Listen Top Shows Blog

Why we're all obsessed with smut right now: sex, power, and BookTok

Why we're all obsessed with smut right now: sex, power, and BookTok

Update: 2025-07-14

Share

Description

Why are we all suddenly obsessed with smutty romance novels and what does that say about what women? We site down with Leah Hultenschmidt, VP and Publisher at Forever (Hachette Book Group), to talk about the rise of spicy reads, the power of BookTok, and how steamy stories are helping women reclaim their pleasure, their voice, and their standards. From many New York Times Bestsellers to the secret sauce behind a good slow burn, this conversation is smart, sexy, and full of insider gems for readers and aspiring writers.

For everything So She Slays visit our site!

Make sure to follow @sosheslays on IG to get your daily fix of laughs and unapologetic confidence.

Watch episodes of the So She Slays Podcast on our YouTube page.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/so-she-slays-podcast/donations

Comments

In Channel

The Business of Creativity: How to Stay Passionate, Get Paid, and Keep Going

The Business of Creativity: How to Stay Passionate, Get Paid, and Keep Going

2025-10-2737:41

Why Mentorship Is the Secret to Getting What You Want

Why Mentorship Is the Secret to Getting What You Want

2025-10-0627:28

How to Stop Living in Overdrive: Nervous System Hacks for High Achievers

How to Stop Living in Overdrive: Nervous System Hacks for High Achievers

2025-09-2237:59

Raising emotionally smart kids and ourselves

Raising emotionally smart kids and ourselves

2025-09-0842:13

Everything They Should’ve Taught Us About Women’s Health & Hormones

Everything They Should’ve Taught Us About Women’s Health & Hormones

2025-08-2533:14

It’s Not You, It’s the Dating Culture (but also… maybe it’s you too?)

It’s Not You, It’s the Dating Culture (but also… maybe it’s you too?)

2025-08-1141:47

Is this my purpose...or am I just performing?

Is this my purpose...or am I just performing?

2025-07-2835:10

Why we're all obsessed with smut right now: sex, power, and BookTok

Why we're all obsessed with smut right now: sex, power, and BookTok

2025-07-1424:16

How to survive a financial crisis

How to survive a financial crisis

2025-06-3035:39

No filter life advice from the Women of Retirement House

No filter life advice from the Women of Retirement House

2025-06-1644:37

Myths, Money & Making It Work as a Digital Nomad

Myths, Money & Making It Work as a Digital Nomad

2025-06-0236:15

What you don’t know about your hormones…but should

What you don’t know about your hormones…but should

2025-05-1245:16

Successful, Single, & Stuck in Patterns? Let’s Talk About It Part 2

Successful, Single, & Stuck in Patterns? Let’s Talk About It Part 2

2025-04-2833:56

Successful, Single, & Stuck in Patterns? Let’s Talk About It - Part 1

Successful, Single, & Stuck in Patterns? Let’s Talk About It - Part 1

2025-04-2126:18

Solo Travel Like a Pro: What you need to know as a woman and/or woman of color

Solo Travel Like a Pro: What you need to know as a woman and/or woman of color

2025-04-1440:26

What the Fitness Industry Gets Wrong About Women’s Health

What the Fitness Industry Gets Wrong About Women’s Health

2025-04-0734:47

Are Americans Really Leaving the U.S.? And where are they going?

Are Americans Really Leaving the U.S.? And where are they going?

2025-03-2436:54

6-Figure Secrets: How to Land that High-Paying Job Without the Stress

6-Figure Secrets: How to Land that High-Paying Job Without the Stress

2025-03-1036:29

Consultation red flags and celebrity glow ups: med spa addition

Consultation red flags and celebrity glow ups: med spa addition

2025-03-0327:23

The sex questions you wish you could ask your ob-gyn

The sex questions you wish you could ask your ob-gyn

2025-01-2731:05

00:00

00:00

x

Why we're all obsessed with smut right now: sex, power, and BookTok

Why we're all obsessed with smut right now: sex, power, and BookTok

Chauncey Woods & Heather Young