Which is what brought me to the bookstore and its romance section.
Recently, I’ve been trying to get back into the habit of reading physical books. In general, I have a preference for ebooks—partially since I don’t have room in my home to horde a bunch of mid books, but also because it’s easier for my ADHD brain to focus on reading when I have full control over font style and size. As a full-time parent, though, there is no functional difference between my child seeing me read on my Kindle app or doomscrolling on TikTok. If I want him to read, I gotta be role-modeling for the medium.
I haven’t spent much time in the bookstore since I had to go on maternity leave in early 2023 and since then, there have been significant changes in the reading landscape. It was starting at the end of my tenure but has really taken off since I’ve left. So many sprayed edges. So much romantasy. So many TikTok bestsellers.
I was optimistic that maybe the romance section had changed into something that would finally feel welcoming to my preferences. Because, perhaps surprisingly for a romance author, I have often felt alienated by the romance genre. There are a multitude of reasons I could point to for this, but the main point is that I never really felt like it was a space for me until I got into sci-fi romances. If I’m reading for escapism, I just have a hard time with that unless we are REALLY escaping.
Alas, no. “But Gael,” you say, “you just said that romantasy is huge! Could that not also fulfill the escapism of sci-fi?”
It’s a fair point. I don’t know why outer space scratches my brain, but swords-and-sorcery makes me fall asleep. And I tried ACOTAR. I really did. But I was raised too superstitious to really buy into fae romance and brother, they are legion.
Maybe one day, sci-fi romance will get its day in the sun. Until then, maybe I just need to replace my busted ass Kindle and stop reading on my phone.
Until next time, travelers, Gael Romer
P.S. If Becky Chambers decided to start writing romance, I think I would go broke immediately.