During the first two or so years of the COVID-19 pandemic I struggled to read until I started reading romance books again.
Let us take a few steps back, if you looked at Goodreads profile and my reading interests from 2015 to 2019, you would have found a mix of fantasy, sci-fi, some horror, a dash of speculative, a whole lot of literary fiction and some romance sprinkled in here and there.
Then Covid happened, the world was unsafe and I was terrified and anxious, my brain couldn’t handle the new languages, worldbuilding of fantasy or the futuristic elements in sci-fi and speculative. I was already scared so I avoided horror completely. So romance books became my safe place and it remains that way today.
IMO What Reading Romance Books Does To Your Brain
I love love and I love a happy ever after. And before you decide that it is just too predicable, that is the whole point but that journey to the happily ever after is what us, romance book lovers look forward and appreciate the most.
So here is what I feel reading romance books does to your brain: it reduces stress and anxiety and it gives you a nice strong dose of dopamine.
As I said before that predictable outcome that so many romance book bashers frown upon is exactly the thing that can help lower your stress and anxiety. These stories (dark romance aside) provide a safe space to feel calm, to escape and simply be present in a story that will make you feel happy.
Now let’s touch on that feel good feeling. There is a satisfaction and a deep sense of goodness and happiness that you really only get in a good romance, whether that is contemporary romance, historical romance or a romantic comedy.
Romance Books For the Non-Romance Readers
So you say you can’t stand romance books, right?
Here is the thing, if you love other genres there are likely romance books within your favourite sub-genre.
Fantasty lovers, read a romantasy book. Mystery fiends grab a romantic suspense. There are romance books that lean more literary fiction and others that involve specultative elements that the sci-fi lover will also enjoy.
But seriously read a feel-good book every once in a while, your brain, stress and anxiety levels will thank you.
