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Why read romance novels?

Planted Nov 29, 2025·Last tended Oct 6, 2026

Romance novels aren’t just drivel; there are good reasons to read them.

Why read romance novels? They get a bad rap but here are some reasons why we read them:


1. Reading romance novels are a concrete way to move toward the happy thing.

In Summer Romance, Annabel Monaghan points us in this direction:

“You can’t just keep doing what you’re doing and wait for it to turn into something happy. You kind of have to look for the happy things along the way.”⁠⁠

And later:

“I want to move toward the happy thing.”⁠

Shh! I’m reading a romance novel!



Themes
Reading-Books