Marketing Spicy Romance in an Age of Book Bans: Why Germany Could Be Your Next Big Opportunity
Across the United States, book bans are making headlines again — and romance writers are feeling the impact. Recently, Oklahoma introduced Senate Bill 593 (SB593), a new measure that could limit how romance novels, especially those with steamy or mature content, are shared and sold.
The bill’s language is broad, labeling books with sexual content as “potentially harmful,” even if they're intended for adults with “criminal penalties of up to ten years in prison for the production, distribution, or possession of pornography.”
Libraries, schools, and even bookstores could be pressured to remove titles that explore romance, relationships, and intimacy. According to the Authors Guild, this legislation puts many romance authors at risk, particularly those writing in the spicy and steamy subgenres.
And we’ve all seen censorship rising. Be it the way you have to be extra careful your book covers don’t show ‘too much’ for Amazon, that your hooks are not ‘too steamy’ for TikTok, or unexplained LGBTQ+ author account cancellations.
But censorship at home doesn’t have to stop your career. Many writers are now looking to reach readers outside the U.S. — and Germany could be a great place to start.
What Can You Do To Prepare Yourself?
The sooner you start to prepare, the less impact censorship will have on you and your books. Yes, it sucks, and bowing to censorship to whichever degree may not feel right, but especially if you are a full time author and live off your author income, there might not be much of a choice.
Nobody knows what the future will bring or what kind of bans will ultimately be accomplished or not, but here are some ways you can prepare yourself.
Plan ahead
The best time to start thinking about the longterm strategy you have for your books is now. Take your time to think ahead and see if and how you could re-brand your books to accomodate potential bans. Be it a discrete or cartoon cover instead of naked man-chest or toning down a blurb here or there - it’s better to have these things ready instead of scrambling at the last minute.Diversify
It’s a broad term and I mean it just as broadly. By that I mean diversify your distribution, your target group and your target countries.If you are in Kindle Unlimited, that still gives you plenty of opportunity to distribute your paperbacks elsewhere, e.g. via Ingram Spark or Barnes and Nobles. A lot of countries have their own distributors that may pay out more if you register with them directly.
Consider starting to translate your books and roll them out in the respective countries and check if Kindle Unlimited is really the ultimate subscription platform or if there are others (like Kobo or Tolino in Germany).
Don’t Self-Censor Yourself Too Early
If there was ever a time to write spicy books, it’s now. While it’s good to have an eye on things and prepare for the worst case, your readers adore your stories. Don’t lose them by self-censoring yourself.
Germany: A Thriving Market for Spicy Romance
Why Germany?
Germany has the third largest book market in the world. Readers here buy millions of books every year, and romance is among the leading genres, whether fluffy feel-good stories or spicy romances. Romance sections in book stores keep growing, showcasing everything from sports romance, to romantic comedies and dark romance.
Germany also has strong free speech laws. Writers are free to publish books without worrying about bans based on content.
German readers, especially the younger demographic, are also generally proficient in English, meaning you don’t necessarily have to translate your book in order to reach your German fans. The biggest bookstore chain usually has a whole department in their stores dedicated to English romance books - so don’t talk yourself out of approaching the market because the translation process seems intense.
This makes Germany a great opportunity for spicy romance authors who want to grow their audience — for whatever reason!
More Reasons to Consider Publishing Your Spicy Romance in Germany
The German book market brings in €7.6 billion in sales each year. Romance, New Adult, and Dark Romance books are top sellers, and demand is steady even as the number of readers changes. German-speaking readers aren’t just in Germany either: Austria and parts of Switzerland also offer strong markets for German-language books.
Women between 14 and 49 are the main audience for romance and spicy reads. Young readers are also a fast growing target group, with huge jumps in book buying among teens and people in their twenties.
A lot of them find new books through social media, making it easier to reach new fans if you market them right, and organic marketing might even bring better results than ads.
Booktok is a very popular medium in Germany as well, though often limited by the fact that the TikTok algorithm favors geography and English trends might not always make it to Germany as well.
It is also worth noting, that Germany is a great market for paperback sales. While e-books are becoming more and more popular, paperbacks are still the mostly favored medium to read.
With strong book sales, wide interest in spicy romance, and free speech protections, Germany (and the wider German-speaking world) gives your books a real chance to grow. It’s a market worth taking seriously, even without censorship looming — and the right strategy can make all the difference.
Your Story Deserves to Be Read
When your work faces limits in one place, the answer isn't to stop — it's to adjust your strategy and keep thriving.
Germany offers a real opportunity for spicy romance authors to grow their readership, protect their careers, and keep sharing their stories with a new target group.
If you're ready to find readers who are excited about your work, and to market your books to an audience that truly appreciates them, you're not alone.
I help authors like you connect with new readers, and establish yourself in Germany as a new market.
Are you ready to Reach New Readers in Germany? Let’s Chat!
