Latest news with #AnnabelleKnight
North Wales Live
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Lovehoney launches new book club
Lovehoney has launched Between the Sheets: A Smut Book Club after a study this year found that searches for 'smut books' rose by 78% between May 2023 and May 2024; and one series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (widely referred to as ACOTAR), was a huge driving force. #SmutTok now makes up 3% of the #BookTok universe. On TikTok, the hashtag #Smutbook has had 68,000 posts, whilst #Spicybooks has had over 1.1 million posts. Between the Sheets is a safe space to chat, share, and connect with fellow smut-lovers serving up reads from trending genres. To celebrate the launch, Lovehoney is giving away 100 curated bundles featuring a bestselling smut novel and a toy. The first 100 sign-ups to 'Between the Sheets' book club forum will be in with a chance of winning one. Lovehoney's sex & relationship expert, Annabelle Knight, said: "Erotica has a unique power - it opens the door to discovering what truly excites you, in a way that feels personal and empowering. As smut books continue to rise in popularity online, they're helping people uncover more about their desires, boundaries, and turn-ons - often for the first time, and can enhance solo pleasure or intimacy with a partner. Between the Sheets is about creating a space where people can explore their fantasies, spark new conversations around pleasure, and feel confident embracing their desires.'
Wales Online
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Lovehoney launches new book club
Lovehoney has launched Between the Sheets: A Smut Book Club after a study this year found that searches for 'smut books' rose by 78% between May 2023 and May 2024; and one series, A Court of Thorns and Roses (widely referred to as ACOTAR), was a huge driving force. #SmutTok now makes up 3% of the #BookTok universe. On TikTok, the hashtag #Smutbook has had 68,000 posts, whilst #Spicybooks has had over 1.1 million posts. Between the Sheets is a safe space to chat, share, and connect with fellow smut-lovers serving up reads from trending genres. To celebrate the launch, Lovehoney is giving away 100 curated bundles featuring a bestselling smut novel and a toy. The first 100 sign-ups to 'Between the Sheets' book club forum will be in with a chance of winning one. Lovehoney's sex & relationship expert, Annabelle Knight, said: "Erotica has a unique power - it opens the door to discovering what truly excites you, in a way that feels personal and empowering. As smut books continue to rise in popularity online, they're helping people uncover more about their desires, boundaries, and turn-ons - often for the first time, and can enhance solo pleasure or intimacy with a partner. Between the Sheets is about creating a space where people can explore their fantasies, spark new conversations around pleasure, and feel confident embracing their desires.' For more information visit: Between The Sheets: Where Pleasure Meets Page-turners
Metro
03-05-2025
- General
- Metro
The 7 main reasons why you're 'chronically single' and can't find love
While there's plenty to love about the single life, as time goes by and you never get past the talking stage, it's easy to start wondering why. Just under two thirds of UK adults are currently coupled up, with the majority of people entering a new relationship in less than two years after a breakup. Before you compare yourself though, keep in mind that these figures cover the whole spectrum – from sweet elderly couples who've never spent a night apart to serial monogamists who are so terrified of spending a night alone that they settle for anyone . In reality, there's no set length of time when being single becomes an issue, and not being in a relationship is always better than being in a bad one. But if you feel like you're 'chronically single' despite your best efforts to find love, there's no harm in exploring what's hampering things. So to help discover the reason for cupid's arrow always whizzing past you, we asked relationship therapists and dating coaches the issues they see time and time again. According to couples counsellor and psychosexual therapist Annabelle Knight, many 'chronically single' folks have an idealised vision of love, often 'shaped by things like social media or romantic films.' And as such, 'they may dismiss potential partners for not meeting an exhaustive list of traits or anticipate an instant, overwhelming spark.' Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! Michelle Begy, MMI-accredited matchmaker and founder of Ignite Dating agrees, telling Metro it's 'one of the most frequent issues' she comes across. 'This might mean prioritising things like height, job title or shared hobbies over emotional compatibility and shared values,' she explains. 'But while standards are important, perfectionism can become a defence mechanism that keeps intimacy at a distance.' 'If you're looking for a committed relationship in a club or a pub there is little chance that you will find a good match,' Dr Tara, relational sexual communication professor and Celebs Go Dating sexpert, tells Metro. Since the boozy setting can cause you to lower your standards, she recommends starting with dating apps – with the caveat that you use them mindfully so you don't get burnt out, and create an 'honest profile of what you truly want.' Alternatively, 'ask friends to introduce you to someone they think would be a good match.' In some cases, a subconscious fear of being hurt (particularly if it's happened before) can lead you to avoid opening up emotionally – a necessary step for a lasting relationship. Annabelle, who's an expert with Lovehoney, tells Metro: 'Some people stay single because they associate intimacy with loss, betrayal, or rejection. As a result, they either avoid dating altogether or maintain superficial connections that never deepen. 'True connection requires emotional risk, a leap many are reluctant to take.' RuPaul's most poignant tagline, 'if you can't love yourself, how the hell are you going to love someone else?' applies here. BACP-accredited love and relationship coach Heather Garbutt tells Metro that people who struggle to find love often harbour 'powerful unconscious beliefs about themselves and others, which make being in a relationship feel more of a danger or something that is not possible for them.' These beliefs – including the likes of 'I am not good enough' or 'I am not wanted' – are typically rooted in childhood trauma, and can unconsciously harm your ability to connect. Alongside making it harder for someone to start a relationship, Heather says that a lack of self-confidence can mean that when love does happen, it may not last as they 'inadvertently train their partner to treat them as if they're invisible or as if they don't matter.' Dr Tara echoes this, saying that the harsh truth is, some people simply aren't ready to date because they haven't worked on themselves. 'I've observed this problem consistently,' she continues. 'That's why personal development is so important. Become a beautiful garden and the butterflies will come.' Low self-worth can then bleed into choosing the wrong partner, which Heather says 'can make for some very unhappy relationships' destined to fail from the start. 'Often rooted in early family dynamics, some individuals unknowingly gravitate toward familiar, though unhealthy, relationship dynamics,' explains Annabelle. 'This can lead to repeatedly choosing partners who mirror unresolved issues, such as emotionally distant figures or chaotic relationships. 'Without self-awareness or healing, these patterns become self-fulfilling cycles.' Although you shouldn't sit around waiting for a relationship, are you sure have space for one in your life, either practically or emotionally? On the tangible side, Michelle says this can include someone 'working long hours or being stuck in a comfortable routine,' while mentally they may be holding on to baggage from the past that's taking up their headspace. 'Others say they want a relationship, but in reality, aren't putting themselves in situations where new connections can realistically happen,' she adds. 'Dating requires a level of intention and openness that's hard to maintain if your life is already at capacity.' This one may be hard to hear, but if bad chat is the problem holding you back, at least it can be worked on. More Trending Dr Tara highlights that 'dating is all about communication,' so if you're noticing a common first date theme of awkward silences or conversations going nowhere, that's probably why relationships aren't either. 'People who are great conversationalists are perceived as more charming, clever, and attractive,' she adds. 'Read books about how to become better at conversations and practice that through communication with friends and family.' Recognising negative traits or habits is often the first step towards changing them, which in turn can help you build a lasting, fulfilling connection. View More » However, if you you still can't identify where you're going wrong, feel like you're doing everything right and still coming up short, or need some tailored guidance, it's worth chatting to a professional. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I always get the 'heatwave horn' – there's no telling what I might do MORE: My boyfriend's sex habit used to offend me — now I feel lucky MORE: I'm sick of people assuming Sydney Sweeney is dating her colleagues
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Unlucky-in-love Gen Z swap valentines for ‘palentines'
Valentine's Day has traditionally been seen as the ideal opportunity to celebrate romance. But now unlucky-in-love Generation Z is ditching it in favour of 'Palentine's Day' to make the occasion more 'inclusive' and celebrate platonic friendships instead. The friendship-focused alternative to Valentine's Day takes place a day before the original, on Feb 13. It is being embraced with increasing gusto by Gen Z – those born between 1997 and 2012 – because it is less 'exclusionary' for single people. Studies have shown that members of Gen Z are having fewer sexual relationships than their older counterparts. A Rutgers University survey found those aged between 18-23 are having 14 per cent less sex than the generation before. Now universities across Britain are putting on events for Palentine's – or 'Galentine's' as it is alternatively known – this year, with card companies telling The Telegraph that sales of Palentine's cards had increased exponentially. Tautvydas Sutkus, a relationship expert and solicitor, said Palentine's Day was 'gaining momentum'. 'Gen Z is redefining what love and friendship mean in a way that goes beyond the traditional, often exclusionary, focus on romantic relationships,' he said. 'They are embracing the idea that love isn't confined to just couples, and this day allows them to celebrate their friends and the emotional bonds they share.' Annabelle Knight, a relationship expert at Lovehoney, described Palentine's Day as 'more inclusive' than Valentine's Day because single people can take part. 'We've been witnessing a shift in relationship norms as recognition grows for the importance of friendships, especially when romantic relationships are often idealised above all else,' she said. 'Palentine's Day also offers a more inclusive alternative to the often hetero-centralised and romantic-centric celebration of Valentine's Day. It allows people who are single, members of the LGBTQ+ community, or anyone who doesn't celebrate romantic love in a traditional sense to take part.' Johanna Mason, chief executive of dating app Cherry, added: 'For someone who's single, [Valentine's Day] can serve as a reminder that you haven't found that special person to share the day with, and that can really impact mental health.' A range of universities are putting on Palentine's Day events to cater for its growing popularity. These include a 'speed friending' event at Manchester Metropolitan University's student union and plant pot painting and friendship bracelets at the University of the Arts London. Other events use the female-focused alternative 'Galentine's Day' – which has a specific focus on female friendships – in their advertisements. A social at the University of Swansea offers games and a photo booth for £2, while the University of Bath is putting on manicures and a 'Galentine's and sip' event at the University of Buckingham describes itself as 'all about celebrating us ladies'. Card companies have seen exponential growth in demand for Palentine's Day cards. Thortful, an online greetings card company, said sales of Palentine's and Galentine's Day cards had increased from just 49 in 2016 to tens of thousands. 'This evolving trend highlights how Valentine's Day is expanding beyond traditional romantic gifting, with more customers embracing the idea of celebrating love in all its forms,' a spokesman for the company said. Moonpig, the card company, said it had also seen a 'year-on-year increase' in sales. 'In a world that prioritises romance at this time of year, the rise in popularity of Palentine's Day cards demonstrates the increasing value that we place on our platonic friendships,' a spokesman said. 'Our data has shown a year-on-year increase in sales of both Galentine's and Palentine's Day cards respectively.' Virgin Experience Days said increased bookings for Galentine's Day showed public tastes were moving away from 'traditionally 'romantic' experiences like exclusive dinners, spa experiences and stargazing'. Georgia Thwaites, its global senior brand and campaign manager, said: 'Think art and cookery classes, short breaks, and theatre trips – the popularity of which continues to rise as people choose to spend consciously on fun experiences with the people they care about, not just couples.'
