If you’ve ever browsed book communities, romance discussions, or online forums, you’ve likely come across a flood of acronyms. Whether you’re deep into BookTok, fanfiction, or discussing the latest spicy read, knowing these shorthand terms can help you navigate conversations like a pro.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guide to book and online community acronyms, breaking down everything from romance subgenres to reader slang and internet shorthand.
General Book & Reading Acronyms
- AA – Action & Adventure / African American Romance
- AAR – All About Romance
- ARC – Advanced Reader Copy
- BBF – Book Boyfriend
- BBS – Body Betrayal Syndrome (Body says yes, mind says no)
- BIPOC – Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
- BL – Boy Love
- BOB – Battery Operated Boyfriend
- BOTM – Book of the Month
- BWWM – Black Woman / White Man
- CB – Chapter Book
- CGR – Cross Cultural Romance
- CR – Contemporary Romance / Current Read
- DNF – Did Not Finish
- DNR – Do Not Read
- E2L / ETL – Enemies to Lovers
- HEA – Happily Ever After
- HFN – Happy For Now
- IR – Interracial Romance
- ISO – In Search Of
- KV – Kindle Vella
- KU – Kindle Unlimited
- LDR – Long Distance Relationship
- LGBTQIA+ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and others
- LI – Love Interest
- LTA – Long Term Affair
- MC – Main Character / Motorcycle Club
- MM – Male/Male Romance
- MF – Male/Female Romance
- MFM – Male/Female/Male (no MM content)
- MFMA – RH (Reverse Harem) with MM content
- MMF – Male/Male/Female
- MMC – Male Main Character
- F2L / FTL – Friends to Lovers
- FMC – Female Main Character
- NBR – Not Book Related
- NF – Non-Fiction
- NRN – Not Right Now (like DNF, but intend to finish later)
- OM – Other Man
- OW – Other Woman
- PNR – Paranormal Romance
- RH – Reverse Harem
- SA – Standalone
- SE – Special Edition
- SFF – Science Fiction & Fantasy
- TBR – To Be Read
- UF – Urban Fantasy
- WF – Women’s Fiction
- WR – Western Romance
Spicy & Romance-Specific Acronyms
- AF – As F*ck (used for emphasis)
- BDSM – Bondage & Discipline / Dominance & Submission / Sadism & Masochism
- CNC – Consensual Non-Consent
- Dub-con – Dubious Consent
- EA – Emotional Affair
- FMF – Female/Male/Female
- FFM – Female/Female/Male
- FWB – Friends With Benefits
- HaBo – Help a B*tch Out (used in reader groups to find a book)
- MILF – Mother I’d Like to F*ck
- MPreg – Male Pregnancy (common in PNR/Sci-Fi)
- NF – Non-Fiction
- NOTP – Basically the opposite of an OTP (One True Pairing)
- OMWY – Older Man / Younger Woman
- OWYM – Older Woman / Younger Man
- OTP – One True Pairing (romantic trope)
- PWP – Plot? What Plot? (Smut or Erotica)
- PI – Pseudo-Inc*st (Step Relationships)
- SA – Sexual Assault
- TP – Triple Penetration
- VSS – Very Short Stories
- WC – Why Choose (Reverse Harem)
- WFO – Wide F*cking Open / Full Throttle
Internet Slang & Community Terms
- AFAIK – As Far As I Know
- AMA – Ask Me Anything
- BRB – Be Right Back
- DILF – Dad I’d Like To F*ck
- DILLIGAF – Does It Look Like I Give A F*ck
- DISO – Desperately In Search Of
- DM – Direct Message
- FB – Facebook
- FF – Fan Fiction
- FF&P – Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal
- IG – Instagram
- IMO – In My Opinion
- KMP – Keep Me Posted
- KMU – Keep Me Updated
- QOTD – Question Of The Day
- Ship – Two people you want to be in a relationship
- SMH – Shaking My Head
- TBC – To Be Continued
- TSTL – Too Stupid To Live (used for frustrating characters)
- TW – Trigger Warning
- TWSS – That’s What She Said
- WFH – Work From Home
- WIP – Work In Progress
- WLW – Women Loving Women
- WR – Western Romance
- WTF – What The F*ck
- WYW – Who’s Your Daddy
- YT – YouTube
Book & Reading-Related Slang
- BB – Book Boyfriend
- BROT3P – Bromance (Friendship between guys)
- CR – Club Write/With
- ED – Eating Disorder
- ER – Erotic Romance
- F – Finished Copy
- ff – Follow Friday (often used with a tag)
- HaBo – Help a B*tch Out (finding a book)
- HC – Hardcover
- MC – Motorcycle Club
- NBR – Not Book Related
- NF – Non-Fiction
- NRN – Not Right Now (like DNF, but intend to finish later)
- OOC – Out of Character
- OOP – Out of Print
- RTC – Review To Come
- SFW – Safe For Work
- TSTL – Too Stupid To Live (used for frustrating characters)
- WIP – Work In Progress
- WLW – Women Loving Women
Final Thoughts
Book and romance communities have developed their own shorthand over the years, making conversations quicker and more fun. Whether you’re diving into spicy romance, discussing fanfiction, or just trying to understand what PNR with an HEA means, this guide has you covered!
Did I miss any acronyms? Drop me an email [email protected]