Major franchise development in the works for A Court of Thorns and Roses series

I started a book club to make friends — now I'm a professional bookworm

Metro

3 hours ago

Metro

I started a book club to make friends — now I'm a professional bookworm

Sitting down at a café, 27-year-old Lucy Ellis is one of the few people that doesn't have her phone in her hand. Instead, she has a book, and she's waiting for company. When Lucy first moved to London, she struggled to make friends. Already a keen athlete, she didn't want to join a running group, and post-work pints are expensive — and come with a hangover. She started searching for book clubs, but when the only options available seemed to be overly-academic, she decided to create a more laid-back club of her own. Posting on Instagram in 2023, she told the world she was starting a book club, and asked people to join. Seventeen people showed up to the first meeting where they discussed Yomi Adegoke's The List. Since then, it's snowballed, and now, Lucy's quit her job to run a book club full time. It's fair to say that we're experiencing a reading renaissance. Between 2020 and 2024, Eventbrite saw a 350% increase in book-related gatherings, and 'book club' became one of the top 10 most searched terms on the site. New data from Tinder shows that we're seeing an uptick (16% over the last year) in mentions of 'reading' in dating bios, while uses of the term 'book boyfriend' increased by 77% between January 2024 and 2025. And, unit sales of print books rose for the first time in three years in 2024, with adult fiction leaping 4.8 %, according to Publishers Weekly. While celebrity book clubs by the likes of Richard & Judy and Oprah have been running for decades, now they being embraced by younger A-listers too. Last month, Dua Lipa relaunched her literary podcast, Service95 Book Club, uniting booklovers and fans with titles that promise to make them 'laugh, cry or rethink something you thought you knew.' BookTok continues to drive sales too. According to Forbes, 'TikTok is nowpublishing's most powerful marketing engine', adding that it now 'steers marketing plans, inspires collector editions, and often sets the stage for film and TV deals.' At the time of writing, the hashtag BookTok has accumulated more than 412 billion views. Growing up, Lucy says she was a 'huge bookworm' — but when she started working full-time, she began to neglect her hobby. Instead, she'd spend evenings staying up late with housemates or on dates. She started her book club purely as a way to encourage her to read more. 'I just wanted a reason to either meet new people, or get my friends together to do something that wasn't about going out and spending loads of money,' she tells Metro. The group has since grown in numbers, but the premise has remained the same. Meeting once a month, they've read an array of books: from Intermezzo by Sally Rooney to Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna and Butter by Asako Yuzuki — all picks Lucy makes a couple of months in advance. For now, she's finalised the reading list up until August 2025. 'I'd pick a book I really wanted to read that I knew people might not have read yet,' she adds, noting that she usually goes for 'hot topic' type releases. Reading has had a positive effect on her mental health too, with Lucy saying it gives her 'purpose'. 'I spend less time doomscrolling,' she says, adding that fiction books have moved her into a positive headspace when she's been struggling. Now, Lucy says she's a 'professional bookworm'. Lucy's Book Club has almost 9,000 Instagram followers, and she's hosted conversations with authors including Roxie Nafousi and Jordan Stephens. 'It seems that us young people in London are craving community,' she wrote on LinkedIn. 'I'm so proud to be providing just that!' Amy Rowland, 40, is a journalist, and reviews book for magazines. While she's always enjoyed swapping book recommendations with friends, actually discussing the novel never seemed to happen. But last November, she joined a book club, started by her friend Sam, called Under The Covers. 'I often review women's fiction or crime, so I wanted to join a club, and get stuck into something that would push me out of my comfort zone,' Amy tells Metro. 'We recently read a book called Wellness. At 600 pages long it's a beast and I didn't think it was for me — but I loved every page of it. That's the beauty of a book club.' After being in the group for a few months, she was telling some friends about it, which sparked the idea to start their own club, The Plot Thickens… 'It's lovely, because I used to feel that I was reading these brilliant books, with no one to talk to about them. But now, all my friends are into reading.' They're only a small group of six the moment, but Amy says they're looking to open it out in the future. 'Someone is nominated each month to pick the book and do the organising,' explains Amy. 'We always try to find a venue that links to the book. For example, we recently read Last One At The Party, which is a bit dystopian, so we met at a restaurant in an underground bunker!' While Amy can't say for sure why book clubs are back in fashion, she has her theories. 'In a time when we're all on our phones, mindlessly scrolling, it's nice to have something else for everyone to focus on — that's certainly the case for me. 'I also think that while the news is so heavy, everyone wants to escape and go into another world for a bit. 'I'm just glad book clubs are cool again,' Amy adds. 'I think everyone should be in one.' Kate Galloway is an occupational therapist with a degree in psychology — she's also a best-selling author. Kate says that reading is an 'analogue' way to switch off in our always-online world. 'It offers an antidote to the overstimulation we experience online,' Kate tells Metro. 'The constant scrolling, the short attention spans, the pressure to always be 'on'. Reading requires focus and presence, two things we're losing in a world of endless notifications,' she says. It's a sentiment echoed by psychologist Emma Kenny who notes that with print books there are 'no pop-ups, no infinite scroll'. 'We're exhausted,' says Emma. 'The Deloitte 2024 Connectivity Survey found that 53% of 18 to 40‑year‑olds are struggling to limit their screen time to levels they find comfortable. More Trending 'But reading requires sustained attention, narrative reasoning and the capacity for empathy. These all flourish when we follow a plot rather than a newsfeed. 'In a culture worried about polarisation and shortened attention spans, picking up a book is a quiet act of resistance.' Emma also notes the economic climate has a part to play. 'A £10 paperback offers hours of engagement for around the price of three take out coffees. 'That equation of value for money, plus the emotional payoff is hard to beat.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I went from homeless to entrepreneur — these are my key tips to make your side hustle a success MORE: Phone thefts hit record high in London with 37 a day snatched in West End alone MORE: Porn sites to make major change to who can watch x-rated videos Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.

‘We need to reclaim these words': Inside England's first romance-only bookshop catering to record levels of popularity

The Guardian

a day ago

The Guardian

‘We need to reclaim these words': Inside England's first romance-only bookshop catering to record levels of popularity

Whether you want a brooding billionaire, a queer awakening, a dragon rider (yes, really) or an old-fashioned enemies-to-lovers tale, there's a romance novel for everybody at Saucy Books. England's first romance-only bookshop opened last week in Notting Hill, west London, instantly becoming a go-to destination for readers and turning into a meeting spot for like-minded folk to share their love stories. And although detractors have dismissed the genre as 'smut' or 'fairy porn', fans say there is nothing to blush about – these are just brilliantly written stories. What is not in doubt is their popularity: there were record sales for the 'romance and sagas' genre last year, according to data gathered from more than 7,000 UK booksellers, up to £69m in 2024. The surge in sales pushed UK fiction revenue above £1bn for the first time. 'The popularity of the store speaks for itself,' says Sarah Maxwell, the founder of Saucy Books. 'We even had to ticket our first week and give time slots to customers.' But she believes sexism is keeping the genre from the mainstream. 'There's so much snobbery and bias,' Maxwell says. 'People think it's less than or low quality, which is not true at all. These are all very high quality authors and high quality stories. 'I think there's an inherent misogyny around it. A lot of the time, the sorts of things that women like across arts and culture tends to get discounted. These books are about the female perspective and female gaze when most media is through the male gaze. 'That's why I have a smut hut, because I feel like we need to reclaim some of these words.' The smut hut, a space dedicated to erotic titles, sits in the corner, adorned with ornaments such as whipped suncream, chapstick and a placard reading 'Traders Dicks'. It's seems less like a bookstore and more a community centre. During the Guardian's visit on Thursday afternoon, dozens of women filter through the shop, browsing titles and starting conversations about their favourite authors. Most of them have learned about the store through TikTok. One customer is browsing the shelves with her mother. She says she can get through a novel in under three hours, and last year she read 300 books. Deck chairs and a tiki parasol adorn the store's perimeter, while inside brightly painted shelves hold up titles such as Swept Away, The Unhoneymooners and The Friendship Fling. 'I was really surprised that a shop like this didn't already exist,' says Maxwell, a creative strategist and former tech executive from LA. 'When I went to find books of OG romance writers, I couldn't find any of them in-store. It made me quite angry. You have these amazing authors, who carry the publishing industry – 20% of fiction sales is romance books – and they're getting no shelf space whatsoever. I felt like I needed to do something.' Many contemporary romance books are marketed under tropes such as 'enemies to lovers', 'forbidden love' and 'second chance romance'. The 'romantasy' genre (a blend of romance and fantasy) is a constant fixture on bestseller lists, largely due to the dedicated following it has gained on TikTok. Series such as Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing and Sarah J Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses (known by fans as Acotar) feature female protagonists entering high-stakes relationships in magical worlds. Jessica Roberts, a shop assistant at Saucy Books, has noticed that the current craze is for a trip to the wild west. 'Cowboy romances are very popular right now. Two girls came in their cowboy boots to purchase them yesterday,' she says. Among those visiting the store on Thursday are Rebecca Pollard and Haley Page from New York. 'I got [Haley] all the Acotar books, I think they're the best way to start. They're like a gateway drug into becoming a psycho,' Pollard laughs. 'I feel like a cult leader. I have a library at my house, and when my friends call me I'm like, 'what do you need? I've got it'. People are like, 'I'm so happy it's books for you and not drugs, because you're such a pusher'.' Page says: 'I'm a very hard sell, but she tells me something and I will listen. I'm so excited to read these, I'm taking them to Mykonos tonight. I'm going to be at the beach with my new book boyfriend, and I'll be calling Rebecca every second like 'oh my god'.' Pollard says she's been waiting desperately for the sixth book in the Acotar series. 'I would do anything to become invisible and just go and check Sarah J Maas's laptop.' And she thumbs her nose at the mainstream responses to the genre. 'I get really defensive when people use derogatory terms. Don't call it fairy porn until you've read it, because you have to wait 380 pages for a kiss in the second book of Acotar. Why is it smut, because it's centred around female pleasure? No one's saying that about Game of Thrones.' Atmosphere – Taylor Jenkins Reid The Love of My Afterlife – Kirsty Greenwood What If I Never Got Over You – Paige Toon A Court of Thorns and Roses series – Sarah J Maas Great Big Beautiful Life – Emily Henry

The Guardian

a day ago

The Guardian

‘We need to reclaim these words': Inside England's first romance-only bookshop catering to record levels of popularity

Whether you want a brooding billionaire, a queer awakening, a dragon rider (yes, really) or an old-fashioned enemies-to-lovers tale, there's a romance novel for everybody at Saucy Books. England's first romance-only bookshop opened last week in Notting Hill, west London, instantly becoming a go-to destination for readers and turning into a meeting spot for like-minded folk to share their love stories. And although detractors have dismissed the genre as 'smut' or 'fairy porn', fans say there is nothing to blush about – these are just brilliantly written stories. What is not in doubt is their popularity: there were record sales for the 'romance and sagas' genre last year, according to data gathered from more than 7,000 UK booksellers, up to £69m in 2024. The surge in sales pushed UK fiction revenue above £1bn for the first time. 'The popularity of the store speaks for itself,' says Sarah Maxwell, the founder of Saucy Books. 'We even had to ticket our first week and give time slots to customers.' But she believes sexism is keeping the genre from the mainstream. 'There's so much snobbery and bias,' Maxwell says. 'People think it's less than or low quality, which is not true at all. These are all very high quality authors and high quality stories. 'I think there's an inherent misogyny around it. A lot of the time, the sorts of things that women like across arts and culture tends to get discounted. These books are about the female perspective and female gaze when most media is through the male gaze. 'That's why I have a smut hut, because I feel like we need to reclaim some of these words.' The smut hut, a space dedicated to erotic titles, sits in the corner, adorned with ornaments such as whipped suncream, chapstick and a placard reading 'Traders Dicks'. It's seems less like a bookstore and more a community centre. During the Guardian's visit on Thursday afternoon, dozens of women filter through the shop, browsing titles and starting conversations about their favourite authors. Most of them have learned about the store through TikTok. One customer is browsing the shelves with her mother. She says she can get through a novel in under three hours, and last year she read 300 books. Deck chairs and a tiki parasol adorn the store's perimeter, while inside brightly painted shelves hold up titles such as Swept Away, The Unhoneymooners and The Friendship Fling. 'I was really surprised that a shop like this didn't already exist,' says Maxwell, a creative strategist and former tech executive from LA. 'When I went to find books of OG romance writers, I couldn't find any of them in-store. It made me quite angry. You have these amazing authors, who carry the publishing industry – 20% of fiction sales is romance books – and they're getting no shelf space whatsoever. I felt like I needed to do something.' Many contemporary romance books are marketed under tropes such as 'enemies to lovers', 'forbidden love' and 'second chance romance'. The 'romantasy' genre (a blend of romance and fantasy) is a constant fixture on bestseller lists, largely due to the dedicated following it has gained on TikTok. Series such as Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing and Sarah J Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses (known by fans as Acotar) feature female protagonists entering high-stakes relationships in magical worlds. Jessica Roberts, a shop assistant at Saucy Books, has noticed that the current craze is for a trip to the wild west. 'Cowboy romances are very popular right now. Two girls came in their cowboy boots to purchase them yesterday,' she says. Among those visiting the store on Thursday are Rebecca Pollard and Haley Page from New York. 'I got [Haley] all the Acotar books, I think they're the best way to start. They're like a gateway drug into becoming a psycho,' Pollard laughs. 'I feel like a cult leader. I have a library at my house, and when my friends call me I'm like, 'what do you need? I've got it'. People are like, 'I'm so happy it's books for you and not drugs, because you're such a pusher'.' Page says: 'I'm a very hard sell, but she tells me something and I will listen. I'm so excited to read these, I'm taking them to Mykonos tonight. I'm going to be at the beach with my new book boyfriend, and I'll be calling Rebecca every second like 'oh my god'.' Pollard says she's been waiting desperately for the sixth book in the Acotar series. 'I would do anything to become invisible and just go and check Sarah J Maas's laptop.' And she thumbs her nose at the mainstream responses to the genre. 'I get really defensive when people use derogatory terms. Don't call it fairy porn until you've read it, because you have to wait 380 pages for a kiss in the second book of Acotar. Why is it smut, because it's centred around female pleasure? No one's saying that about Game of Thrones.' Atmosphere – Taylor Jenkins Reid The Love of My Afterlife – Kirsty Greenwood What If I Never Got Over You – Paige Toon A Court of Thorns and Roses series – Sarah J Maas Great Big Beautiful Life – Emily Henry

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I started a book club to make friends — now I'm a professional bookworm

‘We need to reclaim these words': Inside England's first romance-only bookshop catering to record levels of popularity

‘We need to reclaim these words': Inside England's first romance-only bookshop catering to record levels of popularity

Major franchise development in the works for A Court of Thorns and Roses series

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I started a book club to make friends — now I'm a professional bookworm

‘We need to reclaim these words': Inside England's first romance-only bookshop catering to record levels of popularity

‘We need to reclaim these words': Inside England's first romance-only bookshop catering to record levels of popularity

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