Dani that they can survive a year of long distance.
But when Dani dumps her before classes even start, accusing Fitz of being more invested in growing her online persona than deepening their relationship, she’s left not only heartbroken, but also creatively blocked.
Fitz will do anything to win Dani back, even if that means taking a break from the platform that she’s worked so hard to build. But just as she decides to go all-in on a hiatus, a chance encounter reunites her with Levi Berkowitz, her childhood best friend that she hasn’t seen since elementary school. Levi is struggling with heartbreak of his own, and this cosmic coincidence sparks a new use for her social media savvy. Fitz offers to help Levi craft a fake relationship online to make his person jealous…if in return he can pretend to be her boyfriend in front of Dani to make her jealous. If all goes according to plan, by the end of the summer they’ll both be reunited with their perfect partners and get to rekindle their friendship in the process.
Sometimes even the most carefully designed plans can come apart at the seams, though. And when real history leads to not-so-fake feelings, Fitz will have to decide if she’s finally willing to let go of what she thought was picture-perfect and choose what might actually be right for her.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
by V.E. Schwab
A Life No One Will Remember.
A Story You Will Never Forget.
France, 1714
In a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever―and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.
But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.
The Sweet Spot
Moving up a step, the second rating is Honey. Honey is significantly stickier than wax, but more importantly, it is sweeter. These curated books strike the perfect balance between intimacy and storytelling. In simpler terms, think "fade to black." These books may include moderate sensuality and physical actions, which will be described in detail but not explicitly written. Whether you're intrigued by the idea of diving into a spicy read or prefer to ease into it gradually, these selections are tailor-made for you.
Wolfsong
by T.J. Klune
The Bennett family has a secret: They're not just a family, they're a pack. Wolfsong is Ox Matheson's story.
Oxnard Matheson was twelve when his father taught him that Ox wasn’t worth anything and people would never understand him. Then his father left.
Ox was sixteen when the energetic Bennett family moved in next door, harboring a secret that would change him forever. The Bennetts are shapeshifters. They can transform into wolves at will. Drawn to their magic, loyalty, and enduring friendships, Ox feels a gulf between this extraordinary new world and the quiet life he’s known, but he finds an ally in Joe, the youngest Bennett boy.
Ox was twenty-three when murder came to town and tore a hole in his heart. Violence flared, tragedy split the pack, and Joe left town, leaving Ox behind. Three years later, the boy is back. Except now he’s a man – charming, handsome, but haunted – and Ox can no longer ignore the song that howls between them.
Love and Other Risky Business
by Sarah Brenton
Larger-than-life Hollywood Stuntman Timothy Foley fears nothing. Falling off a building? Any time. Being set on fire? All in a day’s work.
Telling his best friend he’s been in love with her for years?
Chokes. Every. Time. For a man who knows how to use his body—in every way—his heart has a way of tripping him up.
Wardrobe department seamstress Mina Andrei doesn’t take risks—with her life or her heart. Between her day job and the slow steps she’s taking to build her eco-friendly underwear brand, she doesn’t have time. Her friendship with Timothy is all the excitement she can handle. So long as she can ignore the way he makes her stomach flutter.
When an on-set accident ends Timothy’s career and nearly his life, he’s done chickening out. Luckily, he’s already in the hospital because his clumsy marriage proposal crashes and burns. But with his parents offering Mina much-needed money to keep him out of trouble, he might get another chance to woo his bestie. Carefully.
The Spice Rack
At last, we've arrived at the final rating: Nectar. These books are not for the faint of heart; that much is guaranteed. They will have your blood pumping, your palms sweating, and your heart racing. Whether you're into the typical, the taboo, or any of the myriad kinks out there, this section will surely have something for you! Our recommendations will feature explicit sensuality, sex will be depicted in graphic detail, and there's always a chance that acts beyond intercourse may make an appearance.
Fake Out
by Eden Finley
MADDOX
The reason I rarely go home is three simple words: I’m a liar.
When the pressure to marry my childhood sweetheart became too much, I told her I was gay and then fled to New York like my ass was on fire.
Now, five years later and after a drunken encounter, I find myself invited to her wedding. And I have to bring my boyfriend—the boyfriend who doesn’t exist because I’m straight.
At least, I think I am. Meeting the guy I’m bribing to be my boyfriend for the weekend makes me question everything about myself.
DAMON
When my sister asks me to pretend to be some straight guy’s boyfriend, my automatic response is to say no. It’s because of guys like him people don’t believe me when I tell them I’m gay.
But Maddox has something I need.
After an injury that cost me my baseball career, I’m trying to leave my playing days behind and focus on being the best sports agent I can be. Forty-eight hours with my sister’s best friend in exchange for a meeting with a possible client. I can do this.
I just wish he wasn’t so hot. Or that he didn’t kiss like he means it.
Wait … why is the straight guy kissing me?
It Had to Be Him
by Adib Khorram
Ramin Yazdani's marriage proposal has just gone bottoms up: his ex dumped him in public for being boring. Bent on proving him wrong, Ramin books a spontaneous solo trip to Italy. When he runs into his high school crush while in a gelateria, however, his resolve to reinvent himself is put to the test.
Noah Bartlett’s in a rut. Since his divorce, he's become a bit of a homebody. So when his ex-wife insists he join her and their son on an Italian holiday, Noah reluctantly agrees. But his reticence turns to excitement when he sees his former classmate, who's aged just like a fine wine. As a teenager, Ramin fascinated him—and since Noah now knows that fascination was code for crush—all those feelings are quick to come rushing back.
Soon Ramin and Noah are tumbling headfirst into a relationship. Only Ramin fears Noah’s feelings won’t last without Ramin’s adventurous new persona—and Noah's not sure he can be the supportive partner Ramin deserves. With the days counting down to the end of their trip, can their love last without the magic of Italy?
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