by Amélie Jervay | Aug 24, 2026 | Articles
Sex toys have been around since the late 1800s, originally available underground or sold as a medical device, e.g., vibrators were sold to treat ‘female hysteria.’ Romance novels have played several key roles in introducing and informing readers about sex toys; both...
by Amélie Jervay | Aug 17, 2026 | Articles
How and when the first sexual encounter happens depends on the genre, audience expectations, author intent and the emotional logic built between the characters. The first sexual encounter should come when the emotional plot logic makes it feel earned, while still...
by Amélie Jervay | Aug 10, 2026 | Articles
Romantic fiction has treated sexually transmitted infections, STIs/STDs, unevenly over time. The subject matter has varied by subgenre, era and author intent. Today, you will read/hear the phrase “I’m clean” or “I’ll get tested” more often. Historically, any...
by Amélie Jervay | Aug 4, 2026 | Articles
Romantic fiction has come a long way from implicit, often unequal power dynamics and narratively glossed coercion toward much clearer, explicit depictions of consent, even though problematic portrayals persist in some subgenres and older works. In historical romances,...
by Amélie Jervay | Jul 27, 2026 | Articles
Reading romance novels can help improve your communication skills in a sexual relationship in several practical ways. Modeling emotional honesty Many romance novels show characters naming desires, fear, and boundaries, which normalizes clear, vulnerable talk with a...
by Amélie Jervay | Jul 20, 2026 | Articles
Reading an emotionally engaging romance novel can trigger the release of oxytocin for many people. The brain releases oxytocin during positive social interactions. Oxytocin is a hormone produced in the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary gland. It works...
