In Love With Love: The Persistence and Joy of Romantic Fiction

by Ella Risbridger

'A literary and deeply heartfelt exploration of an under-appreciated genre. It is heaven from start to finish'
INDIA KNIGHT, The Times

'This book is funny, wise, and joyfully obsessed with its subject'
MONICA HEISEY

'Endlessly witty, breathtakingly clever, a book you'll read in one sitting'
CAROLINE O'DONOGHUE

'The love letter the genre deserves'
MHAIRI McFARLANE

Smart, funny and An ode to a beloved genre and a brilliantly insightful piece of cultural criticism

Cowboys and aliens, dukes and dancers, power dynamics, death and domesticity, vampires and veterans, tradwives and single dads and sisters and small-town politics, private jets and princes and horses, hopes and dreams and fears, and so, so much this is a love letter to romantic fiction, but it's also a book about creativity and creation and the job of art in this crazy old world.

Why do we read? Why do we write? What makes some books last forever, and others vanish from memory? What is the point of everything, anything, when everything - especially romantic love - is so fleeting in the grand scheme of things? How do we love when the world is falling apart? And what does it mean that love is the one subject of which we never seem to tire?

Part literary criticism, part investigation, total passion project, In Love with Love is a wild tour from the very beginnings of kissing in books through historic trends, favourite tropes, beloved friends and brand-new loves, from Jane Austen to Jasmine Guillory, Jilly Cooper to Georgette Heyer, from the depths of the ocean to the furthest reaches of the outer galaxy . . .

'A joyful and brilliant book by a joyful and brilliant writer'
JESSICA STANLEY

'This passionate and profound love letter to the love story will make any romance reader's heart beat a little faster'
SARRA MANNING, Red Magazine

'I swallowed this book whole. Full of warmth and -- you guessed it -- love, this is an astute, thoughtful and literary exploration of a subject that is often regarded as the opposite... Long live kissing books, and all hail Ella'
CLAIRE DAVERLEY

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books, Audiobook, Romance

231 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2025

Reviews

[mary steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love you romantic fiction, so so much. and it is WONDERFUL to read a book that celebrates romantic fiction the way this one does.

[Meg Holch · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a treat this book is! I loved the foray into the different romantic fiction worlds, each told with such wit and palpable curiosity.

I’ve adored Ella’s work for years, from her gorgeous cookbooks to her appearances on the Sentimental Garbage pod. This book is packed full of enthusiasm and optimism and I feel better for reading it!

[Katy Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging, thoughtful overview of the romance genre, this is the perfect non fiction for me. It wears its erudition and learning lightly, it invites you in as the reader and after a while you forget you're reading because it feels a lot like you're having a chat with a trusted friend. This is humorous without being patronising and thoughtful without being ponderous or judgmental. We go from Jane Austen to tentacle porn, from the classics to ebooks and fan fiction and there is not a hint of snobbery in the way Risbridger engages with any of it. I came away with a huge reading list, which I was very happy about.

[Pollie Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

God I feel seen

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, witty, heartfelt and a thoughtful meditation on the genre and what romantic literature says about the world we live in and the readers who read it.

To think we can live without love and therefore without literature about love is to deny a fundamental truth (some might say universally acknowledged), that we all go through this life seeking out love and seeking to explore our own desires. That for many, to read romantic fiction is to imagine a world different to the one we may find ourselves in and to be seen for who we are in amongst the pages and characters that lie within.

Romantic literature says I am here with you. I am seeking the same thing, exploring the same thoughts. I am also in love with love.

“Romantic novels tell us there is space for love in this world […]. Romantic fiction is mostly about two people but it is also always about the world in which they live and ways the world shapes and scars and marks the people within it. We are in some ways everyone we’ve ever met.”

(Lots to add to the TBR!)

[Sophie (RedheadReading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love coming out of a book with a long reading list!

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a love letter to romance novels!!
Enjoyed this as an audiobook and have left with some weird and wonderful book recommendations, and feeling very inspired towards the genre 💘💘

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐

ARC Review

The first chapter of this book was great and if was really interesting to see how similar the tropes are from classics but after the first chapter the book lost it's spark.

A lot of the sections and paragraphs were just too long and convoluted to understand the point of them.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

[Hannah Rials Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only like books about other books, and this one was delightful. Even though I lean more romantic fantasy than straight romance, Ella’s deep dive into romance fiction through the ages was so much fun. She’s insightful and funny and unbiased and biased in all the right places. And ending the book with Twilight 👌🏼👌🏼

[Lucy Skeet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous!! Thanks to Sceptre for my proof

[Abby Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely book. I completely forgot I had pre-ordered this last year after listening to an episode of Sentimental Garbage, so when it turned up in my kindle library I thought 'oh god, I'd better not waste this'. It's been a lovely read - it felt equal parts like having a deep chat with a close friend about various romance novels we've loved, and like a fun encyclopedia of romance novels and romance novel tropes from an incredibly excited romance novel lover. The fanfiction chapter in particular made me think of the first time I had the courage to confess that I read fanfiction, and that one friend who said they did too - so exciting to be taken seriously and get to talk about that massive shared world that for some reason feels embarrassing to discuss in the open!
I have referenced this book and Ella's trope outlines in several conversations now since beginning my read. I was particularly partial to the chapter breaking down the hot billionaire trope - I feel like all the subtropes are burned into my mind now forever, a lens I can't stop seeing through! Also the time she basically just listed every pride and prejudice adaptation that exists - doing the lord's work.
Although a little later in the book I was drifting a little through some of her really enthusiastic ideas about what it is to be a writer or reader of romance, I still enjoyed it and the general positive energy, not to mention the endless fun facts of the romance novel summaries peppered throughout.
The only reason it took me so long to finish was that I had to take a break in the middle to read several actual romance novels - so thank you Ella for giving me back my romance novel reading enthusiasm!

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed this book looking at the different types of romantic fiction available. Interesting to see how recurring character tropes have and continue to appear throughout literary history. I was surprised not to read about some authors work in this collection. But was pleased to add a few more books to my never ending "to-read" list, from authors I hadn't heard of. Mainly I just love reading books about books! This was a nice addition that complimented my book clubs theme this month, which was the works and related works of Jane Austen.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in an exchange for an honest review.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want Ella to read me this book while my head is in her lap and we are both drinking cups of tea and there’s a fire in the background and I’m eating biscuits and it’s snowing outside but I have cosy socks on and there are cats wandering around us. Alternatively we are at a table and she’s telling me all her thoughts about love and I am giggling and nodding my head and going “so true bestie soooo true” this book feels like this

[Georgia O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Why not, while we can, end with joy?”

I love a book that simultaneously takes romance novels seriously while also celebrating their inherent silliness too. If you’re not a big romance fan, I’m not sure this would convert you or speaks usefully to you – but this one is for the fans, as they say, and that’s more than ok.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would, I think, quite happily read Ella Risbridger's thoughts on any subject. I've adored her blog, her newsletter, and her cookbooks, and despite seemingly wrestling with a different topic, her style translates really well into this contemplation of romantic literature. I found myself jotting down notes about new books to add to my TBR whilst reading In Love With Love, but I also greatly enjoyed the discussion around what motivates people to read and/or write romantic fiction.. I found the discussion of gender and sexuality in relation to how romance is published and consumed to be especially insightful - and especially in the consideration of fanfiction as part of the genre.
I will continue to seek out everything Risbridger writes, and can be fairly confident of having both an enjoyable and introspective time while reading it.
Thank you to Sceptre and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Sayde Scarlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

When someone truly loves what they're talking, writing, or making a sermon about it is immediately obvious. It is impossible to fake true love. There's no doubt that Risbridger absolutely, truly loves romantic fiction on a deep and profound level. The genre is something she has obviously experienced and thought about for years upon years. It really shows.

I also love romantic fiction, and have oft bristled at its constant dismissal as schlock, the misogynistic undertones of said criticism being that if something is liked by mostly women it can't possibly be good. See also: Fashion, Rom Coms, Taylor Swift etc.

I was really worried when this book was announced because Risbridger is usually a peddler of the most basic, purile, and eye-wateringly twee misery memoirs completely devoid of self-awareness. I swear 99% of this girl's neuroses would disappear if her friends, family and, presumably, therapist(s) had the decency to stop coddling her, told her to get a grip, and run a brush through her hair once a week.

She was also commissioned to collate an anthrology of poems and it was mediocre.

So I didn't have high hopes for 'In Love With Love' even though the subject matter was right up my lane. I thought I'd press on anyway. Why not? There is simply so little literary criticism/analysis that treats the romance genre with the seriousness it deserves.

Risbridger's insights into why romance is good, why romance is enjoyable, why romance is compelling, why we like romance, why romance is worthy, and why romance should be held in higher esteem, are mature, well-articulated, and genuinely insightful. If you've ever wondered what itch women are trying to scratch through romance novels, why women have that particular itch in the first place, and what that itch says about the human [female] condition this is the book for you. 'In Love With Love' proves that Risbridger excels when she's in her lane.

This book is a solid 4/5 with one star being docked for previous crimes against memoirism, cookery writing, and the flag waving.The fantasy of marrying a billionaire is not so you can enjoy capitalism without doing any unethical - it's so you can have nice things and a nice life without having to work! Stop worrying and learn to love money, Ella.

[seren✨ starrybooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would read Ella Risbridger retell the phone book, but luckily she keeps writing books that are absolutely delightful. In Love With Love is a look at the romance genre, what it means to us as readers, and more importantly what it says about us as people.

More than anything this book is a love letter to romance fiction, sweeping across sub-genres and types. I do wish the book had been more critical and gone into a bit more depth around some of its subjects, but that’s not the type of book Risbridger was aiming to write.

The chapters on fanfiction and queer stories particularly resonated with me, and I loved the exploration around romance and sex (particularly when talking about dubcon/noncon in romance, what it says about readers and their repressed sexuality). And of course her prose is as moving as always.

[Rhona · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is so refreshing to read about romance novels from someone who is so passionate about the genre. So often you're made to feel ashamed about reading romance or reading smut but this book talks about a wide variety of tropes (from Mr Darcy to sexy aliens) with so much joy and love that made this a joy to read.

It was maybe a teensy bit rambly at times and I would have loved a chapter on the romantasy boom (but that's perhaps because I came across the author at a romantasy talk) but overall this was a delightful read that I'd highly recommend.

[fallsforbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars

Eloquently written, and heartfelt!

This made for an unbelieveably engrossing read with the author narrating it herself. It flows incredibly and has the vibe of a thoroughly researched podcast encapsulating the current landscape of romancelandia.

If you like romance fiction, I beg you to give this a try. I promise you, you will love it.

Reccomended reading in my house.

[Niamh · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there was ever a book to remind you that a) reading is amazing and b) reading ROMANCE is amazing, 'In Love With Love' is that book. Reading it felt like I was sinking into a hot bath with soothing music playing somewhere and a delusional fantasy of a man bringing me wine and making dinner. I'm going off topic here, but this is just such a beautiful ode to romance literature in all its forms and genres and my singular complaint is that I wish there was more of it.

[Cydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's be honest, I will read anything Ella Risbridger writes. Her podcast appearances feel like sitting in on a conversation between your warmest and wittiest friends, and this book is no different - a delicious, insightful and cosy chat about the possibilities, political impact and genuine community that romance novels create. Huge recommend for fellow book-nerds who have never gotten over a Brontë novel.

[Jen Grá · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella Risbridger's collection of essays on romantic fiction and its history is a total delight. I came away from reading it full of joy and with a list of book recommendations to seek out. Her writing is fun and comprehensive and I think I will go back to reading this time and time again.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Molly Coulthard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! I love Ella’s writing. I do think that you need to have a certain existing understanding of the tropes of romantic fiction to fully understand everything in here otherwise you might be a bit confused in some areas but that’s fine - it’s been written for an audience that loves and respects the genre. It’s so fun to read, and has given me a long reading list to take away!

[Beatriz Cinque · Rating 3 out of 5]

sinto que tem um livro excelente dentro desse livro ok. talvez com uma edição melhor dos ensaios eles teriam ficado melhores? parece que faltou alguém para incentivar a autora a mergulhar mais nas perguntas interessantes que ela levanta e maneirar um pouco nas tangentes e fun facts. o tema desse livro me parece tão perfeito e fiquei achando um pouco de desperdício.

[Giuliana Leoncino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Ella Risbridger for your service 🫡 this was eloquent, funny, and interesting, and made me feel seen. Plus, Ella’s style is just so beautiful. I have loved her cookbooks and her newsletter, and I will basically read everything she published just cause.

[Alisha May · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you believe, as I do and as does Ella, that romance novels should be taken seriously, then please take your book about them seriously and not write it like a WhatsApp voice note - I do not recommend reading! Did not finish.

[Abbey]

Recommended by Leena Norms!

[Ellie Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

A joy to read. Also huge thanks to the author for introducing me to the witty brilliance of Barbara Trapido.

[Theresa Howes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hugely entertaining and informative look at romantic fiction in all its different guises and tropes. A great read for anyone who loves a good love story.

[allie english · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic look into my one of my all time favourite genres. Made me a aware of so many books I now want to read (and some I definitely need to re-read)