Erotic romance vs erotica

[Ciscobabey]

In my view the distinction between erotica and romance is a fine line. If a book is all about shagging and doesn't contain substance then yeah it could be considered porn but again it's in the eye of the reader and how good their imagination. If the book allows the reader to be pulled into the characters story and is still graphic that is where the fine line is drawn. If a reader doesn't use their imagination maybe a more erotic story is what they need but if they have a graphic imagination a romance may be perfect for them.

[Jessreading]

I think erotica is more sex focused than erotic romance, while romance erotic the main meat of the book is building the relationships ,plot and a slow build up to the sex scenes. Erotica is pretty much no build up or very little build up to sex with some relationship building and plot.

[Jennifer Allsbrook]

I am reading Dare to be Dirty by Savanna Fox and in the book the female characters had a brief discussion on a possible difference between the two. I always thought that they were the same.
So, is there a difference between erotica and erotic romance?

I agree with most of the posts regarding erotic romance having a more developed story line, characters with depth, believable dialogue, and of course the requisite steamy sex scenes. Erotica, on the other hand, is more about the sex and not the romance. I find the language in erotica to be more coarse and the descriptions of the sexual acts more detailed. I enjoy reading both and dabble in the writing of erotic short stories. Most main stream authors that are discussed in the romance and erotic fiction forum do not reach the level of erotica. Also, erotica may delve into more fringe and fetish aspects of sexuality than erotic fiction.

[MichaelaD]

My guess is that erotica is more about the sex scenes (like, a lot of it!) while erotic romance is a romance book that also contains erotica but also has a plot and story to tell. I personally don't like erotica- having a sex scene on every page but no plot and story behind it's not for me.

[Aohanlon86]

I want a lot of romance in with the erotica. I want plots, suspense and maybe even a fight or two. Too much erotica can be a little boring.

I agree. if the book has to much I skip pages to get by it

[shish_by_design]

my thoughts are that an erotica is all about sex only. the characters feel nothing for each other while an erotic romance is based on sex but with the main being romance

[Steph K]

I would think of erotic romance as a fully plotted out story with steamy scenes. If you removed the steamy scenes, you would still have a complete story. Erotica might have some sort of plot, but the main point is the steamy scenes.

[Merrilyn]

Erotic romance has a story of love and erotica is just sex in detail one night stands with stranger's.

[lavio4]

I find erotica to be more explicit with the sex scenes like more detailed or kinky/dirtier. Ive read some that I call erotica to have romance and story line along with the fun sexy stuff. ( i.e. The Beyond Series by Kit Rocha)

Erotic romance has some fun sex scenes that to me are written in a way that leave more to the imagination and are not as detailed as the romantic scenes are. ( i.e. Reapers MC Series by Joanna Wylde)

[cherryalakei]

I tend to lump "erotica" and "erotic romance" as one in the same, but I'm also somewhat new to the genre of romance and erotica in general. What's more confusing to me is that the term "romance" seems to encompass a wide variety of types of novels, including erotica. Some books which I would consider more erotica are classified as romance. I guess the idea is that erotica is more literary porn- focus on sex rather than plot, and erotic romance is just steamier romance novels with the focus being more on the romance than the sex, but that's just my guess.

[Makena Mugendi]

Oh yes, there is. Erotic romance is a story with explicit scenes, but the story is the primary part, like Christine Feehan books, for example the Carpathian series.

Erotica is like Alexa Riley, Jenika Snow. Where sex is the primary aspect

[Makena Mugendi]

Here's a big distinguishing factor: erotica tends to have a whirlwind romance, with a few chapters. Its short and steamy.

[Adair McClain]

I would consider "erotic romance" to have a more of a relationship than just steamy sex scenes. Personally, I prefer this over straight erotica most of the time.

[Poppy Drear]

I think the difference is best exemplified by two common fanfiction tags: "porn with plot" and "porn without plot". Erotic romance has at least a semblance of a story behind it, while erotica has much less depth.

[jessicam0119]

I agree with many of other replies on this topic. Erotica is more about sex whereas erotic romance is the love story with the steamy graphic passion, which is my favorite!