One of the most complicated conversations in romance publishing—and now in romantasy as well—is about heat levels. Readers often want to know what they’re getting before they dive into a book. Writers want to market their work clearly. But here’s the challenge: every publisher, bookseller, and blogger seems to use different terms for the exact same thing. Is “sweet” the same as “clean”? Is “closed door” different from “fade to black”? Does “steamy” mean sensual or explicit?
The answer depends on who you ask. And that’s the tricky part because the truth is complicated. Every publisher, reviewer, and even reader uses different terms to describe intimacy in romance novels. “Sweet” can mean one thing in one imprint and something entirely different in another. And romantasy—which blends romance with epic fantasy—adds another layer of complexity.
Why Heat Levels Matter
Romance novels (and romantasy novels with strong romantic arcs) cover an incredible range of intimacy. Some are built around stolen glances, lingering touches, and the promise of forever without a single kiss. Others dive deep into explicit, on-page passion. Both are romance. Both are valid. The only difference is the reader’s preference and the author’s intent. Clear communication about heat levels helps readers find the stories that resonate with them and helps writers build trust with their audience. There are three universal truths to remember.
- Readers will find the stories they’ll love.
- Writers must build trust with their audience.
- Publishers and booksellers will always try set expectations.
The challenge when it comes to communicating about heat levels? There’s no universal language.
Different Charts, Different Languages
Here’s the perfect example. The first chart organizes romance into five categories ranging from Innocent (no on-page intimacy) to Explicit and Plentiful (frequent, graphic intimacy). This chart comes from from the website romance.io:
But the second chart, designed for the Clean & Wholesome category, uses three “levels” that focus more on the intensity of physical contact and description. Michelle over at The Writing Gals made this three-level scale for clean and wholesome romances:
Both charts are correct. Both charts are useful. And yet they use completely different terms to describe the same spectrum of intimacy. This is why comparing one publisher’s “closed door” to another reviewer’s “Level 2” feels like comparing apples to pumpkins.
- Publishers often create their own internal rating scales.
- Reviewers and bloggers use terms like “sweet,” “spicy,” “closed door,” or “high heat,” but those definitions vary wildly.
- Retail platforms (like Amazon) don’t have standardized categories, so a “steamy romance” in one imprint might be “moderate heat” in another.
What About YA?
The conversation gets even trickier when we talk about upper YA (young adult) books. {NOTE: Upper YA refers to Young Adult books where the protagonist, usually the heroine, is 18 years old or on the verge of her 18th birthday} Many upper YA romances now include intimacy levels similar to “closed door” or even “open door” in adult romance—but the language used to describe it is rarely labeled as “spicy.” Instead, you’ll often see words like mature themes or romantic situations.
That’s because YA is marketed with a teen audience, and the language surrounding intimacy tends to be gentler. But for adult readers crossing over into romantasy with younger protagonists, it’s important to know that YA “romance” heat levels don’t always map neatly onto adult romance charts.
Thinking in Spectrums, Not Boxes
Instead of trying to memorize every label, it can help to think of heat levels as a spectrum of intimacy with a few common reference points:
- No Kisses / Inspirational – Romance built on emotional intimacy only.
- Sweet / Clean – Some kissing, but no sex (or it happens entirely off-page).
- Closed Door / Fade to Black – Sexual intimacy implied, but the details happen off-page.
- Open Door / Steamy – Sexual intimacy is shown on-page, but with varying levels of detail.
- High Heat / Erotic Romance – Sex scenes are explicit, frequent, and integral to the romance arc.
Every chart I’ve seen basically falls somewhere along this line. The terminology changes, but the spectrum stays the same.
Romantasy Adds Another Twist
Romantasy (romance + fantasy) complicates things further because the focus often shifts between romantic intimacy and epic adventure stakes. A romantasy labeled “low heat” might still include strong romantic tension, but fewer on-page scenes because the worldbuilding and fantasy plot take center stage. This doesn’t make them any “less romantic”, it just means the balance of page-time is different.
So What’s a Reader (or Writer) to Do?
Here are a few tips to navigate the murky waters of heat-level language:
- Read the Back Matter. Many authors include content notes or “spice levels” in their newsletters, websites, or book descriptions.
- Follow Trusted Reviewers. Find bloggers, TikTokers, or Goodreads reviewers whose taste matches yours, and use their language as your personal guide.
- As a Writer—Define Your Own Scale. Be clear with your readers. A simple “my books usually fall into the ‘closed door with strong chemistry’ range” or “the sex scenes are so hot the pages will burn your fingers” goes a long way in building trust.
Final Thoughts
Heat levels will probably never be standardized across publishing. And maybe that’s okay. Just as every love story is unique, so is every writer’s way of capturing intimacy. The important thing is to communicate clearly and honor your readers’ expectations while still writing the stories that feel true to you. Whether you write about whispered promises under falling leaves or blazing passion beneath the stars, there’s a reader waiting to fall in love with your words.
