Where are you on this issue? In or out?

In a chick lit novel, say a romantic comedy, like, uh, I don’t know, ‘eloves me, eloves me not’, how important are the sex scenes to the overall story?

Do you need those graphic, detailed descriptions of intimate pairings to further appreciate the storyline and better understand the character? Or, do you prefer just to be teased up to it, taken close, but then have the actual act left to your imagination as you are transported off to a new post-coital scene taking place somewhere else?

Are sex scenes an absolute must in contemporary romance? Do you think they add a necessary dimension of authenticity to a romantic story, but aren’t exactly mandatory?

Or are you one of those people who thinks that sexy scenes can add a little spice, but you’re okay with bland and prefer leaving them to the imagination? Or, do you get put completely off a story when you reach a graphic interlude?

I’m most interested in learning where chick lit, romance and women’s fiction readers stand on this issue. But I’d be open to having other genre readers weigh in too.