Calls for content rating as violence, misogyny found in young adult fiction
A child safeguarding expert has called for content warnings on young adult (YA) fiction to protect vulnerable kids and teens, as well as an industry-wide book rating classification system.
Novels such as the Icebreaker series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Once Upon a Broken Heart and Lore Olympus included violent or explicit storylines, new research has found.
While some novels were not explicitly directed at preteens, they were popular with girls as young as 12 due to the influence of social media.
Dr Emma Hussey, from the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Institute of Child Protection Studies, said the books were often available in school and community libraries, and were easily accessible to children of all ages.
"We looked at a range of fantasy, romance, paranormal, and general fiction novels that were being promoted to teenagers and compared the relationship dynamics to real-world warning signs of abuse," Dr Hussey said.
"What we found was a pattern of emotional manipulation, jealousy and control being regularly framed as signs of love," the digital criminologist said.
"That was really alarming because these are behaviours that we warn about in domestic violence education, but they're being normalised in fiction that young readers are picking up."
ACU academics conducted a thematic analysis of 20 novels recommended by BookTok, a literature subcommunity on TikTok, which are popular among young readers.
They found that each novel contained elements of domestic and family violence such as sexual assault, torture, grooming, power and control, including dominance and submission.
They also found themes of sexual objectification and masculinity tropes, including powerful, dangerous, and handsome male love interests.
"Extreme" sexually explicit content was found in 65 per cent of books analysed, and "moderate" sexual content was in a quarter of books.
Graphic and extreme violence was also found in 65 per cent of books, according to the research.
Dr Hussey described a scene in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber where the protagonist is restrained by her love interest.
The god-like male character's kiss is poisonous to the protagonist, who is in "constant threat" of death during their courtship, the child safeguarding expert said.
The love interest denies the main character's autonomy and is able to speak through her body, Dr Hussey said.
"If young readers consistently consume stories where love is tied to obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, or control, they may internalise these behaviours as normal - even desirable - in relationships," Dr Hussey said.
"We are already facing a domestic violence epidemic. If girls grow up believing these themes are what they should be looking for in a relationship we run the risk of perpetuating this cycle," she said.
Following the research by ACU, Dr Hussey is calling for content warnings to be included on book covers.
She is also advocating for the adoption of an industry-wide classification system, similar to those seen in film and television, so parents are able to check if their child is reading developmentally inappropriate content.
"A rating system is not about censorship. It is about transparency and ensuring books containing themes such as violence, explicit sexual content, and unhealthy relationship dynamics are classified appropriately," she said.
READ MORE: Book ban overturned in rowdy council meeting
Some publishers include an age rating in small print, others include content warnings, but some "prefer you to go in blind", the digital criminologist said.
"The reality is that many parents have no idea what their children are reading," Dr Hussey said.
"The time for action is now," she said.
"Parents, schools, and policymakers must work together to implement structured guidance that protects young readers while still allowing them to explore and engage with stories in a way that is safe, educational, and developmentally appropriate."
Penguin Books Australia and Bloomsbury Publishing were contacted for comment.
Parents of young readers may be shocked to learn that many popular novels marketed to preteen girls contain graphic sexual assault and domestic violence themes.
A child safeguarding expert has called for content warnings on young adult (YA) fiction to protect vulnerable kids and teens, as well as an industry-wide book rating classification system.
Novels such as the Icebreaker series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Once Upon a Broken Heart and Lore Olympus included violent or explicit storylines, new research has found.
While some novels were not explicitly directed at preteens, they were popular with girls as young as 12 due to the influence of social media.
Dr Emma Hussey, from the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Institute of Child Protection Studies, said the books were often available in school and community libraries, and were easily accessible to children of all ages.
"We looked at a range of fantasy, romance, paranormal, and general fiction novels that were being promoted to teenagers and compared the relationship dynamics to real-world warning signs of abuse," Dr Hussey said.
"What we found was a pattern of emotional manipulation, jealousy and control being regularly framed as signs of love," the digital criminologist said.
"That was really alarming because these are behaviours that we warn about in domestic violence education, but they're being normalised in fiction that young readers are picking up."
ACU academics conducted a thematic analysis of 20 novels recommended by BookTok, a literature subcommunity on TikTok, which are popular among young readers.
They found that each novel contained elements of domestic and family violence such as sexual assault, torture, grooming, power and control, including dominance and submission.
They also found themes of sexual objectification and masculinity tropes, including powerful, dangerous, and handsome male love interests.
"Extreme" sexually explicit content was found in 65 per cent of books analysed, and "moderate" sexual content was in a quarter of books.
Graphic and extreme violence was also found in 65 per cent of books, according to the research.
Dr Hussey described a scene in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber where the protagonist is restrained by her love interest.
The god-like male character's kiss is poisonous to the protagonist, who is in "constant threat" of death during their courtship, the child safeguarding expert said.
The love interest denies the main character's autonomy and is able to speak through her body, Dr Hussey said.
"If young readers consistently consume stories where love is tied to obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, or control, they may internalise these behaviours as normal - even desirable - in relationships," Dr Hussey said.
"We are already facing a domestic violence epidemic. If girls grow up believing these themes are what they should be looking for in a relationship we run the risk of perpetuating this cycle," she said.
Following the research by ACU, Dr Hussey is calling for content warnings to be included on book covers.
She is also advocating for the adoption of an industry-wide classification system, similar to those seen in film and television, so parents are able to check if their child is reading developmentally inappropriate content.
"A rating system is not about censorship. It is about transparency and ensuring books containing themes such as violence, explicit sexual content, and unhealthy relationship dynamics are classified appropriately," she said.
READ MORE: Book ban overturned in rowdy council meeting
Some publishers include an age rating in small print, others include content warnings, but some "prefer you to go in blind", the digital criminologist said.
"The reality is that many parents have no idea what their children are reading," Dr Hussey said.
"The time for action is now," she said.
"Parents, schools, and policymakers must work together to implement structured guidance that protects young readers while still allowing them to explore and engage with stories in a way that is safe, educational, and developmentally appropriate."
Penguin Books Australia and Bloomsbury Publishing were contacted for comment.
Parents of young readers may be shocked to learn that many popular novels marketed to preteen girls contain graphic sexual assault and domestic violence themes.
A child safeguarding expert has called for content warnings on young adult (YA) fiction to protect vulnerable kids and teens, as well as an industry-wide book rating classification system.
Novels such as the Icebreaker series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Once Upon a Broken Heart and Lore Olympus included violent or explicit storylines, new research has found.
While some novels were not explicitly directed at preteens, they were popular with girls as young as 12 due to the influence of social media.
Dr Emma Hussey, from the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Institute of Child Protection Studies, said the books were often available in school and community libraries, and were easily accessible to children of all ages.
"We looked at a range of fantasy, romance, paranormal, and general fiction novels that were being promoted to teenagers and compared the relationship dynamics to real-world warning signs of abuse," Dr Hussey said.
"What we found was a pattern of emotional manipulation, jealousy and control being regularly framed as signs of love," the digital criminologist said.
"That was really alarming because these are behaviours that we warn about in domestic violence education, but they're being normalised in fiction that young readers are picking up."
ACU academics conducted a thematic analysis of 20 novels recommended by BookTok, a literature subcommunity on TikTok, which are popular among young readers.
They found that each novel contained elements of domestic and family violence such as sexual assault, torture, grooming, power and control, including dominance and submission.
They also found themes of sexual objectification and masculinity tropes, including powerful, dangerous, and handsome male love interests.
"Extreme" sexually explicit content was found in 65 per cent of books analysed, and "moderate" sexual content was in a quarter of books.
Graphic and extreme violence was also found in 65 per cent of books, according to the research.
Dr Hussey described a scene in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber where the protagonist is restrained by her love interest.
The god-like male character's kiss is poisonous to the protagonist, who is in "constant threat" of death during their courtship, the child safeguarding expert said.
The love interest denies the main character's autonomy and is able to speak through her body, Dr Hussey said.
"If young readers consistently consume stories where love is tied to obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, or control, they may internalise these behaviours as normal - even desirable - in relationships," Dr Hussey said.
"We are already facing a domestic violence epidemic. If girls grow up believing these themes are what they should be looking for in a relationship we run the risk of perpetuating this cycle," she said.
Following the research by ACU, Dr Hussey is calling for content warnings to be included on book covers.
She is also advocating for the adoption of an industry-wide classification system, similar to those seen in film and television, so parents are able to check if their child is reading developmentally inappropriate content.
"A rating system is not about censorship. It is about transparency and ensuring books containing themes such as violence, explicit sexual content, and unhealthy relationship dynamics are classified appropriately," she said.
READ MORE: Book ban overturned in rowdy council meeting
Some publishers include an age rating in small print, others include content warnings, but some "prefer you to go in blind", the digital criminologist said.
"The reality is that many parents have no idea what their children are reading," Dr Hussey said.
"The time for action is now," she said.
"Parents, schools, and policymakers must work together to implement structured guidance that protects young readers while still allowing them to explore and engage with stories in a way that is safe, educational, and developmentally appropriate."
Penguin Books Australia and Bloomsbury Publishing were contacted for comment.
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The Advertiser
5 days ago
- The Advertiser
Calls for content rating as violence, misogyny found in young adult fiction
Parents of young readers may be shocked to learn that many popular novels marketed to preteen girls contain graphic sexual assault and domestic violence themes. A child safeguarding expert has called for content warnings on young adult (YA) fiction to protect vulnerable kids and teens, as well as an industry-wide book rating classification system. Novels such as the Icebreaker series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Once Upon a Broken Heart and Lore Olympus included violent or explicit storylines, new research has found. While some novels were not explicitly directed at preteens, they were popular with girls as young as 12 due to the influence of social media. Dr Emma Hussey, from the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Institute of Child Protection Studies, said the books were often available in school and community libraries, and were easily accessible to children of all ages. "We looked at a range of fantasy, romance, paranormal, and general fiction novels that were being promoted to teenagers and compared the relationship dynamics to real-world warning signs of abuse," Dr Hussey said. "What we found was a pattern of emotional manipulation, jealousy and control being regularly framed as signs of love," the digital criminologist said. "That was really alarming because these are behaviours that we warn about in domestic violence education, but they're being normalised in fiction that young readers are picking up." ACU academics conducted a thematic analysis of 20 novels recommended by BookTok, a literature subcommunity on TikTok, which are popular among young readers. They found that each novel contained elements of domestic and family violence such as sexual assault, torture, grooming, power and control, including dominance and submission. They also found themes of sexual objectification and masculinity tropes, including powerful, dangerous, and handsome male love interests. "Extreme" sexually explicit content was found in 65 per cent of books analysed, and "moderate" sexual content was in a quarter of books. Graphic and extreme violence was also found in 65 per cent of books, according to the research. Dr Hussey described a scene in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber where the protagonist is restrained by her love interest. The god-like male character's kiss is poisonous to the protagonist, who is in "constant threat" of death during their courtship, the child safeguarding expert said. The love interest denies the main character's autonomy and is able to speak through her body, Dr Hussey said. "If young readers consistently consume stories where love is tied to obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, or control, they may internalise these behaviours as normal - even desirable - in relationships," Dr Hussey said. "We are already facing a domestic violence epidemic. If girls grow up believing these themes are what they should be looking for in a relationship we run the risk of perpetuating this cycle," she said. Following the research by ACU, Dr Hussey is calling for content warnings to be included on book covers. She is also advocating for the adoption of an industry-wide classification system, similar to those seen in film and television, so parents are able to check if their child is reading developmentally inappropriate content. "A rating system is not about censorship. It is about transparency and ensuring books containing themes such as violence, explicit sexual content, and unhealthy relationship dynamics are classified appropriately," she said. READ MORE: Book ban overturned in rowdy council meeting Some publishers include an age rating in small print, others include content warnings, but some "prefer you to go in blind", the digital criminologist said. "The reality is that many parents have no idea what their children are reading," Dr Hussey said. "The time for action is now," she said. "Parents, schools, and policymakers must work together to implement structured guidance that protects young readers while still allowing them to explore and engage with stories in a way that is safe, educational, and developmentally appropriate." Penguin Books Australia and Bloomsbury Publishing were contacted for comment. Parents of young readers may be shocked to learn that many popular novels marketed to preteen girls contain graphic sexual assault and domestic violence themes. A child safeguarding expert has called for content warnings on young adult (YA) fiction to protect vulnerable kids and teens, as well as an industry-wide book rating classification system. Novels such as the Icebreaker series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Once Upon a Broken Heart and Lore Olympus included violent or explicit storylines, new research has found. While some novels were not explicitly directed at preteens, they were popular with girls as young as 12 due to the influence of social media. Dr Emma Hussey, from the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Institute of Child Protection Studies, said the books were often available in school and community libraries, and were easily accessible to children of all ages. "We looked at a range of fantasy, romance, paranormal, and general fiction novels that were being promoted to teenagers and compared the relationship dynamics to real-world warning signs of abuse," Dr Hussey said. "What we found was a pattern of emotional manipulation, jealousy and control being regularly framed as signs of love," the digital criminologist said. "That was really alarming because these are behaviours that we warn about in domestic violence education, but they're being normalised in fiction that young readers are picking up." ACU academics conducted a thematic analysis of 20 novels recommended by BookTok, a literature subcommunity on TikTok, which are popular among young readers. They found that each novel contained elements of domestic and family violence such as sexual assault, torture, grooming, power and control, including dominance and submission. They also found themes of sexual objectification and masculinity tropes, including powerful, dangerous, and handsome male love interests. "Extreme" sexually explicit content was found in 65 per cent of books analysed, and "moderate" sexual content was in a quarter of books. Graphic and extreme violence was also found in 65 per cent of books, according to the research. Dr Hussey described a scene in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber where the protagonist is restrained by her love interest. The god-like male character's kiss is poisonous to the protagonist, who is in "constant threat" of death during their courtship, the child safeguarding expert said. The love interest denies the main character's autonomy and is able to speak through her body, Dr Hussey said. "If young readers consistently consume stories where love is tied to obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, or control, they may internalise these behaviours as normal - even desirable - in relationships," Dr Hussey said. "We are already facing a domestic violence epidemic. If girls grow up believing these themes are what they should be looking for in a relationship we run the risk of perpetuating this cycle," she said. Following the research by ACU, Dr Hussey is calling for content warnings to be included on book covers. She is also advocating for the adoption of an industry-wide classification system, similar to those seen in film and television, so parents are able to check if their child is reading developmentally inappropriate content. "A rating system is not about censorship. It is about transparency and ensuring books containing themes such as violence, explicit sexual content, and unhealthy relationship dynamics are classified appropriately," she said. READ MORE: Book ban overturned in rowdy council meeting Some publishers include an age rating in small print, others include content warnings, but some "prefer you to go in blind", the digital criminologist said. "The reality is that many parents have no idea what their children are reading," Dr Hussey said. "The time for action is now," she said. "Parents, schools, and policymakers must work together to implement structured guidance that protects young readers while still allowing them to explore and engage with stories in a way that is safe, educational, and developmentally appropriate." Penguin Books Australia and Bloomsbury Publishing were contacted for comment. Parents of young readers may be shocked to learn that many popular novels marketed to preteen girls contain graphic sexual assault and domestic violence themes. A child safeguarding expert has called for content warnings on young adult (YA) fiction to protect vulnerable kids and teens, as well as an industry-wide book rating classification system. Novels such as the Icebreaker series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Once Upon a Broken Heart and Lore Olympus included violent or explicit storylines, new research has found. While some novels were not explicitly directed at preteens, they were popular with girls as young as 12 due to the influence of social media. Dr Emma Hussey, from the Australian Catholic University's (ACU) Institute of Child Protection Studies, said the books were often available in school and community libraries, and were easily accessible to children of all ages. "We looked at a range of fantasy, romance, paranormal, and general fiction novels that were being promoted to teenagers and compared the relationship dynamics to real-world warning signs of abuse," Dr Hussey said. "What we found was a pattern of emotional manipulation, jealousy and control being regularly framed as signs of love," the digital criminologist said. "That was really alarming because these are behaviours that we warn about in domestic violence education, but they're being normalised in fiction that young readers are picking up." ACU academics conducted a thematic analysis of 20 novels recommended by BookTok, a literature subcommunity on TikTok, which are popular among young readers. They found that each novel contained elements of domestic and family violence such as sexual assault, torture, grooming, power and control, including dominance and submission. They also found themes of sexual objectification and masculinity tropes, including powerful, dangerous, and handsome male love interests. "Extreme" sexually explicit content was found in 65 per cent of books analysed, and "moderate" sexual content was in a quarter of books. Graphic and extreme violence was also found in 65 per cent of books, according to the research. Dr Hussey described a scene in Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber where the protagonist is restrained by her love interest. The god-like male character's kiss is poisonous to the protagonist, who is in "constant threat" of death during their courtship, the child safeguarding expert said. The love interest denies the main character's autonomy and is able to speak through her body, Dr Hussey said. "If young readers consistently consume stories where love is tied to obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, or control, they may internalise these behaviours as normal - even desirable - in relationships," Dr Hussey said. "We are already facing a domestic violence epidemic. If girls grow up believing these themes are what they should be looking for in a relationship we run the risk of perpetuating this cycle," she said. Following the research by ACU, Dr Hussey is calling for content warnings to be included on book covers. She is also advocating for the adoption of an industry-wide classification system, similar to those seen in film and television, so parents are able to check if their child is reading developmentally inappropriate content. "A rating system is not about censorship. It is about transparency and ensuring books containing themes such as violence, explicit sexual content, and unhealthy relationship dynamics are classified appropriately," she said. READ MORE: Book ban overturned in rowdy council meeting Some publishers include an age rating in small print, others include content warnings, but some "prefer you to go in blind", the digital criminologist said. "The reality is that many parents have no idea what their children are reading," Dr Hussey said. "The time for action is now," she said. "Parents, schools, and policymakers must work together to implement structured guidance that protects young readers while still allowing them to explore and engage with stories in a way that is safe, educational, and developmentally appropriate." Penguin Books Australia and Bloomsbury Publishing were contacted for comment.
News.com.au
16-07-2025
- News.com.au
10 best romcom BookTok books to read in Australia in 2025
An influential social media creator has slammed critics of romance novels, arguing the backlash against the genre is rooted in sexism. These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more If there's one thing Gen Z will do, it's surprise you. While our elders stress about our screen time and how it's rotting our brains, many of us are actually putting technology to good use and turning to something a little more old-fashioned. Enter: #BookTok. The TikTok hashtag has evolved into a global phenomenon with over 370 billion views and over 52 million videos, according to Forbes. In this sizeable corner of the internet, BookTokers spend hours discussing and analysing their favourite books, with romantic-comedy being a particular favourite. While many outside the BookTok community dismiss romance readers, it's clear that this, frankly sexist, criticism is unwarranted. Jack Edwards, the self-titled 'Internet's resident librarian', has over 2.8 million followers combined on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Defending the much-maligned genre, he says: 'It's not just a romance. Love is one of the things we think about our entire lives. 'On your deathbed you will be thinking about the ones that you love. Why shouldn't we make art about it? 'And why shouldn't we give our criticism of art that dignity to think about it as an important form and important medium of self-expression?' It's a sentiment echoed by creators throughout the BookTok community, including Australian BookToker Belle Therese. Below, she reveals her top ten favourite romantic-comedy novels that have gone viral on BookTok. She also explains how she got into BookTok and addresses some of the common misconceptions that still persist. BEST BOOKTOK BOOKS You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle, $17.70 (down from $22.90) An engaged couple who decide to play pranks on each other in order to get their counterpart to call off their wedding. A single mother's quest for love as she joins a reluctant radio show host's late night matchmaking broadcast. The romance between a newly crowned pageant queen and her grumpy bodyguard on a three-month victory tour around the US. A quiet baseball star and his sister's best friend become roommates and 'fake date' in this opposites attract sports romance. A steamy small town romance where a reformed bad boy grapples with feelings for his best friend's little sister. In a small town in Galway, Ireland, a vibrant animator and a gloomy funeral homeowner spark an unlikely friendship that leads Lark to help Callum find a wife. A grumpy single dad hires an untameable redhead to babysit his son over the summer. The rivals to lovers relationship between the First Son of the United States and the Prince of Wales. A one-night stand left unresolved leads to simmering tension when Russ and Aurora are stuck working together at the same summer camp. To Love Jason Thorn by Ella Maise, $26.62 Childhood best friends now turned successful actor and author decide to 'fake-date' when they both become attached to the movie adaptation of Olive's novel. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Below, Belle shares more about her love of reading and BookTok and also addresses some of the common misunderstandings that still persist around the romantic comedy genre. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT BOOKTOK AND ROM-COMS? 'I think there's a misconception about BookTok that we're all recommending the same books, and that generally the books are all overtly 'spicy' and have a lacking plot. But BookTok has so many different creators out there who recommend books that I haven't even seen or heard of before, and those are the people I really gravitate towards! Rom-coms get a lot of flak because there is a select group who will argue that they aren't 'real literature'. Rom-coms are supposed to be silly, with delicious banter and swoon-worthy love interests! They don't take themselves too seriously and that's the beauty of them.' WHAT MADE YOU FIRST GET INTO READING? 'Gosh, I've loved reading since I was quite young, including throughout my teenage years. While back then I was mainly reading young adult/romantic fantasy, I found my love of romance and romcoms in 2022 when I discovered BookTok and got back into reading as an adult! BookTok then became an amazing way to share my love of reading with more people.' WHY DO YOU FOCUS ON ROM-COMS? WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THEM? 'Romance and romcoms are now my primary genre, and one of my favourite things about them is the level of escapism. Some might think you'd need to read a fantasy to experience this. However in a romcom, I can be the beauty pageant queen who travels around the country with her hunky bodyguard, I can dance around in an old kitchen to the 'Summer of 69' with the wind in my hair, I can fake-date my roommate who just happens to be a very famous basketball player. Whether I'm in a small town in Canada, or partying with the prince and the son of a president in a karaoke bar, these books transport me. They're swoon worthy, spicy and overall, leave you with a heart full of warm and fuzzies.' WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ROM-COM THAT YOU'VE DISCOVERED THROUGH BOOKTOK? 'It has to be one that's on this list! I first heard about Passenger Princess by Morgan Elizabeththrough my favourite BookTok creators and fell in love when I read it myself because it was so unexpectedly brilliant. I love the 'princess and her bodyguard' trope, so when I heard someone say it was going to be a beauty pageant queen and the grumpy (hot) bodyguard who was forced to drive her around the country for three months, I knew I had to read it! I've never read anything more 'Barbie-coded' than this. It could see it so vividly in my head, it was just so much fun from beginning to end.' WHAT IS THE MOST UNDERRATED ROM-COM BOOK? 'A romcom that I think is severely underrated is actually Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks. It's the story of Lark, a bubbly animator who moves to Galway in Ireland for a fresh start who unknowing moves in next door to a funeral home, currently being run by gentle-giant, Callum. The two form the sweetest friendship and Lark offers to help him find a wife in order to keep ownership of his business. This book has so many layers. It's cheesy, it's incredibly romantic but also has emotional plot lines on both sides of this pair that will bring tears to your eyes. It's just a really special book.' WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF ROM-COM BOOK FOR BEGINNERS? 'I'd say start with something fun! To Love Jason Thorne by Ella Maise a wholesome romance between an actor and an author who happen to have been childhood friends. When Olive's book is adapted for screen and Jason is playing the leading man, they fake-date each other to create hype around the film.' HOW DO I CHOOSE A ROM-COM I WILL ACTUALLY LIKE? 'Definitely look for themes and tropes you would enjoy! Remember that just because a book is popular doesn't mean it's the right fit for you – this is the beauty of it! BookTok is full of so many different reads for every taste, so don't feel pressured to follow the hype. I know it sounds obvious, but reading the blurb is super helpful. Have a little look around. Maybe cowboys interest you, or a romance between a single dad and his hot-headed nanny. You might enjoy the sound of an engaged couple playing pranks on each other to try and call off their wedding, or two college students who are stuck working together at the same summer camp after an unresolved one-night stand. There's something different for everyone on this list, so I hope if you are new to the genre, that something piques your interest to make you fall in love with rom-coms just as much as I did.'
Sydney Morning Herald
05-07-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
No fairytale: How an online fantasy community sold out City Hall
Jess Felschow never felt she had a place where she truly belonged. That was before she found Celestial Events, a group that brings together people who love fantasy stories. They aren't alone. Fantasy fiction is exploding in popularity, and Jess is one of millions who have found comfort in series such as A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas. The books have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide, connecting an entire generation of readers. With Celestial Events, which boasts 10,000 online members, Jess could dress up and unapologetically embrace her interests, something she'd never experienced before. And now, along with her husband – and assistant dog Charlie – Jess has attended her first fantasy-themed ball, Starfall at Customs House by the Brisbane River. 'The people that go to these events are so kind and open-minded and accepting of everybody,' she says. Jess also walked the fashion runway at Queen Street Mall in her Starfall ball gown, a 'surreal' experience she says she would never have done before finding Celestial Events. Celestial Events came into being when another Brisbane local picked up an ACOTAR novel on a holiday. With a background in events, having run Brisbane Fashion Month, Carly Vidall-Wallace says she 'hadn't really read an enjoyable book since high school' and was enamoured. 'Trying to find people who are understanding and patient enough to want me involved in all aspects of events has been a big struggle.' Jess Felschow, Celestial Events member ' A Court of Thorns and Roses just ignited something in me.' She posted in a Sarah J. Maas Book Club Facebook group about interest in a ball modelled after the fantasy series, and Celestial Events was born. Overwhelmed by the response, Carly went into event-planning mode and within two weeks tickets for the first Starfall ball were on sale. 'I thought I might be the only one but when I saw that response I thought I'm not alone, I'm not a super geek and this could be really fun.' The first event sold 300 tickets in a minute. Carly scheduled a second ball the next evening to meet demand. That was 18 months ago. Now Carly has sold out City Hall, with 1000 Celestials in attendance and no plans to slow down. While this particular ball event is inspired by the acclaimed ACOTAR series, Carly has to be smart when it comes to copyright risk. Her events incorporate elements from a range of fantasy tales, including The Hunger Games, The Lord of the Rings and Fourth Wing. She has since been successful to obtain a trademark in Australia and New Zealand for Celestial Events Starfall Ball. Carly has also recently made it to the third round of the Telstra Business Awards in the community sector for her work with Celestial Events. With interstate and international interest, she has tapped into a huge market of fantasy-lovers who are seeking community, connection and friendship. 'Even though life is pretty hard, and the news is miserable at the moment, this is a space where that doesn't matter. You're going to be a fairy princess or you can be whoever you want to be. This is your night where you are the main character,' Carly said. The community strives to be an inclusive space where all are welcome and embraced. This has meant that naturally, the group has attracted many neurodiverse members. 'Escapism in the fantasy world has an interest in the neurodiverse community.' 'Even if you're super anxious when you put on a character you can be less shy because you're in persona'. Carly Vidall-Wallace, Celestial Events founder Coming from the fashion industry, Carly knows too well the feelings of inadequacy and comparison that she experienced in these spaces. 'I guess I felt that [the fashion industry] was a little bit VIP, you're either in or you're not. What are you wearing? What are they wearing? It was sometimes not a very positive space,' she said. For members of the neurodivergent community, finding a place of belonging isn't always an easy feat. Melbourne-based psychologist Susan Rodriguez-Manning said having a safe space was important to people who historically struggle to find community. 'Cosplaying allows you to dress up as the main character, the villain, or the hero, and be unapologetically that loud, excited, and talkative person without criticism,' she said. Cosplaying is the practice of dressing up as someone from a film, book or video game. It's a huge element of the fantasy book community. There's an added element of creativity as fans will often add their own interpretations to the words on the page to imagine how they see their favourite characters. '[Cosplaying] provides a safe way to explore the sides of yourself that you have felt the need to mask,' Susan said. Although the community has naturally attracted a large neurodivergent audience, it isn't exclusive and is open to anyone who loves fantasy stories. In a business sense, capitalising on the ever-growing 'BookTok' community was a smart move. 'Ironically, by dressing up as someone else, you get to fully be seen for your authentic self and celebrated for who you are'. Susan Rodriguez-Manning, psychologist With almost 60 million posts under #BookTok on TikTok and entire sections of book stores dedicated to stories highlighted online, it's quickly influencing the publishing world. Book-chain QBD Books recently opened their 100th store with the rise of romantasy genre, where series like ACOTAR sit, partly responsible for the business success. But like every online community, the BookTok world isn't immune to darker aspects.
