how spicy is it, really

Spice level is how much sexual content is in a book. It's the thing you desperately want to know before you start reading but can't google without getting spoilers or, worse, results you didn't ask for. MoodReads uses a 0–5 scale: 0 means no romance or sexual content at all, 5 means explicit and on-page. Most romantasy falls somewhere in the 2–4 range.

Every book is tagged by humans who have actually read it or deeply researched it—not by an algorithm guessing from keywords. We cross-reference reader feedback, author content notes, and our own research. If something looks off, every book page has a report button and I read every single one.

Closed door means romance exists but intimate scenes happen entirely off-page. You know it happened, you just weren't in the room. Fade to black is the "camera pans away" approach—things heat up, then the scene cuts. Open door means you're getting the full scene. MoodReads tracks all of these so you can find exactly the level you're comfortable with (or looking for).

Yes! Head to the spice browse page and pick your level. Want a cozy closed-door read? Filter for 0–1. Looking for something that'll make you fan yourself on the subway? Filter 4–5. No judgment either way—that's literally the point.

Goodreads doesn't track spice at all. You're stuck reading reviews and hoping someone mentions it without spoiling the entire plot. Or you're scrolling through shelves named "spicy-romance" that range from a single kiss to scenes that would make your grandma clutch her pearls. MoodReads gives you an actual number so you know what you're getting into before you commit.

Yep. Spice level tells you how much, but spice style tells you what kind. We tag things like tender, passionate, intense, emotional intimacy focus, and more. Two books can both be 4/5 spice and feel completely different—one might be slow-burn emotional, the other might be enemies-to-lovers tension that finally snaps. Spice style helps you find the energy you actually want.

0 — None: No romance or sexual content.
0.5 — Closed Door: Romance exists, intimacy is off-page.
1 — Low: Kissing, maybe some tension, nothing explicit.
2 — Mild: Some steam, but scenes aren't the focus.
3 — Moderate: On-page scenes, descriptive but not the whole book.
4 — High: Frequent, detailed scenes. You'll want privacy.
5 — Explicit: Very graphic, very frequent. Definitely don't read this on the bus.