Was it one of those novels with Fabio on the cover? Oh, bless Fabio!
The first edgy novels depicting sexuality that I encountered were not technically romances. They are categorized as women’s fiction and thriller. After that I read a wide range. Those two were memorable.
Shobha De’s Snapshots
Take every soap opera cliche that exists and throw it all in a book. That is Shobha De’s Snapshots, a Chick Lit. Nothing original other than characters with Indian names and names of cities.
My family and my fifteen-year-old self were visiting family in India. We stopped at a bookstore to buy books, and this was one of the books Mom picked up. When I had down time, I picked up this book without knowing this author or the contents. Immediately, two characters were having sex in a Goa beach.
My inexperienced teenage mind was baffled. Who does that? Why would anyone enjoy public sex? The heroine was clearly enjoying it. Then, I realized that my mother picked up that book. Later, I asked Mom if she knew what was in that book. She played it cool and said, “Yeah, I heard a lot about her and wanted to see what her books are all about. I didn’t know her.” It’s still weird to realize that my mom picked up this steamy read.
Though the book was terrible, so I skipped to the hot scenes. The reason I still remember this stupid book is because this introduced me to the concept of sexual fantasies. I pondered the possibilities. Since then I refused to pick up another book from her. It was really that bad even for a curious, inexperienced teenager.
Beverly Sassoon’s Fantasies
From what I remember, this was a delicious escape. I picked it up at the local library and read it in school. I remember having nothing to do, so I read it during a study hall. A really annoying guy taunted me with, “Are you reading a romantic book?” We all have that annoying kid in high school. I hated being stuck with him. I looked at him and lied by telling him it’s a book about a female serial killer who kills the men she dates. That idiot shut his mouth.
The story at first starts out like a romance of a famous supermodel who has it all and falls in love with a bullfighter. Then it gets darker and sexier. Sloane, the heroine has an obsession that destroys her. The writing is seductive and all about sexual fantasies.
I want to buy a copy for myself to keep. It’s such a classic. While it isn’t literary, it’s a great pleasure read. From a book industry perspective, the genre and choices Sassoon made, it was a gutsy move.
Do your remember your first romance book?
Rani Mohan 
Interesting read
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