‘Love stories honour an insecure part of us,’ says romance author Claire Christian. It’s no surprise to Christian that the contemporary popularity of romance is a facet of the political and cultural landscape. ‘Romance books are about centring joy and pleasure,’ she says, ‘but they also make our desires feel seen and heard.’
The popularity of romance titles is undeniable. In 2022, sales of romance titles rose 77% from the previous year, shouldering almost the entire responsibility of lifting all Australian book sales by 4%.
