How a community of romance novel readers became activists: ‘opened my world’

guardian.co.uk (nprofile…fw9w)
✍️ The article explores the intersection of romance novels and politics, highlighting how romance authors and readers are becoming more vocal about social and political issues.
👉 The romance novel genre has become more politicized, with authors and readers using their platform to discuss and advocate for social and political issues.
👉 Authors and readers are fighting against book bans and promoting progressive values.
👉 The genre has evolved to include more diverse and inclusive representations of characters and relationships.
👉 Romance authors and readers are using their platform to discuss and advocate for issues such as reproductive rights, anti-immigrant sentiment, and the concentration of wealth.
👉 The genre has also become more inclusive, with authors and readers pushing for more representation of characters with disabilities, mental health struggles, and different sexualities and genders.

#JodyLee #SarahMacLean #JenniferProkop #AlyssaCole #KitRocha #CourtneyMilan #CaseyMcQuiston #AlexisHall #HelenHoang #JoannaShupe #RuthBaderGinsburg #SarahJMaas #AliHazelwood #EmilyHenry #ColleenHoover #SarahWendell #MercerIsland #Seattle #Alabama #US #politics

quoting nevent1q…wz9u

guardian.co.uk (nprofile…fw9w)

Many people in ‘romancelandia’ have rallied voters through podcasts and phone banks – and joined school boardsJody Lee had long toyed with getting into politics. She spent years working at the US state department before moving to Mercer Island, a suburb of Seattle, with her family. The 57-year-old threw herself into volunteering; sometimes, people asked whether she wanted to run for the local school board. But Lee never felt ready to make the leap.Until she started reading romance. Continue reading...
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/03/romance-books-activism