When it comes to romance, male fans read more than female fans, a survey of 2,000 readers of the genre found. Men will spend 364 hours a year immersed in a romantic book, while women spend 312 hours reading. When it comes to what the leading characters look like, Gen Zers are more likely to imagine Zendaya as the leading lady (39%). Millennials (26%) and Gen Xers (26%) imagine Angelina Jolie as the heroine, and baby boomers commonly think of Halle Berry (19%). Favorite tropes include: forbidden romance; friends to lovers; and enemies to lovers. “Seventy-eight percent said a romance trope has happened in their real life,” Barbara Hagen of ThriftBooks said. “More than a few had love-at-first-sight encounters.” (swnsdigital)
Phone Topic: What’s the best romantic gesture you’ve ever made?
