Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Romance Books Boom As Dating Becomes Increasingly Difficult
Romance books are selling very well in the United States.
Sales rose sharply during part of 2025.
Circana reported that 51 million romance copies were sold over the preceding 12 months.
Another figure says nearly 44 million print romance books were sold by the end of 2025.
That figure was 3.9% higher than the previous year.
Adult fiction revenue also increased in the first half of 2026.
The article connects this popularity with a time when dating is described as becoming harder.
It says readers’ reasons for buying the books may be more interesting than the sales numbers, but it does not provide those reasons.
US print sales of romance books rose 24% year over year in early 2025.
Romance books sold 51 million copies during the preceding 12 months, according to Circana.
By the end of 2025, the category had sold almost 44 million print units, up 3.9% from the previous year.
US publisher revenue from adult fiction rose 8.2% in the first half of 2026.
The article suggests that readers’ motivations may be more significant than the sales figures, but does not explain them further.
- Who
- Romance-book readers, publishers, and Circana are identified.
- What
- Romance-book sales increased, while adult-fiction publisher revenue also grew.
- When
- The figures cover early 2025, the 12 months preceding the report, the end of 2025, and the first half of 2026.
- Where
- The reported sales and revenue figures concern the United States.
- Why
- The article’s title links the boom to dating becoming harder, but the article does not provide a detailed explanation.
- Early 2025 growth
- US print sales of romance books rose 24% year over year.
- Reported romance sales
- 51 million copies were sold over the preceding 12 months, according to Circana.
- End-2025 units
- Almost 44 million romance print units had been sold by the end of 2025.
- Annual increase
- The end-2025 figure was up 3.9% from the previous year.
- Adult fiction revenue
- US publisher revenue rose 8.2% in the first half of 2026.
- Article focus
- The article raises questions about what readers are seeking beyond sales growth.