Now, trends are nothing new in romances by any stretch of the imagination. For a while, paranormal was the popular one. Then, we had billionaire romances, thanks to a certain monochromatic series. Vampires and other supernatural creatures have always been a source of fascination in the literary world, across multiple genres. And billionaires have always been around in romance; the title just changes based on the time period. That is one of the reasons that there are so many books with titles that include “duke,” “viscount,” and “earl,” among others. That said, 2022 certainly seems to be the year of the foodie romance, from Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly to Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson and Chef’s Kiss by TJ Alexander. While I read a lot of romance and even write a newsletter about it, for me to notice a trend means it is really prevalent. Here’s my take on why this topic is so popular right now. It also shouldn’t go unnoticed that these reasons are also what romance readers cite for loving romances in general. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen the thought float around that romances were comforting, I’d be a little less worried about my book buying budget. Sensuality is also huge in romance, even in off the pages ones. There, it’s all about the tease and being provocative without, if you’ll pardon the pun, rushing to the big climax. This is also true in adult romantic relationships. I’ve lost count of how many scenes I’ve seen in movies where a spouse, even if there was a huge fight before they parted in the morning, has left a plate warm for the other one when they’ve come home late. They may not be speaking to one another, but the care is still there and they still want to make sure that their partner is fed. There’s a reason we say something is made with love. Even when upset, you still care and you still want to care for them. Cooking food and providing for them is one of the best ways to do this. Food being a comfort thing is so ingrained in our society that chicken noodle soup is the first thing people recommend if you’re feeling sick. I’m sure all of us have a default food we turn to whenever we need a pick-me-up. How many movies and novels have a person eating ice cream after some huge emotional upheaval? The answer is: a lot. Then you have your reported aphrodisiacs, which adds to this idea. Oysters, anyone? Sometimes, it’s the combination of foods that can lead to a very pleasant feeling. Just think of how the first people who combined chocolate and peanut butter felt. It had to be a mind-blowing experience. The act of preparing food can be sensual as well, which is another reason it’s so common in romance novels. Even if it doesn’t always play out this way in real life, it is a fairly popular scene to put into romances. There are certain other…acts…that you have to be careful with sometimes, just as patience is needed in the kitchen. Especially if you want the desired results. It’s something that you don’t rush through and you take your time with it. Trust that the effort will be appreciated all around. And about it being a love language? Consider situations like this. I don’t know how anyone can look at that and not think that romance books can be crucial in a couple’s love language. Whether it’s going out of your way to help them keep a steady supply or just not making fun of them for reading them, it is awesome. Regardless of the reasons they’ve earned their moment in the sun right now, as a fan of foodie romances, I hope that we see more out of this trend in the coming years.
