Why Everyone Is Talking About Romantasy Again: What to Read Next

Romantasy is everywhere right now.

You see it on BookTok, Instagram, bookstore shelves, reading lists, and increasingly in book clubs. And if you have somehow avoided the dragons, fae courts, magical kingdoms, enemies-to-lovers romances, and morally complicated characters, you might be wondering what all the excitement is about.

The interesting part is that romantasy isn't really a brand-new genre. Fantasy and romance have been mixed together for decades. What has changed is the scale of the audience and the way readers discover these books.

Goodreads described romantasy as one of the hottest areas in publishing in 2026, while its October 2026 genre report notes that the category has continued to attract a particularly dedicated audience. 

So why is everyone talking about romantasy again?

What Is Romantasy?

The simplest explanation is right in the name:

Romance + Fantasy = Romantasy.

These books combine a fantasy world with a significant romantic storyline. That might mean dragons and romance, faeries and enemies-to-lovers, magical powers and forbidden relationships, or an entire fantasy kingdom built around a complicated love story.

The exact balance can vary from book to book.

Some romantasy novels are heavily focused on fantasy and world-building, while others put the romance much closer to the center.

That flexibility is part of the reason the genre can appeal to different kinds of readers.

Why Has Romantasy Become So Popular?

There isn't one single reason.

Social media has played a major role. BookTok and Bookstagram have made it much easier for readers to discover books through recommendations, reactions, memes, fan theories, and aesthetic content.

But social media is only part of the story.

Goodreads' 2026 genre report describes romantasy as having a particularly loyal readership, while noting that the genre has continued evolving as reader tastes change.

And there is another important factor:

Romantasy gives readers two reasons to keep turning the pages.

You want to know what happens to the characters' relationship.

But you also want to know what happens to the kingdom, the magic, the war, the prophecy, or the mysterious creature that appeared 200 pages ago.

That combination can make a book extremely difficult to put down.

The Appeal of Fantasy + Romance

Think about what romance and fantasy already offer individually.

Romance gives readers emotional relationships, tension, chemistry, heartbreak, and the anticipation of seeing where two characters end up.

Fantasy gives readers completely different worlds, magic, adventure, danger, mythology, and escape.

Put the two together and you get a story that can be emotionally intense while still giving readers an entire world to explore.

For many readers, that combination is exactly what they want.

BookTok Helped Change the Conversation

Social media has had a huge effect on the way readers discover romantasy.

A recommendation isn't just a recommendation anymore.

Someone can post a short video about a character, a plot twist, a favorite trope, or a particularly emotional scene. Other readers react to it, make their own videos, create fan art, and recommend similar books.

That creates a cycle where readers aren't just buying a book—they are becoming part of a conversation around it.

Research and commentary on the genre have specifically pointed to BookTok as an important part of romantasy's rise into the mainstream.

The Rise of the Morally Grey Character

Another reason romantasy gets so much attention is its characters.

The genre has become closely associated with characters who aren't simply good or evil.

You might have the powerful ruler who has questionable methods, the enemy who slowly becomes an ally, or the character who does terrible things but still has understandable motivations.

This gives readers plenty to discuss.

Who is actually right?

Can you trust this character?

Is the villain really the villain?

And, of course:

Why am I suddenly rooting for the person I hated 100 pages ago?

That kind of character development gives social media plenty of material to work with.

And Then There Are the Tropes

Romantasy readers tend to know exactly what they like.

Enemies to lovers.

Fated mates.

Forced proximity.

Slow burn.

Found family.

Forbidden romance.

These tropes make it easier for readers to find books that match their interests.

Instead of simply saying, “I want a fantasy book,” someone can search for something much more specific:

“I want a fantasy romance with enemies-to-lovers and a slow burn.”

That is a very different way of discovering books.

Current reader discussions continue to show strong interest in tropes such as enemies-to-lovers, found family, and slow-burn romance.

Is Romantasy Just a Trend?

This is where things get interesting.

Romantasy is certainly experiencing a major publishing moment, but the ingredients behind it are much older.

Fantasy romance has existed for decades. What is different today is the size of the audience, the terminology around the genre, and the role of social platforms in helping readers find these books.

Goodreads has tracked a substantial romantasy audience for years, and its 2026 reporting continues to treat the genre as a major part of the current publishing landscape.

So whether romantasy remains exactly as popular in its current form is impossible to know.

But the underlying combination of fantasy, romance, adventure, and escapism isn't going anywhere.

What Should You Read If You Want to Try Romantasy?

If you're new to the genre, some of the most recognizable starting points include:

• A Court of Thorns and Roses — Sarah J. Maas
• Fourth Wing — Rebecca Yarros
• From Blood and Ash — Jennifer L. Armentrout
• The Serpent and the Wings of Night — Carissa Broadbent
• Divine Rivals — Rebecca Ross

And if you already love the genre, there is plenty more to explore.

The good thing about romantasy is that you can move around the spectrum. You can choose something heavily focused on fantasy, something more romance-driven, or something that sits comfortably in the middle.

Final Thoughts

Romantasy's current popularity isn't really difficult to understand.

Readers get romance, fantasy, adventure, escapism, high stakes, emotional characters, and plenty of things to talk about afterward.

Social media has simply made it easier for those readers to find each other and share what they're reading.

And with another major A Court of Thorns and Roses release arriving in October 2026, romantasy is once again very visible in the publishing conversation.

If you haven't tried the genre yet, this might be a good time to see what all the excitement is about.

Looking for your next romantasy read? Explore fantasy, romance, and thousands of other books at BookPangs.