In 2024, UK fiction revenue surpassed £1 billion for the first time, largely driven by the surge in popularity of 'romantasy' books. These novels, often described as 'smut' or 'fairy porn', particularly appeal to young women, generating sales of £69 million for 'romance and sagas'. The first dedicated bookshop, Saucy Books, recently opened in Notting Hill. Founder Sarah Maxwell highlighted the underlying sexism and bias that contribute to the dismissal of such literature, emphasizing its focus on female perspectives within predominantly male-focused media.
'The popularity of the store speaks for itself,' Sarah Maxwell, the founder of Saucy Books, told the . 'We even had to ticket our first week and give time slots to customers.'
'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,' Maxwell said.
In 2024, there were record sales of 'romance and sagas' books, making up to £69 million, pushing UK fiction revenue above £1 billion for the first time.
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