From Bodice Rippers to BookTok: How Romance Became the #1 Bestselling Genre
January 19, 2026
Featured Guest:
Crystal Leigh
Crystal Leigh is a tech worker by day and a writer of contemporary romances with social agendas by night (and weekends). She’s on the board of Romance Writers of the Rockies and is RWR’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year. A member of the 2027 cohort of Stanford’s Novel Writing Certificate Program, she’s currently querying her sapphic, feminist, Formula 1 romance.
📸 Instagram: crystal.writes
Romance has always been one of the biggest genres in publishing—but lately, it’s everywhere.
In this episode, we sit down with Crystal Leigh to unpack how romance evolved from “bodice rippers” to BookTok-dominating, bestselling powerhouse. We dig into the history of the genre, the stigma it’s carried for decades, and why it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves. From historical romance to romantasy, we explore how the genre has shifted alongside culture—and why readers keep coming back to it.
We also get into the role of social media in reshaping the industry, how BookTok has changed what gets published (and sold), and why romance continues to thrive when other genres struggle. Whether you’re a romance reader, writer, or just romance-curious, this episode breaks down why this genre isn’t just popular—it’s essential to publishing.
In This Episode
How romance became the #1 bestselling genre in publishing
The evolution from “bodice rippers” to modern romance and romantasy
Why romance has historically been dismissed (and why that’s changing)
The impact of BookTok and social media on romance sales
How reader demand shapes what gets published
The rise of romantasy and crossover genres
Why romance thrives during difficult times (escapism + emotional payoff)
The stigma around romance—and why it still exists
What romance readers actually want from stories
The business side: how romance “keeps the lights on” in publishing
