This is Ink & Intrigue—the blog where romance ignites, secrets simmer, and every love story hides a twist. I’m your blog host, Sheila Kell, romance author and lover of plot twists, slow burns, and morally questionable book boyfriends.
Today, I’m thrilled to discuss 10 signs you’re a romance reader. Romance readers are a special breed. We live for swoony moments, we cheer for happy endings, and we know that “just one more chapter” is a dangerous lie we tell ourselves at midnight. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re truly part of the romance reader club…here are 10 signs that give it away.
1. You Judge a Book by Its Hero
Tall, brooding protector? Check. Charming bad boy with a hidden heart of gold? Double check. You know your favorite trope the way some people know their coffee order.
2. You’ve Mastered the One-More-Chapter Lie
It’s 11 p.m. You promise yourself one more chapter. Suddenly, it’s 3 a.m., you’re emotionally destroyed, and you wouldn’t change a thing.
3. You Get Secondhand Butterflies
When fictional characters finally touch, kiss, or confess their love—you’re grinning like it’s happening to you. (Because in your heart, it is.)
4. You’re a Trope Expert
Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fake marriage, age gap—you can name them, rank them, and debate them like a professional.
5. You Highlight the Swoon
Your books (or e-reader) are filled with tabs, highlights, and dog-eared pages marking your favorite lines. You can quote them like poetry.
6. You Love the Journey as Much as the Destination
Sure, you crave that happily-ever-after. But it’s the banter, the tension, the longing looks, and the stolen moments along the way that keep you hooked.
7. You Have Strong Opinions About Covers
You know exactly what you like—moody and suspenseful, illustrated and fun, or full-on abs. And you’re not shy about defending your preference.
8. You Believe in Book Boyfriends
Yes, you know they’re fictional. No, you don’t care. Your book boyfriend understands you better than most real-life dates.
9. You Feel Everything
Tears? Check. Screaming at the page? Double check. Clutching the book to your chest like it personally saved your soul? Absolutely.
10. You Always Want More
There’s no such thing as “too many books.” Your TBR pile could topple over and crush you, and you’d still add another romance to the stack.
Final Thought
If you nodded, laughed, or blushed at even half of these signs—congratulations. You’re officially a romance reader, and you’re in good company. Welcome to the club where love always wins, the tension always sizzles, and every story promises a happily-ever-after worth fighting for.
Thanks for joining me on Ink & Intrigue, where romance and suspense go hand in hand.
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Want more behind-the-scenes content, writing tips, or a peek into my books? Visit sheilakell.com or follow me on social media at @sheilakellbooks.
Until next time—keep writing, keep swooning, and remember: every heart has a secret.