romance, Ooligan Press

Analyzing Trends in Queer Romance Cover Designs

“Last year, my voracious appetite was awakened as I realized what kinds of characters and storylines I was craving, and it was not sated—not by a long shot—as there are not nearly the number of romances featuring transmasculine protagonists as my heart strains to read. The market has yet to catch up, and I am excited to see it do so, but in the meantime, here are some of my favorite queer reads of last year and four trends in book cover design I have noticed across them in my quest to read as many queer romances as I can find.”

Love at First Sight

The continued shift toward illustrated covers appeals to a younger audience, emulating the popularity of the same trend in YA, causing confusion and misinterpretation of the intended audience for these books. This is a concerning failure to match content with audiences as social media such as BookTok picks up adult romance books, including those with high levels of spice content, and promotes them to the primarily YA audience.

The Rise of Romantasy and Extreme Publishing

Whether it’s fantastical worlds filled with gorgeous Fae or a war college of lethal dragon riders, book lovers can’t seem to stop sinking their canines into one of the most popular subgenres to date, romantasy. Following any popular book phenomenon, there are not only more wonderful stories for readers to enjoy, but the detrimental consequences of publishers trying to suck as much profit from this new subgenre as possible. Everyone’s trying to get their share of Romantasy before, or if ever, it bleeds out in the future.

It’s a Love Story, Baby: Five Book Recommendations Based on Taylor Swift Songs

Taylor Swift is one of the few artists that can be played at any time during the Valentine’s Day season. She writes about falling in love, loneliness, heartbreak, friendships, and […]

Book Options for When You Have Time to Read and When You Don’t

If you are like me, then reading is a necessity of everyday life. However, if you are still like me, this can be difficult sometimes as life fluctuates in how busy it keeps you. There is nothing worse (figuratively speaking when it comes to books) than starting a new book, finding out it’s a series, and not having the time or mental energy to dedicate to it.

YA Books To Read That Will Make You Emotional

A category that always seems to make me cry is young adult fiction. They’re full of such raw emotions, and reading these books from the perspective of someone who’s still trying to figure out the world is a rollercoaster of emotions.

Romance Books That Haven’t Left My Mind

Memorable stories grab my attention early on with minimal slow plot moments and characters who have to fight for their love.

The Rise of YA Books on Streaming Services

YA books produced into movies haven’t always worked out for movie studios. Streaming services have taken the concept of refurbishing books and done it better. They’ve created these worlds we love by turning them into TV shows or movies we can watch from the comfort of our homes on release day.

Black BookTokers You Should Follow (because I said so)

Want to join the infamous BookTok or increase the bookish context that lands on your For You page? Maybe you just want to diversify your TBR? Start here!

Book Genres and the Best Portland Parks To Read Them In

I’ve compiled a list of popular book genres and the Portland parks they can be best enjoyed at. The next time you crave that fresh Pacific air and a cozy reading session, you can easily decide where to head.

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Tags: romance