What are the booming sales of romance novels telling us about life? It’s tough? We need help? We need an escape hatch? According to Ella Risbridger, “romantic fiction is about the things that matter most.”1 Humans need and want connection, a sense of community. It is a fundamental biological and evolutionary drive. Connection is essential for physical and emotional health. Biologically, isolation equals danger, loneliness feels like pain, positive interactions release bonding hormones like oxytocin. Psychologically, support networks reduce anxiety and depression, our sense of identity is learned by interacting with others, validation by others allays stress.
Romance novels can provide that sense of community, the ‘I’m not alone feeling,’ someone else has had this same experience. If you do a deep dive into the Romance genre, you will find it tackles all the big stuff in life. While the novels are primarily about love, and sometimes the path to HEA is rocky, they also explore some of life’s challenges including but not limited to addiction, depression, divorce, death, PTSD, racism, sexism, illness, cheating, sexuality, even global warming. If they make you cry, maybe you needed that release. Romance novels are escapist yes, but while you are ‘lost in a book’ you might learn new skills, information or viewpoints that help you with your own life.
Read a romance novel.
1. Risbridger, Ella. In Love With Love: The Persistence and Joy of Romantic Fiction. Sceptre, 2025.
