We don’t just read stories. We feel them. And that feeling—that emotional pull—is where transformation begins. In fact, emotional intelligence in stories is often what makes fiction unforgettable.

In a world that trains us to move fast, stay numb, and keep scrolling, storytelling slows us down. It invites us into someone else’s shoes, asks us to care, and reminds us what it means to be human. At its best, storytelling strengthens emotional intelligence in stories—not just in readers, but ...