With the publication of 50 Shades of Grey in 2011, and the first film of the trilogy in 2015, BDSM romances, and BDSM as such, have somehow lost their bad reputation and entered the mainstream. Hence, literary studies of these genres can be added to the long list of research papers in psychology or anthropology.My paper will deal with some of the major motifs we can find in the various books by different (mostly female) authors. Most of the books are set in rather high-class BDSM clubs in the USA, telling the stories of the Dom(me)s and their submissive partners. Even when the plot line is situated in the everyday lives of the main characters, they are nevertheless part of the local scene.Among the topoi are for instance descriptions of the closely knit communities of Dom(me)s and subs who frequent the same clubs. A special kind of group is constituted by women who meet on a regular basis and help each other as chosen sisters. Another motif present in many texts is the first encounter with a club (or BDSM in general); especially when a character realizes that they are submissive – a trait not congruent with the roles in their lives (like strong alpha men who are nevertheless sexually submissive).And all texts agree on the absolute necessity of open and truthful communication, and deep mutual trust that need to govern the relations among the (play) partners, and the lifestyle as such.