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It turns out New Yorkers are romantic at their core.
According to a new study by Cloudwards, a site that reviews cloud services and apps, New York’s favorite genre to read is romance.
We’re not alone: romance dominates as the most popular genre across the U.S., especially in the southern states. In fact, it is the most-searched book type in half the nation (22 states, to be precise). Looks like we do have something in common with out-of-towners.
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Cloudwards used Google Trends data from the past 12 months to determine the most searched book genres in each state (and D.C.), but the site also noted that it didn’t take into account purchasing or reading behavior. The data is, then, just an indicator of curiosity and intent.
“What drives this widespread affection for romantic fiction?” Cloudwards asks. “Several factors could be involved, including the genre's emotional accessibility, happy endings and loyal readership. Romance readers are among the most voracious consumers of books, often reading multiple titles per month.”
From Nora Roberts, whose newest books The Bride Quartet and The Chesapeake Bay Saga, are clearly go-to choices, to Nicholas Sparks, of The Notebook and A Walk to Remember, the genre has also fueled a popular movie category.
When looking at our neighboring states, New Jersey’s favorite genre is fantasy and Pennsylvanians tend to read poetry.
In the mood to read some romance? Head to our favorite bookstores, including Books Are Magic, Astoria Bookshop, and of course, The Ripped Bodice to stock up!