The Influence of Feminism on the Romance Book Genre: Empowering Women and Progressive Themes
As someone who has read women's fiction and romance for years (and as a romance author myself), I love seeing how feminism has shaped the books I read, write, and love today. The swoon-worthy moments and the slow-burn tension? That's still there. But romance lovers today aren't stuck with damsels in distress, a broody alphahole, and questionable moments of consent. Now they can have empowered heroines, more complex character arcs, and healthy relationships built on mutual respect and personal growth.
If you've ever read a romance book where the main characters consent during sex, where the woman gets to be the grump in the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, or where one or both of the main characters isn't white or straight—then lucky you, feminism has helped shape those amazing books! Let's talk about how feminism has helped shape our romance books of today.
An Independent Female Lead Who Isn't Passive
Today’s romance books feature women chasing their dreams—maybe they're starting businesses, going on epic adventures around the world, or they're just trying to get to know themselves better as they go about their daily lives. Their HEAs (happily ever afters) still include love, because after all, we're romance readers, and the love story is still a big focus of the book—but the romance doesn't solve all of the main character's problems.
Mandy in Stephanie Louise’s book, Don’t Regret Me, is a great example—she's a working woman who knows her worth, is endlessly ambitious, and cares deeply for her family. Or the female main character in The Half of It (yes, mine!), June. She embarks on an emotional and physical journey to Ireland, and she discovers so much about herself in the process aside from meeting a guy. These are women with agency who are already whole.
Consent, Communication, and Emotional Growth
Consent has always been sexy, but it's not always been the norm in romance novels (you may have heard them referred to as “bodice rippers,” which, surprise surprise, doesn’t exactly sound gentle). For traditional publishing, consent is a must—no dubcon or r*pey situations—and that has trickled into the indie space as well.* Honestly, nothing is sexier than the love interests actually talking to each other, even during intimate, private moments.
Beyond that, we're seeing characters who really know how to talk to each other, and this shows us a level of emotional vulnerability and maturity. The miscommunication trope can be fun sometimes and definitely creates some drama, but as a reader, I want to have hope at the end of the book that the main couple will be able to work through life's difficult moments too. I don't want tough conversations to get swept under a rug for the sake of plot. Between the pages of my favorite romance novels, I witness characters model healthy conflict resolution, set boundaries, advocate for themselves, and grow as a couple. That's not just romantic—it’s an inspiration!
Take The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce. These are two characters who are layered, emotionally intelligent, and whose baggage doesn’t vanish into thin air just because they're back in each other's orbits. They have to unpack their issues and deal with them, and that makes the HEA even sweeter.
Diversity in Love Stories
Feminism is for everyone. With its influence on modern romances, we get a wonderful expansion of representation in regards to race, body type, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, and class. Everyone has a shot at love! Characters who are BIPOC, fat, neurodivergent, or queer heroines—or any combination of these—all allow us to read a different worldview on the page, which only enriches the reading experience.
To diversify your TBR, check out authors like Talia Hibbert or Anita Kelley. You'll also see a lot of diversity represented in the indie romance space, because it's a much more level playing field for underrepresented authors to get their voices out there.
Challenging Internalized Misogyny
I grew up reading women's fiction and romance novels that weren’t always the shining beacons of feminist love. And whether I like it or not, some of those outdated tropes and gender norms burrowed deep into my brain. That’s why, as a contemporary romance author, I make it a point to question the stories I’m telling—and the assumptions I might not even realize I’m making.
Internalized misogyny is sneaky. Maybe it shows up in a female side characters (hello, jealous ex or catty coworker). Maybe we think that the hero should always be the one making the grand romantic gesture. So I try to flip the script whenever I have the chance. Why not make the cutthroat lawyer a woman? Why not give the big, sweeping finale moment to the female lead instead?
In my novella Match Made in the Maldives, it’s Luna who rushes in at the end with the bold, romantic move, not the other way around. She's grown as a person and can't let her love with Finley slip through her fingers. These kinds of shifts remind us that love stories can break outdated rules. It's far more important that they feel true, empowering, and full of heart.
Feminism Makes Romance Books Better
No, feminism hasn’t taken the love out of romance books—it’s transformed that love to be deeper, more satisfying, and more empowering for readers of today. I personally get so much joy from seeing characters proudly take up space, tell authentic stories, and find a love that is worthy of them. Because love stories—fictional ones or real-life ones—should never require someone to shrink and hide who they are, but they should instead be an invitation to grow and expand.