#finding-prince-charming

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fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

William Shakespeare's Romeo+Juliet review Baz Luhrmann's joyful tragedy is still extravagantly full of life

Baz Luhrmann reinvented Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet as a gangbanger love tragedy of the present day, with Mexico City standing in for an imaginary urban place called Verona Beach. The result was a terrific success, more of a success, I suspect, than Luhrmann ever had again; it was irreverent and questioning in just the right way, a sunburst of energy, but instinctively respectful to the story.
Film
Television
fromThe Atlantic
2 weeks ago

The People Are Starved for Romance

Vladimir fails to deliver genuine chemistry and emotional connection, relying instead on superficial motifs of desire and repetitive fantasies.
#romance-tropes
Books
fromScary Mommy
2 weeks ago

Why Do Women Love Romance Tropes That Would Be Red Flags IRL? Experts Explain

Women enjoy romance tropes featuring controlling behavior, stalking, and morally gray characters because books reveal characters' benign intentions and safe outcomes, allowing safe exploration of intense emotions impossible in real life.
Books
fromScary Mommy
2 weeks ago

Why Do Women Love Romance Tropes That Would Be Red Flags IRL? Experts Explain

Women enjoy romance tropes featuring controlling behavior, stalking, and morally gray characters because books reveal characters' benign intentions and safe outcomes, allowing safe exploration of intense emotions impossible in real life.
Writing
fromBig Think
2 weeks ago

The medieval "love story" that was really a tale of psychological abuse

Resilience is essential in facing challenges, as exemplified by Odysseus and Penelope's enduring hope and strength during their long separations.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
2 weeks ago

I've Fallen in Love. But This Is the One Sort of Person I'm Not "Supposed" to Be With.

Sexual orientation and romantic attraction can be fluid and evolve throughout life; mutual love and attraction are valuable regardless of how they fit previous self-definitions.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
2 weeks ago

The Guy I'm Seeing Says I'm the "Exception" to Everything He Likes in Bed. Uh, Is This a Red Flag?

A partner's past mistreatment of other women is a significant red flag, regardless of how well he currently treats you.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
2 weeks ago

Is Making Love Different from Just Having Sex?

Making love differs from casual sex through patience, emotional intimacy, and temporal richness, involving slower, more tender interactions and deeper connection.
Miscellaneous
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Is Romance on TV Ruining My Chances for a Relationship?

Television romance depicts the initial spark of attraction but omits the sustained investment and effort required for lasting, healthy relationships.
#booktok
fromSlate Magazine
4 weeks ago
Books

Something Strange Is Happening With Books. It Could Reshape Literary Culture.

BookTok readers increasingly prefer first-person narrative perspective in romance and fantasy novels, viewing third-person narration as unnecessarily complex and off-putting.
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago
Books

Love, desire and community: the new generation of readers bonding over romance novels

Australian online book communities have rapidly grown since 2020, driving pop-up events, fan merchandise and a young, predominantly female romance and romantasy readership.
Books
fromSlate Magazine
4 weeks ago

Something Strange Is Happening With Books. It Could Reshape Literary Culture.

BookTok readers increasingly prefer first-person narrative perspective in romance and fantasy novels, viewing third-person narration as unnecessarily complex and off-putting.
Relationships
fromBustle
3 weeks ago

I Regret Saying Yes To My Boyfriend's Proposal

Uncertainty about marriage after saying yes indicates misalignment between personal aspirations and relationship expectations that requires honest communication before proceeding.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
3 weeks ago

When Love Turns Into Romantic Fixation

Romantic fixation tricks the brain into believing another person is necessary for emotional regulation, causing loss of autonomy and self-identity that transforms relationships from enriching to painful.
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

The Death of Romance?

According to a 2025 poll by Rassmussen, 37% of single adults under 30 in the US report that they are "not interested" in dating at all. It appears that many young Americans have effectively given up on romance. This begs the question of why so many young people would forego one of the most basic physical, social, and emotional human needs: an intimate relationship with a loving partner.
Miscellaneous
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Are Romantic Couples Really the Winners?

The researchers think it is fine to tell you only about the time it took each participant to get out of the box. After all, it is a study of box-escaping skill. Often, there is a highly relevant context to the story that is not mentioned. In my hypothetical example, it looks like this: The single person is in the box on the left. The door is shut, and there are boulders in front of it. The top of the box is taped shut.
Psychology
Music
fromwww.npr.org
1 month ago

Why music has become such a big part of the romance novel reading experience

Romance novel readers increasingly use pop music playlists to enhance their reading experiences, creating a community that bridges book fandom and music fandom, exemplified by Charli XCX's Wuthering Heights album.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
3 weeks ago

We've Always Been Mesmerized by Stories of How Couples Met. There's a Far More Interesting Question to Ask.

Modern couples increasingly meet online through apps and websites rather than through romantic meet-cute scenarios, contradicting traditional storytelling expectations about how relationships begin.
Books
fromThe Atlantic
1 month ago

When Did Literature Get Less Dirty?

Philip Roth's Zuckerman Unbound functioned as a response to the controversial reception of Portnoy's Complaint, with Roth's protagonist expressing regret over writing sexually explicit material that drew accusations of anti-Semitism and misogyny.
Relationships
fromBustle
1 month ago

"Choremancing" Is The New Low-Key Way To Date

Choremancing—dating while doing everyday chores together—is becoming popular as an affordable, low-pressure alternative to traditional first dates that reveals genuine compatibility and life skills.
Relationships
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

A moment that changed me: my girlfriend criticised my kisses and it led to the best decision of my life

A young smoker quit a two-pack-a-day habit after his girlfriend refused to kiss him, finding her disapproval more motivating than health concerns.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

What Puts a Woman in the Mood?

The mind is the primary sex organ for women, serving as the gatekeeper for physical intimacy, and emotional connection with a partner significantly increases sexual desire.
LGBT
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

I'm Some People's Ultimate Fantasy. So Why Do They Run for the Hills When They Meet Me?

Take initiative on dates by signaling sexual interest through innuendo or direct proposition instead of letting shyness block opportunities.
Higher education
fromIndependent
1 month ago

College sweethearts who actually went the distance - and what their stories reveal about long-lasting love

University environments foster lasting relationships through shared social circles, frequent proximity, and joint academic and social experiences.
Relationships
fromMail Online
1 month ago

What's YOUR flirting style? Scientists reveal 6 key pulling tactics

Scientists identified six distinct flirting tactics: imagined future, metalinguistic reference, self-praise, humour, sexual innuendo, and additional categories used to signal romantic or sexual interest.
Film
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Sex, sleep and scrolling: real reasons men watch romantic movies, according to survey

Men watch romantic films at home to feel closer to partners, avoid conflict, or for potential sexual outcomes, while women report different primary motivations.
Travel
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

It feels as if I'm in a Richard Curtis film': readers' favourite romantic trips in Europe

Mediterranean sunsets, island silence and dramatic highland landscapes create unforgettable, romantic travel experiences centered on food, local culture and atmospheric historic hotels.
Relationships
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Excruciating but worth it: How a decades-old cult dating book helped me find love

A seven-week self-help workbook guides single people through exercises to attract romantic partners by addressing mindset, availability, and relationship readiness.
fromThe Atlantic
2 months ago

A Romance That Actually Takes Sex Seriously

When I first heard of Heated Rivalry, I didn't think much about it. The words Canadian ice-hockey TV series slid into my brain and slipped right back out. But a week later, approximately everyone I'd ever met wanted to talk about it. People kept telling me that it was fun, sweet, and addicting. Most of all, they emphasized that it was really smutty. Every recommendation seemed to come with a warning to not watch with my parents.
Television
Philosophy
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Is Romantic Curiosity a Virtue?

Romantic dating and shopping are both goal-directed; romantic window-shopping delivers short-term enjoyment from curiosity but rarely leads to long-term relationship outcomes.
LGBT
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

Help! Everyone Says They Want What "Me and My Boyfriend Have." If They Only Knew the Truth...

A young woman struggles with being gay while in a long-term heterosexual relationship and seeks authenticity, fearing family and friend disappointment and loss of identity.
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

You See Your Crush. You Lock Eyes. You Hold Your Gaze. Then You Do the Most 2026 Thing Possible.

The English language is a marvelous thing. In just the past few years, we've been treated to the invention of words or terms that have captured new technologies or given voice to how it feels to be alive in 2026: rage bait, rizz, slop, hard pants, nepo baby, brain rot. But occasionally, new phrases arise that describe something much older-perhaps even ancient-to which no one has given a name.
#blind-dating
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Myths About Attraction to Forget Before Valentine's Day

Personality similarity, physiological synchrony, and shared traits strongly predict romantic attraction, refuting the 'opposites attract' idea.
LGBT
fromQueerty
1 month ago

The Myth of Greek Sex: How Oscar Wilde, some steamy classics & a century of bias rewrote ancient queer love - Queerty

Homophobia in the West originated across the ancient Mediterranean amid crises—inequality, fear, and obsession with self-control—transforming previously accepted queer love into sin.
fromwww.nytimes.com
1 month ago

Movies to Watch if You Love (or Hate) Valentine's Day

When people bemoan the state of the 21st Century rom-com, they usually haven't seen this gem starring Jack Quaid and Maya Erskine as college buddies who decide to be each other's dates for multiple weddings over the course of one summer. Sure, the ending is basically predetermined, but the execution is pure joy, with a snappy script and lead performances that make you wish these two actors had made five more movies like this.
Film
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

How to Win at the Game of Love With Competitive Flirting

Flirting serves multiple adaptive functions: attracting mates by signaling erotic availability, deterring rivals by implying commitment, and manipulating social or material advantages.
Books
fromwww.nytimes.com
1 month ago

Romance Glossary: An A-Z Guide of Tropes and Themes to Find Your Next Book

Lists 101 romance-genre terms (e.g., cinnamon roll, shadow daddy, fae) to help readers identify subgenres and find recommended books.
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

The Secret to Getting Beyond the First Date

Have you ever sat across from someone who you felt was challenging or having a funny reaction to you? These are emotional reactions that are probably not fully under conscious control. Otherwise, you would probably just be amused by other people's quirks and reactions and not "feel" any particular way about them. (And, no, I am not saying to ignore your serial killer vibes-if you get those, run away!)
Psychology
Books
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

His favourite book was by Jordan Peterson, which was a massive ick': how books perform on dating apps

Book mentions on dating profiles act as fast cultural signals of taste, personality and worldview that shape attraction and matching on dating apps.
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Burn Your Romance Novels!

The short answer is yes, unless you take fiction for what it is-fiction. When you long for something you don't have, it can lead to dissatisfaction with what you DO have. Romantic fiction has witty, heartfelt dialogue, buckets of romantic gestures, and protagonists who have a preternatural ability to read each other's minds. It's easy to forget it is not real. This can set up unrealistic expectations both conscious and unconscious.
Relationships
Psychology
fromMail Online
1 month ago

Revealed: What your sexual fantasies say about you

Frequent sexual fantasies associate with higher neuroticism and depression risk, while infrequent fantasies link to greater conscientiousness or agreeableness.
Books
fromBustle
1 month ago

The Surprisingly Hot Case for Condoms in Romance Novels

Including condoms and sexual safety in romance novels normalizes protection and can influence readers' real-world sexual behavior and expectations.
fromJezebel
1 month ago

Congrats to This Couple for Entering the 'Fling' Stage

After St. Barts, Brady told People: "You know what? I don't have much time for a personal life or much time for myself, but I love working, and I love my kids," effectively brushing off the rumors. However, that peace didn't last long as the two were spotted a few weeks later dancing and chatting at a Super Bowl after-party.
Relationships
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Why Dating and Relationships Can Be Awkward and Embarrassing

Awkward dating conversations stem from face threats to positive and negative self-image, and indirect, face-saving strategies reduce discomfort and improve initiating, intensifying, and ending relationships.
Books
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Why "Heart the Lover" Resonates With So Many People

Heart the Lover captures the innocence and complexity of youthful exploration and the tender, fragile nature of young love.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

I'm a Woman in My Late-50s. I Can't Believe What These Young, Hot Men Want From Me.

Many younger men seek sexual encounters with significantly older, confident partners; clear boundaries and partner-led choices can reduce insecurity and maintain control.
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

What Does Dating With 'Chalance' Mean?

"Chalant" isn't really an official word. You won't find it listed in the thesaurus as the opposite of nonchalant-just like "theless" won't be listed as the antonym of nonetheless. Nonetheless, people have been using words like "chalant" and "chalance" on social media and dating apps to describe an approach to dating that's the opposite of the nonchalance that's been fostered by some traditional dating advice and recent common dating situations like, well, situationships.
Relationships
Books
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Chosen Family by Madeleine Gray review friends, lovers or something in between?

A complex, humorous portrayal of a lifelong relationship between two women, tracing childhood friendship, betrayal, queer awakening, co-parenting, and mysterious absence.
Books
fromwww.scientificamerican.com
1 month ago

8 romance novels for readers who love science, too

Romantic novels blend rigorous science and emotional narrative across diverse settings, balancing scientific detail with humor, satire, and varied genre influences.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

I Always Used to Love Hearing About My Single Friends' Sex Romps. Something Has Changed.

Sex jealousy stems from comparing a committed relationship to others' sexual experiences and can be eased by increasing intimacy, introducing novelty, or finding external excitement.
#relationships
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago
Relationships

Help! My New Boyfriend Is Transforming Me Into a More Powerful Version of Myself. Everyone Says It's a Bad Sign.

fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago
Relationships

Help! My New Boyfriend Is Transforming Me Into a More Powerful Version of Myself. Everyone Says It's a Bad Sign.

fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Three Roads Diverged in Romantic Life

Profound love is about the desire to live with a partner who can thrive in a mutual relationship. Sometimes, life wins out over love, and one partner may say, "I will always love you, but we cannot flourish together." Profound love isn't always synonymous with long-term love; some couples divorce despite deep affection. The heart of enduring love is the capacity to bring out the best in each other.
Relationships
#dating
fromIndependent
2 months ago
Relationships

Modern Morals: I'm torn between a reliable guy who doesn't excite me and a chaotic, passionate one - who should I chose?

fromIndependent
2 months ago
Relationships

Modern Morals: I'm torn between a reliable guy who doesn't excite me and a chaotic, passionate one - who should I chose?

#choremancing
#passionate-love
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Suitability Is the Name of the Romantic Game

Partner value combines stand-alone traits and personal suitability, with suitability and relational qualities like kindness ultimately determining long-term romantic success.
Relationships
fromThe Atlantic
1 month ago

Most People Don't Have a 'Type'

People's stated partner preferences often differ from who they actually fall for; attraction frequently arises to partners lacking declared must-haves.
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Readers replies: how can we learn from unrequited love?

True love is not transactional. If we only love on the expectation of being loved back, then it is not love, it is bartering. Love is unconditional. I love you, and that is all and everything. You do not need to do anything. You do not need to reciprocate. You do not even need to know.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

The Pros and Cons of an 'Explorationship' in Dating

An explorationship is when you and someone else are exploring the possibility of a committed relationship. You've gone a little-or maybe a lot-beyond the just-going-out-on-dates-with-each-other phase. There may already be kissing and holding hands. There may already be couple-ish things that you do together. There may even be a little bedroom rodeo stuff or a lot of it. But you still aren't quite ready to call each other a significant other yet-even though the two of you are giving such a possibility significant consideration.
Relationships
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Kissing Is Magic: Why Your Relationship Needs a Smooch Reset

A daily long kiss reduces stress, boosts oxytocin and trust, and reconnects partners by moving attention from the head into the body.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

If You Want a Second Date, Avoid These Things on the First

Make a strong, punctual, and appropriately dressed first-date impression by avoiding risqué behavior, arriving on time, and moderating appearance and distance.
Relationships
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

What Porn, Affairs, and Early Romance Teach Us About Desire

Passion intensifies when uncertainty, vulnerability, and risk are present, whereas safety and predictability in long-term relationships often diminish erotic intensity.
#retromancing
Relationships
fromIndependent
1 month ago

Asking for a friend: I've caught feelings for the guy I've been having a fling with. It's been mostly just sexual but I think we could be more. Should I risk telling him?

A casual fling shifted into unreciprocated romantic feelings, and revealing those feelings risks losing the connection but might also uncover mutual feelings.
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

Everyone Says There's a "Right" Way for Women to Get Engaged. I Found Out What Happens When You Ignore It.

I really feel like the cultural norm around proposals is fundamentally silly and outdated. I wish more people would consider that women can propose too! It doesn't have to come from the male partner in heterosexual relationships. I asked my now-husband to marry me, and it was the best choice I've ever made. I think it's really interesting that this wasn't even mentioned in your advice-which goes to show how embedded this heteronormative idea about who gets to propose really is.
Relationships
Relationships
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Blind date: Numbers have been exchanged and dates have been suggested'

Two strangers enjoyed a warm, conversation-filled blind date, shared food, kissed, rated it 10/10, and plan to meet again.
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Have We Fallen Out of Love With Valentine's Day?

My daughter came home from school the other day, talking about having to go get Valentine's Day cards. Ugh, oh yeah ... that time of year again. I'll need to get my wife a card as well, I suppose. I know how that "I suppose" might sound, but it's not what you think. My wife actually thinks they're a waste of money. The card is more for the kids than anyone.
Relationships
Relationships
fromSilicon Canals
1 month ago

More women are proposing to men-and it's not a trend, it's a transformation - Silicon Canals

An increasing number of women are choosing to propose, signaling shifting relationship norms, power dynamics, and greater agency in modern partnerships.
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