We love a sappy romance. They’ve been popular since stories have been told. But as of 2025, the romance genre has skyrocketed in popularity, with millions of viral hashtags on Booktok and romance-themed bookstores opening all around the world.

RACHEL DENHAM-WHITE takes us on a tour of this evergreen genre

Romantasy titles like When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A Parker were in the Top 10 Australian bestsellers of last year, and Rebecca Yarros (author of the ‘Empyrean Cycle’) has sold over 12 million copies to date. Romance books are not just for summer or beach reads, they’re here to stay.

The rise of the romance genre grew exponentially during the 2020 COVID lockdowns. While everyone was stuck inside, bored, scared and frustrated, many people turned to the romance books ontheir shelves as a fun escape from reality. When the world around us was so unpredictable, these safe, reliable stories of meet-cutes and happily-ever-afters were what book lovers needed. Popular viral titles of 2020 included It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover and Beach Read by Emily Henry. Both authors have become icons of the modern romance genre. Hoover’s novel was adapted into a 2024 movie starring Blake Lively, and Emily Henry has sold 2.4 million books to date, including the beloved Book Lovers (2022) and People we Meet on Vacation, (also adapted into a movie coming out this year).

Perceptions of the romance genre have been slowly changing over decades but we’ve been seeing a much more rapid change over the last five years or so.

Let’s not lie – romance has always suffered slightly of being a taboo genre. Love stories are critiqued as having little ‘substance’ and being trite, pulpy or embarrassing. In 2023, an ABC News article described readers expressing their passion for the romance genre with ‘a refreshing lack of shame’. But now, in 2026, authors and book lovers are rightly questioning why there was ever shame to begin with.

The rise in popularity of teen romances has helped to make the generational genre shift, driving a welcome rise in young girls and women reading. Many popular TV and film adaptations (Heartstopper, The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Kissing Booth) were bestselling books aimed at young adults (YA). As author Ann Liang (I Hope This Doesn’t Find You) told me, ‘Young adult romance books can offer not only an escape but also comfort and joy – they can help us remember happier memories or imagine happier futures’, a positive message for everyone.

Romance books are also more reflective of our modern life. People of colour and queer authors are creating the characters they want to see featured, with some of our favourite picks including the ‘Greene Sisters’ series by Kristina Forrest, the bestselling ‘Davenports’ series by Krystal Marquis, and Get a Life, Chloe Brown from Talia Hibbert.

The main leads may get together by the end, but not always married or with children, as other priorities such as careers, hobbies and dreams are fulfilled. Some favourites include The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, which focuses on a frazzled STEM-major, and Drive Me Crazy by Lizzie Dent, about a female Formula 1 star finding her champion on the racetrack.

Romance books have never been more impactful. As rural romance author Amy Andrews told me, with the advent of social media, ‘younger generations of readers are discovering the delights of romance, and they’re not closeted about it. They’re out, they’re proud. And they are voracious. Readers are demanding publishers give them what they want and give it to them NOW.’

While Mills & Boon titles are still popular, the romance genre has exploded. No longer hidden away in our bedside tables, romance titles are mainstream and embraced. Just as it should be.

Read our full romance guide HERE.