Better than ever?
As a self-proclaimed member of the “BookTok” and “romantasy” communities, I, like many others, have been thoroughly enjoying the recent attention to this genre in film and TV. Streaming platforms like Prime Video and Netflix have been investing in these stories with a new sense of enthusiasm. From Off Campus to The Summer I Turned Pretty, the book-to-show and book-to-movie adaptations are especially popular. But, as a sociology major, I also find this trend curious. Why the sudden investment in media that is primarily consumed by women? Don’t get me wrong: I love it. But society has never prioritized the female audience. So why now?
Romance readers have always been unmatched. They read the most books per year, and I haven’t met a single romance fan whose TBR (to-be-read) list had fewer than 50 books. Although so many readers are in the market for a good love story, this genre has never been able to escape cruel stereotypes. Romance is always “less than,” and its consumers are dubbed “fake readers.” It’s never “real literature.” But if people who read romance do so with exceptional dedication, speed and enthusiasm compared to readers of any other genres, why is it a magnet for so much hate? The answer is clear: Women are the ones reading.
Maybe the recent releases of rom-coms and adaptations are a sign that moneymakers have realized a primarily female audience is sure to line their pockets, or maybe we’ve collectively decided that we need some happiness at the end of the day when everything seems scarier. Regardless, it seems that romance is finally getting the investment that it deserves, and from more than just its die-hard fan base. Yes, conflict is exciting, but what leaves audiences with that warm feeling is the hope we have after watching a happily-ever-after. When we know for certain that the characters we’ve come to know and love, who feel just like us, are going to be okay, we feel okay too. There’s nothing wrong with seeking out that momentary reprieve from a reality that is often harsh.
I’d like to acknowledge that we certainly owe the authors of our favorite love stories for bringing their work to the screen. For example, Emily Henry is heavily involved in the adaptations of her beloved rom-coms. The recent increase in “romantasy” series has also introduced a whole new audience to reading. Maybe those watching the adaptations are realizing they might like to read the book later. Either way, we could always use more people in the community.
There’s nothing embarrassing about being a fan of romance, whether you’re a reader or a viewer. We only think this way because society has deemed it inherently feminine to enjoy and seek out stories centered on love, which is simply not true. My hope is that as more of our favorite stories are told on-screen, society will collectively come to realize in our off-screen reality that romance is a valid genre that is worthy of investment, and not just for women.