Romance fiction enjoys comeback as women seek escapismBy Rachael LucasABC GippslandTopic:Romance Books31m ago31 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 1:57amWomen's rural fiction author Jennifer Scoullar has just published her 13th book. (ABC Gippsland: Rachael Lucas)abc.net.au/news/romance-fiction-enjoys-comeback-as-women-seek-escapism/105240694Link copiedShareShare articleRomance novels are enjoying a renaissance in Australia but their female characters are no longer just dreaming of marrying a knight in shining armour.The contemporary female protagonists in modern-day romance fiction deal with real-life struggles and dramas, are proactive rather than passive and have agency in their lives.And readers are here for that, with an average annual growth rate of 49 per cent over three years for Australian sales of romance fiction, a genre once trivialised as a low-brow guilty pleasure.According to Nielsen BookScan Australia, 3 million romance books, valued at $46.4 million, sold in 2024.With romance sub-genres such as rural, historical, paranormal, erotic, billionaire, LGBTQIA and romantasy, the female protagonists in these stories are diversified and represent women's experience across different cultural, faith and class backgrounds.Women of all ages are buying books at boutique "pop-literary" events in Australia. (ABC Gippsland: Rachael Lucas)Immersive escapism, intimate connectionCollins Booksellers owner Natasha Hunt in Sale, Victoria has observed an uprising of female writers in the fiction and memoir space, and women who want, as readers, to be inspired and feel joy, particularly with romance, general fiction and romantasy.Natasha Hunt says female readers are seeking escapism and connection in women's stories. (ABC Gippsland: Rachael Lucas)"There's some fantastic literature out there," she said."I'm not sure the television is giving us what we're looking for, and I think people are looking to escape from what's happening in the world, so they're turning back to books and in the traditional form," she said.Magazines make a comebackPhoto shows A collage of three different magazine, Live to Ride, Vanity Fair and National Geographic.Among the long rows of glossy publications that cater to the reading needs of home renovators, gold hunters, hobby farmers, celebrity watchers, and puzzle lovers, this newsagent is witnessing a resurgence in demand for print magazines. Ms Hunt describes that immersive experience and the pleasure of touching the pages and feeling the weight of a book as an alternative to doing "bite-sized bits on the phone" and endless scrolling."They hold a book, they sit in their favourite place, their favourite couch, looking out the window and immersing in that story, sipping a wine or a coffee or whatever brings them joy."It is also a portal for learning about life and relationships.Lisa Ireland hosted a Women in Fiction literary event as part of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Victoria. (ABC Gippsland: Rachael Lucas)In a world of digital transactions in which people lack connection, Ms Hunt believes women are seeking depth, nuance and the lost art of getting to know someone slowly, even if that is through a story.The slow awakenings, prolonged courtships and gradual unravelling of a book offer a counter point to the relatively superficial online realm."Romance is a very intellectual genre, people underestimate what is written in romance books — it's not all soft and fluffy and happily ever after, they tackle some very serious issues," Ms Hunt said."The world is hard at the moment. Books are not cheap, but people will buy a book and then share it with their family and their friends — it's the gift that keeps giving."Lawyer who just wanted to writeWild Horses is about a drama teacher who moves to Queensland's Darling Downs after a scandal. (ABC Gippsland: Rachael Lucas)Upper Pakenham-based rural fiction author Jennifer Scoullar has published 13 books, but only after a career change.Her ambitions to become a writer were thwarted by her mother's insistence that she pursue a career in law.After years of working as a lawyer with the National Crime Authority and Legal Aid, she became burnt out and desensitised to the daily stories of human struggle, a burden that took a toll on her wellbeing."So many of us just do what people expect us to do, and we ourselves internalise these expectations, and very often that isn't actually what we want to do. It doesn't bring us joy," Ms Scoullar said.Feeling that she was losing her empathy towards people, she delved into the escapism of writing, creating worlds where she could control the behaviour of her characters and the situations they faced, even granting them a more optimistic future.Jennifer Scoullar gave up a legal career to become an author. (ABC Gippsland: Rachael Lucas)Eventually she made the break and quit law to write.It was a move that would bring an end to her marriage, and confront her with the challenges of raising her four children alone.She completed a year-long novel writing course with Writers Victoria but with no industry connections or big profile to launch a book in a market saturated by celebrity cookbooks and biographies, Ms Scoullar's chances of being published were slim.Female authors are using TikTok, Instagram and QR code technology to connect with new readers. (ABC Gippsland: Rachael Lucas)But then a friend suggested attending a writers' conference, where she was able to pitch to publisher Belinda Byrne, sister of First Tuesday Book Club presenter Jennifer Byrne, who was on the hunt for a rural fiction writer.The chance meeting resulted in a book deal with Penguin Australia."Publishers began to realise that there was an appetite for stories about strong country women living their dreams on the land, and the hardships they faced, the struggles they faced, and the romantic heartbreaks and triumphs, so the genre started to grow," Ms Scoullar said.Ms Scoullar describes her books as rural fiction with romantic elements. (ABC Gippsland: Rachael Lucas)Stories for women by womenStratford-based author and women's literary event organiser Lisa Ireland is in the process of writing her ninth book published by Penguin Random House.Originally from the western suburbs of Melbourne and a teacher for 20 years, Ms Ireland said her books had mirrored the various stages of her life, from finding love, to motherhood through to middle age.Lisa Ireland has published nine books about issues faced by women. (ABC Gippsland: Rachael Lucas)She believes the women's fiction movement is primarily driven by younger female readers, who are discovering books and authors through TikTok and Instagram and want to see their own lives represented."Our stories are just as important as men's stories," Ms Ireland said.ABC Gippsland — local news in your inboxGet our local newsletter, delivered free each TuesdayYour information is being handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement.Email addressSubscribePosted 31m ago31 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 1:57am, updated 29m ago29 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 1:59amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesDumped minister accuses Richard Marles of being a 'factional assassin'Topic:ALPPhoto shows Ed Husic, wearing a suit, sitting on a green bench.Israel is keeping up its blockade of aid as kids starve to deathTopic:WarPhoto shows A small baby in a pink onesie sleeps on a blue and yellow blanket.How one of Australia's richest families is rewriting its pokies legacyTopic:GamblingPhoto shows Len Ainsworth poses for a portrait at a table in a dark room with poker machines behind him.Harry, Charles and the grief dilemma tearing apart the royal familyTopic:RoyaltyPhoto shows An older man and two younger men Trump is trying to suspend habeas corpus. 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