My Goodreads had been blowing up with notifications like ‘Ellen’s reading Sexy Faeries 2’ for a while. But honestly, after the let down of Game of Thrones, I wasn’t about to get back into the fantasy world. I was reading Anna Karenina after all. But after close friend’s urging that I get on this ACOTAR craze, I decided, what the hell? I’ll bite. Four books later, here I am, just a girl standing in front of all hetero boys everywhere telling them that if they want to understand what makes women horny and happy, you absolutely must read Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses romantic fantasy series. Let me explain, reader darling.
The One Book Every Hetero Man Should Read If He Wants to Know What Makes Women Horny and Happy
Don't knock this fantasy series before you try it
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Published Jul 14, 2025
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Wait, What’s ACTOAR?
OK, so apparently author Sarah J. Maas is, like, the most prolific writer of our time, and she’s penned a bajillion “romantasy” series that are each beloved in their own beautiful way. ACOTAR is its own series. It stands for A Court of Thrones and Roses, which is the first book in the series of the same name, telling the story of Feyre (fay-ruh), a mortal girl living in poverty, thrust into a magical world of sexy—and dangerous—fae, aka magical beings that range from being evil and sexy to kind and sexy.
Why You, Hetero Men, Should Pick Up the Series
Without giving away spoilers, I will say this: ACOTAR builds a world about immortal beings with wings and powers, and it’s oh-so magical. But the real magic is how Maas celebrates characters with emotional intelligence.
1. Female Desire Is Normalized
Our heroine, Feyre, gets down. She wants to be intimate with her partner/s because she’s bonding with them and sometimes, because she wants to let off steam. This is a precedent that’s set from the beginning chapters.
2. Consent Makes It Hornier
Again, no spoilers. But Maas crafts a very intentional contrast between two romantic dynamics—one that’s possessive, restrictive and rooted in fear, and another that’s grounded in mutual respect, freedom and enthusiastic consent. No surprises here: the latter is exponentially sexier and more erotic. An “Are you OK with this?” is so much more erotic than dominance masked as devotion. And I’m not just saying that because it’s the right thing to say. It actually builds sexual tension, opens the lines of communication (or muddles them!) and makes the emotional intimacy more titillating.
3. Emotional Intelligence Is King High Lord
The female gaze through the series definitely lingers on ripped abs, broad shoulders and, uh, large wingspans, but—*collects myself*—the real fantasy is a tall glass of water who knows how to communicate. The fact that these male characters talk about their feelings, apologize when they mess up, and—brace yourself—actively support their partner’s growth as equals? Swoon.
4. The Flirting Is End Game
This one’s my favorite. Fae land is where “you up?” goes to die. The banter in ACOTAR is fun and flirty. Characters with long-term relationships have sexy inside jokes and flirtation that builds trust on top of tension. Maas knows that chemistry isn’t about constant touching—it’s about anticipation. Power shifts. Wordplay. Learning how to push each other’s buttons in all the right ways.
Bottom Line
If Anna Karenina had even a sprinkle of Sarah J. Maas’s relationship dynamics, she might’ve avoided that whole train situation. ACOTAR is my current guilty little pleasure, but I’m offering it up to you as a relationship road map. No actual magic required.
