{
  "id": 12925304,
  "title": "Can romance novels solve the straight man reading crisis?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/can-romance-novels-solve-the-straight-man-reading-crisis",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-08T16:51:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Literary Hub",
    "slug": "literary-hub",
    "url": "https://lithub.com/can-romance-novels-solve-the-straight-man-reading-crisis/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Recent statistics show a troubling decline in straight men reading fiction, with only a quarter of them picking up a book of fiction in 2025 according to the NEA survey. This decline has led to various theories about the origins of the \"reading crisis,\" with some blaming the lack of relatable protagonists and others pointing to the portrayal of straight men in books. One notable example is Tony Tulathimutte's Rejection, which depicts the male psyche as a \"pulsing wound of self-conscious neurosis,\" but publishers have struggled to replicate its success. The literary world is now exploring what the next generation of straight men might want from a novel in 2026. Sophie Lee suggests that practicalities like adrenaline or direction may be what men are seeking, while romance novels could potentially offer all three. In an exposé, The Guardian's Amanda Ongs considered the secret lives of straight men who read romance novels, a growing group that often reads romance novels from other genres or due to the tight formula they enjoy. Some straight men feel shame about their interest in romance, leading them to hide their fandom on platforms like the anonymous Discord channel Romance for Men. This highlights a problem of pressure to signal with their reading choices. Despite the emphasis on relatability, romance readers often flock to titles for escapism rather than relatability. Romance novels provide a unique form of liberation, allowing men to feel deeply, imagine being desired, and accept parts of themselves that conventional masculinity may not accommodate. Matt Starr, co-founder of Dream Baby Press, sees a mission to make the world more romantic and believes there is not enough sensuality in literary fiction. Men today may not find the feelings they seek in traditional literature, making genre play essential. Ultimately, a truly good book should transcend identity and affiliation, providing feelings of freedom, energy, titillation, and sensuality.",
  "summary": "Extra, extra. You’ve seen the headlines. Men—particularly straight men—have stopped reading fiction. This year saw the rise and fall of the performative lit-bro. And though history, crime, and self-help books still persuade a certain type, the most recent NEA survey found",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}