The Guardian

Same-sex love is an intimate joy our fiction still neglects | Julie Cohen

Romantic novels have long ignored LGBT writers and readers, but theses are stories that need to be told
‘It’s important that novels reinforce the message that everyone is deserving of love.’ Photograph: frankiefotografie/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Romantic novels are one of the bestselling genres of fiction worldwide; one gets purchased every two seconds in the UK, and for good reason – love is probably the most profound emotion any of us will ever experience. Yet the cliche of a romantic novel is “boy meets girl”. What about “boy meets boy” or “girl meets girl” – or simply “person meets person”? Those storylines are few and far between. That’s why I’ve founded a, to nurture LGBT romantic authors and their novels.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Guardian

The Guardian8 min read
PinkPantheress: ‘I Don’t Think I’m Very Brandable. I Dress Weird. I’m Shy’
PinkPantheress no longer cares what people think of her. When she released her lo-fi breakout tracks Break it Off and Pain on TikTok in early 2021, aged just 19, she did so anonymously, partly out of fear of being judged. Now, almost three years late
The Guardian6 min read
Fallen Kingdom: Why Has Disney Had Such A Terrible Year?
For its 100th anniversary this year, Disney received a bucket of ice-cold water to the face. It may sound momentary, but somehow it’s the gift that has been giving all year, from the box office nosedive of Marvel’s Ant-Man sequel, to lower-than-expec
The Guardian4 min read
Khaled Khalifa obituary
The writings of the Syrian author Khaled Khalifa, who has died aged 59 of a heart attack, depict a world of bloody conflict, but one where flowers still bloom. In his books, which are often read as eulogies for Syria, and especially his beloved city

Related