Despite the perception that romantic fiction is mainly read by women, some straight men are engaging with the genre, often sharing their interest in online forums.
Paul, a 28-year-old school maintenance worker, reads five or six romance novels a month, often with fantasy or horror elements. He reads on a Kindle due to being partially sighted, which allows him to adjust font size. Paul does not discuss his reading habits with others offline, instead communicating with users on a Discord channel called Romance for Men.
According to an editorial director at Mills & Boon, men make up only 4% of their sales. Additionally, less than 2% of the UK's Romantic Novelists' Association members are male. Some men who read romance fiction report concerns about being misunderstood or mocked, leading them to speak anonymously.