Mordern romance novels are leaving readers spellbound and hungry for more
At a recent launch party for Nora Dahlia's enemies-to-friends romance novel Pick-Up at Lovestruck Books, a romance-dedicated store in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States, a crowd of women sipped cocktails from the bar-café as they browsed the shelves.
After Dahlia's reading, patrons stuck around to mingle, swap contact info and trade author recommendations.
It was a particularly social event for a book talk. But the communal atmosphere is typical of events for romance fans.
Dahlia likened romance readers to 'Comic-Con folks', referring to the deep-rooted passion that defines comic-book fandom.
'They're educated on the genre in a real way,' Dahlia said. 'Many of them started reading romance – Danielle Steel, V.C. Andrews, Jude Deveraux – as teenagers.'
At The Ripped Bodice bookstore in Brooklyn, New York, manager Katherine Zofrea said romance fans who have connected online frequently come into the store to meet in person. Along with author events, the store hosts three different book clubs and a romance comedy night.
'We've had a couple proposals here, we've had a wedding here which was really fun,' Zofrea said.
She said customers range 'from teenagers who are starting to really get into the romance genres to older folks who have been romance readers for their entire lives and remember way back when they were reading the Harlequins and romance wasn't as widely accepted.
'Now they're loving seeing how widely accepted romance has become.'
An oversized book and bookmark with an inspirational quote at The Ripped Bodice make it a fun space to hang out.
Bookstores like Lovestruck and The Ripped Bodice (which has a flagship store in Culver City, California) have begun popping up all over the US, from Wichita, Kansas, to Wilmington, North Carolina, to Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Of the 157 romance-dedicated bookstores in the American Booksellers Association, more than half opened within the last two years, said Allison Hill, CEO of the trade group for independent sellers.
'Romance books have been one of the fastest growing book sales categories in recent years, driven by a number of factors including the need for escape reading and BookTok,' Hill said.
And the genre has evolved.
'The romance genre is more diverse in every way including character identity and plot,' she said.
Lovestruck's owner, Rachel Kanter, called the boom '... incredible – and honestly, overdue. Romance has always been one of the most commercially successful genres, but for a long time it didn't get the respect or space it deserved in the literary world.'
Romance-specific bookstores, she says, '... are places where readers can feel joy, comfort, and connection – and where love is taken seriously as a literary theme.'
A customer browses romance titles at The Ripped Bodice bookstore in Culver City, California.
As with many hobbies, romance fandom solidified and expanded after the pandemic.
'The pandemic had pushed so many people toward reading for escape and comfort, and romance became a lifeline for a lot of folks,' said Kanter.
'At the same time, there was a wider cultural shift happening – people were rethinking what mattered, craving joy and softness, and looking to support indie businesses that reflected their values.
'Romance, with all its hope and heart, met that moment beautifully,' she said.
Romance has countless subgenres – hockey romance, Western romance, LGBTQ romance, even romance set on prison planets. But a common theme is their 'inherently hopeful storylines', says Elizabeth Michaelson Monaghan, a 52-year-old freelance writer and editor in New York who said she's read 'hundreds' of romance novels.
'Romance must have a happily- ever-after – or at least a happily-for-now. Romance writers and readers are very clear on this,' she said.
Romantic fiction that doesn't end that way? That's just a love story.
Traits of the romance genre also include strong character descriptions, attraction, conflict, and a satisfying resolution and emotional growth. Expect plenty of steam – some authors deploy it explicitly, others are more tame.
There's a long-standing culture of (mostly) women reading and sharing these books across generations.
There's a long-standing culture of (mostly) women reading and sharing these books across generations.
'It is pleasurable to reimagine courtship or the romantic bond,' said Jayashree Kamble, professor of English at LaGuardia Community College and president of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance.
'There is limited risk involved.'
Kamble has been a voracious romance reader since her teenage years in India, where she devoured Harlequin romances.
Romance novels, she said, are '... a lovely reminder that individualism and companionship can go together. These are basic bonds.'
Podcasts, too, have become a source for discovering what's trending. Andrea Martucci, creator and host of the romance-focused Shelf Love podcast, said romance bookstores have become places of connection akin, in some ways, to churches – for the romantically devoted.
'I can go to a bookstore and not just find people who love books,' she said, 'but find people who love the very same books I love.'
As Annabel Monaghan, author of several love stories including Nora Goes Off Script , puts it, 'People who read romance want to feel good. And when you gather a bunch of people who want to feel good, it's magic.' – AP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
LANDMARK Invites the Community to ‘Find Your Chapter' and Celebrate the Love of Reading This Summer
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 29 July 2025 - Celebrating the timeless allure of storytelling, LANDMARK unveils 'Find Your Chapter', a vibrant reading hub in the heart of Central designed to take the community on a literary journey this summer. This reading hub, perfect for book discovery, quiet reflection, and connection, is marked by a curated array of themed experiences, from a serene reading nook to story discovery areas, inviting Central to rediscover the magic of reading in an entirely new light. Catering to the varied preferences of all who visit, work and pass by LANDMARK, this initiative brings the quiet comfort of reading to everyone, making each interaction a special one. From now until September 30th, visitors of all ages are invited to step into this meticulously crafted world of book discovery at 2/F, LANDMARK ATRIUM, which serves as the vibrant epicentre of activity. It hosts 'The Book Stop Pop-Up', a dedicated literary haven for both children and adults, that features three distinct houses of exploration, 'LANDMARK's Library' hosting favourites from different genres, a 'Little Explorer's Reading Nook' for children's book discovery, and a 'Redeem a Read' book redemption house. Visitors will be able to enjoy the complimentary 'Redeem a Read' book redemption offer at 'The Book Stop Pop-Up' or directly from the Bookazine store, upon a minimum spend of $600 at any store in LANDMARK. A series of book readings for children and adults will be scheduled during the duration of the project. To further enrich this literary journey and share in the love of reading, 'Find Your Chapter' extends its reach through valuable partnerships. Giving a second life to pre-loved books, Bookazine will be hosting a book exchange and offer a 10% discount on same day book purchases when donating a book. Acknowledging that the perfect read often finds its ideal companion in a comforting beverage, LANDMARK's esteemed F&B partners – Crew and Fuel Espresso will also be offering a $10 discount on a selection of drinks to visitors who bring a physical book to the counter. With 'Find Your Chapter' LANDMARK brings the shared love of reading to the heart of Central. It crafts a space where the community can converge, discover, explore, and collectively appreciate literary excellence, forging genuine connections through the timeless power of the written word. Stay tuned for more information on Event Details LANDMARK - Find Your Chapter Date: Until 30th September, 2025 Location: 2/F LANDMARK Atrium Hours: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
Labubu fans dote over ugly-cute doll trending at Comic-Con
The wide-eyed and grinning doll was created in 2015 by Hong Kong artist and illustrator Kasing Lung. Photo: AP San Diego Comic-Con is the latest location where the ugly-cute dolls named Labubu have been trending, with fans carrying the plushies globally popularised by celebrities Rihanna, Lizzo, Dua Lipa, and Lisa from the K-pop group Blackpink. The wide-eyed and grinning doll was created in 2015 by Hong Kong artist and illustrator Kasing Lung. In 2019, Lung allowed them to be sold by Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company that sells collectible figurines, often in "blind boxes". "Blind boxes" are sealed boxes containing a surprise item that is usually part of a themed collection. Naomi Galban, from San Diego, waited in line on Sunday at the Pop Mart booth in the San Diego Convention Center for a chance to get her first Labubu. "Every time I go to a Pop Mart store, they're sold out," the 24-year-old told Reuters. She hoped to buy one for her little sister. Emily Brough, Pop Mart's head of IP Licensing, spoke to Reuters on Thursday about Labubu fans at Comic-Con. "We love to see how fans are personalising it (Labubu) for themselves," Brough said next to the Pop Mart booth. While Brough noted that there were many people with a Labubu strapped to their bags and backpacks at Comic-Con, the doll's popularity did not happen overnight. Labubus had a huge boost in 2019 after Pop Mart began selling them, and in 2024, when Blackpink's Lisa, who is Thai, created a buying frenzy in Thailand after she promoted Labubu on social media. Pop Mart saw sales skyrocket in North America that same year, with revenue in the United States in the first quarter of 2025 already surpassing the full-year US revenue from 2024, Pop Mart said. When he created Labubu, Lung gave the character, who is female, a backstory inspired by Nordic mythology. He called her and his other fictional creatures "The Monsters." Diana Goycortua, 25, first discovered Labubu through social media, and before she knew it, it felt like a "game" to try and collect the dolls. "It's a little bit of gambling with what you're getting," the Labubu fan from San Diego said on Sunday while waiting at the Pop Mart booth, concluding that her love for the character made it worth trying blind boxes. Goycortua already has three Labubus, and was hoping to score her a fourth one at Comic-Con. – Reuters
New Straits Times
16 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Godzilla fans fete the monster as it turns 70
GODZILLA has morphed over the years, but one constant is the devotion of its fans, who celebrated the Japanese monster's 70th anniversary at the pop culture convention Comic-Con. The Japanese studio Toho, which created Godzilla, maintains a calendar of events to celebrate the beast often called the king of monsters, and Comic-Con is on the agenda. Godzilla was born on November 3, 1954 with the launch of the first movie about it, directed by Ishiro Honda. "I am a very big fan of Godzilla," said Angela Hill, a teacher who travelled from Arizona to take part in Comic-Con, which this year featured events and displays celebrating Godzilla. One of the world's largest celebrations of pop culture, Comic-Con brings together 130,000 people, many of whom come dressed as wizards, princesses or characters from movies, games or TV series. As the story of Godzilla goes, a prehistoric amphibious beast is awakened and mutated by nuclear bomb testing in the Pacific. It emerges from the sea and attacks Japan in a rage, symbolising the deadly power of nukes. "I think because he came from such a historic event – like, a lot of other monsters are just interesting creatures, but they don't hold the grief of a nation," Hill said, referring to the US nuclear bomb attacks against Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. At the pop culture watering hole in San Diego, people lined up to shoot pictures and video with an image of Godzilla, which was also the theme of a panel discussion on Friday that featured Shinji Higuchi, who co-directed a reboot in 2016 called "Shin Godzilla." The movie franchise includes nearly 40 films and has spawned hundreds of animated productions about the monster as well as TV series and graphic work. On Saturday the writers Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle signed autographs of their book "Godzilla: The First 70 Years," which sold out at Comic-Con. "It's a rich history," Ryfle told AFP. "This is the longest running feature film franchise in cinematic history that's focused on a single, continuous character. It's been around longer than James Bond." He said the key to its longevity is that Godzilla has evolved over time but stayed faithful to its origins. "Godzilla has been serious, it's been scary, it's been heroic, it's been funny. But at the same time this is a movie character that's rooted in something that's very real," Ryfle said. "And that's the trauma that Japan experienced, both during World War II, and also the trauma of the aftermath of World War II, the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki," he added. He said Honda, who directed the first Godzilla movie, was a veteran who used the film to send a message against war and in particular against nuclear weapons. Michelle Pena, a Godzilla fan who waited in line to get the autograph of the two writers, said part of the monster's charm is how it has changed over the years. "Good, bad, hero, anti-hero, you know. And I like that," she said. "He's not, like, lovable," she added. "He's a big dinosaur-looking thing, you know. He's scary. But, like, you really, really find yourself rooting for him."
