The Art of Reading Absolutely Filthy Books in Public

There was a time when reading smut in public required a certain amount of strategic planning.

You had to consider the cover. The title. The likelihood that someone would ask what you were reading, and whether you could convincingly describe a story about a morally bankrupt billionaire as "a contemporary exploration of interpersonal relationships."

It was exhausting.

Then Fifty Shades of Grey happened, and suddenly everyone and their mother was reading about Christian Grey. Literally. Some of our mothers were reading it, too, which presented an entirely different set of problems.

Whatever you think of those books, they helped make something possible that romance readers had been waiting for: the freedom to read whatever the hell we wanted without treating it like a state secret.

And then came the Kindle.

A LITTLE PRIVACY GOES A LONG WAY.

There's something wonderfully liberating about sitting in a coffee shop, sipping an overpriced latte, and reading a scene that would get you escorted out of the establishment if you attempted to explain it aloud.

To the person sitting across from you, you're simply a woman enjoying a book.

A perfectly respectable intellectual activity.

Never mind that the fictional man currently occupying your attention has murdered three people, kidnapped the heroine, and somehow convinced you that he's marriage material.

That's between you and your Kindle.

And while we're grateful that romance has become more socially acceptable, there's something to be said for not having to explain yourself to strangers.

Not because we're ashamed.

Because the woman next to us doesn't need to know what chapter we're on.

THE KINDLE PAPERWHITE: FOR WOMEN WITH THINGS TO HIDE.

If you read regularly, an e-reader is one of those purchases that starts to feel less like a luxury and more like a practical necessity.

Especially if your TBR has reached the point where a structural engineer should probably inspect your bookshelves.

The Kindle Paperwhite is an excellent option for readers who want a dedicated device without the distractions of a phone.

Its glare-free screen makes reading outside considerably more pleasant, the adjustable warm light is useful when you're reading in bed, and its waterproof design is reassuring if you're the sort of person who takes a book into the bathtub.

Which, frankly, seems like a perfectly reasonable place to spend three hours ignoring your responsibilities.

Explore the Kindle Paperwhite on Amazon →

And for those of you who are particular about your book covers, there's also the Kindle Colorsoft.

It's a more expensive option, and you certainly don't need it to enjoy a novel. But if you love illustrated covers, color highlights, or the visual experience of browsing your digital library, it's worth considering.

Explore the Kindle Colorsoft on Amazon →

BUT THE REAL LUXURY IS GETTING LOST.

The best thing about an e-reader isn't actually the technology.

It's having a ridiculous number of stories available wherever you happen to be.

Waiting at the airport? Read.

Sitting in the doctor's office? Read.

Supposed to be folding laundry? Well, nobody's perfect.

And if you're looking for a particularly questionable way to christen your Kindle, might we suggest a few titles?

The Ritual by Shantel Tessier is one to investigate if you enjoy dark secret-society romance and controlling, morally compromised characters.

Nero by S. J. Tilly belongs on the list if your fictional tastes lean toward possessive men and organized crime.

And Lights Out by Navessa Allen is worth exploring if you like dark romantic suspense with humor mixed into the obsession.

Check the content warnings before diving in. Dark romance covers a lot of territory, and one reader's favorite trope is another reader's hard limit.

READ WHAT YOU WANT.

At The Criminal Underground, we believe your imagination doesn't need a chaperone.

You can love the classics and enjoy an outrageously filthy romance. You can appreciate beautiful prose and still lose your mind over a fictional man who would be an absolute nightmare in real life.

These things are not mutually exclusive.

So take your Kindle to the coffee shop. Order something unnecessarily expensive. Read something thoroughly inappropriate.

And if you happen to catch another woman smiling suspiciously at her e-reader?

Mind your business.

She's probably having a wonderful time.