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Romantasy is fantasy in which a love story is central to the main plot—not simply a romance subplot in a fantasy adventure. The label covers books with different balances of magic, worldbuilding and romance, and it has become more visible amid recent sales growth and reader discovery through social video, book communities and word of mouth.
What is romantasy?
“Romantasy” blends “romance” and “fantasy.” A practical way to tell whether the label fits is to ask whether the romantic relationship significantly shapes the story. Fantasy can include romance without being romantasy; in romantasy, removing the love story would substantially change the main plot. The Washington Post’s 2024 explainer describes the term and its reader-facing boundaries.
It is an umbrella label, not a rigid publishing category with one agreed definition. As Random House Books for Young Readers executive editor Tiffany Liao put it, “Because it is elastic and flexible, everyone has their own definition.” Publishers Weekly reported on the debate across publishing.
What the label does—and does not—tell you
- It signals that fantasy elements and a central romance both matter, but the balance varies from book to book.
- It does not require fae, dragons, a particular setting, or a specific amount of magic.
- It does not, by itself, indicate how sexually explicit a book is. Romantasy appears in both adult and young adult publishing, so check the individual book’s age positioning and content information.
- It is not a new kind of story simply because the label is relatively recent. Publishers Weekly reported that “romantasy” gained traction by the 2022 Frankfurt Book Fair, while fantasy romances and related subgenres have a longer history. The Washington Post points to Emma Bull’s 1987 novel War for the Oaks as an earlier example in that broader lineage.
Why is romantasy so popular?
There is no single established cause, and popularity looks different depending on the measure. Recent U.S. sales reports show strong growth in romance and adult fantasy, while UK survey data points to both social-video discovery and deliberate purchasing. Those findings show a trend gaining visibility; they do not prove that one platform or one type of reader caused it.
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Recent sales growth
In a June 2025 report, Circana described romantasy as one of the fastest-growing romance subjects in the U.S. print market, with triple-digit growth. The report also said U.S. year-to-date romance print sales were up 24% against the same period in 2024. That 24% figure covers romance overall, not romantasy alone. Circana’s report gives the market context.
Earlier, U.S. adult fantasy print sales rose 85.2% in the first half of 2024 compared with the first half of 2023, according to Circana BookScan figures reported by Publishers Weekly. That is a figure for adult fantasy print books, not a romantasy-only sales total.
Big series and prominent authors
Books by Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas featured prominently in the same U.S. adult-fantasy sales surge. In the first half of 2024, Fourth Wing and Iron Flame together sold about 1.1 million copies, while seven Sarah J. Maas bestsellers together sold more than three million. Publishers Weekly attributed these figures to Circana BookScan; they are U.S. print figures for that period, not global or all-format totals. Fourth Wing and A Court of Thorns and Roses are familiar examples associated with the trend, rather than a definitive list of what every reader should try.
Discovery through video and reader communities
NielsenIQ BookData’s Books & Consumers survey found that video-sharing sites accounted for nearly 15% of UK romantasy purchase discovery in 2024, up from 10% in 2023 and 5% in 2021. The 2024 survey data ran through December. The figure is for video-sharing sites as a category—not TikTok alone. Prior reading of an author or series and author communications remained ahead of video sharing, while discovery through friends and family, physical shops and bestseller lists had also grown. NielsenIQ BookData explains its findings.
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Readers often seek out specific books
The same UK survey found that one-third of romantasy purchases in 2023–24 were entirely planned for a specific book at the time of purchase. Including buyers who knew which book they wanted but had not chosen exactly when to buy it brings the planned-or-known share above 60%. Only a quarter of purchases over the preceding two years were entirely impulsive. Social buzz is part of the picture, but these figures also point to readers arriving with particular authors, series or titles in mind.
Romance stakes meet fantasy stakes
Romantasy can combine familiar romance dynamics—such as enemies-to-lovers or fated mates—with a setting where personal choices may have consequences for a community or an entire world. Author Alex Aster described that link this way: “choosing a love interest can sometimes decide the fate of the world.” These are reported perspectives on the appeal, not a measured explanation that applies to every book or buyer.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What are the best romantasy books to read?
There is no single best starting point for every reader: the label covers books with different tones, settings and degrees of romantic focus. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas are prominent examples associated with the recent trend and its sales coverage. Choose based on what you want from a book, and check its current publisher or author description for details about setting, tone, age positioning and content.
- Want romance to drive the main plot? Look for descriptions that make the relationship central rather than presenting it as a secondary thread.
- Prefer a particular fantasy setting? Check whether the book features dragons, fae, magic or another world; the genre label alone does not specify this.
- Choosing between lighter and darker stories? Read the publisher’s description and reliable content information instead of assuming romantasy has a uniform tone.
- Want to know the commitment? Confirm whether the book stands alone or begins a series, along with the current reading order, from the publisher or author.
- Choosing for a younger reader? Verify the book’s adult or YA positioning and its content details. “Romantasy” alone does not establish either.
The label is best used as a guide to the story’s two central ingredients, not as a promise of one specific kind of fantasy or romance.
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