Despite being the highest-selling genre in fiction, romance is often dismissed as shallow, unserious, or a “guilty pleasure.” But when we look at its history, impact, and cultural evolution, it becomes clear that romance isn’t just real reading. It's one of the most powerful forces in publishing. Today, we’re unpacking how romance became so popular, why it dominates the industry, and why it still struggles for respect.

Is it late? Yeah. Like...really late. I feel like my brain exploded, I blacked out, and I read way more books than I thought....