ACPL Celebrates National Book Lovers Day with a Little – No, a LOT of - Romance

Some people are looking for love in all the wrong places. At the Allen County Public Library, they’re finding it right on the shelves.

In honor of National Book Lovers Day on Aug. 9, the ACPL is celebrating one of its most popular collections: romance novels. From slow burns and second chances to cowboys, vampires, hockey players, and happily-ever-afters, the library’s romance collection has become a favorite destination for readers looking to fall head over heels for a good book.

National Book Lovers Day celebrates the joy of reading — and few genres are devoured quite as enthusiastically as romance. The ACPL’s collection includes more than 76,000 romance titles, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the library’s adult fiction collection. Readers have checked out romance books more than 5.6 million times over the years, proving once and for all that love stories never go out of style. Those stats check out when compared to demand for romance novels – they make up nearly 20% of the total fiction market. 

“Romance readers know exactly what they want — emotional intrigue, dramatic tension, and a satisfying ending,” said ACPL Collection Services Manager Matthew Etzel. “Beach reads, historical drama, inspirational romance, or fantasy – whatever they're looking for – we probably have it!”

Among the library’s most checked-out romance books are titles by beloved romance authors Nicholas Sparks and Colleen Hoover. Frequent favorites also include works by Debbie Macomber, Danielle Steel, and Nora Roberts.

The collection spans nearly every romance subgenre imaginable, including historical romance, suspense romance, paranormal romance, LGBTQ+ romance, western romance, and inspirational romance. The ACPL’s oldest romance title dates all the way back to 1892 with “Mr. Fortescue: An Andean Romance” by William Westall – because yearning is timeless.

Whether you’re in it for the meet-cutes, the heartbreak, or the steamy interludes, ACPL invites readers to celebrate National Book Lovers Day by checking out a romance novel – no judgments regardless of how dramatic the cover!

Readers can browse romance titles in print, eBook, and audiobook formats at all ACPL locations and online through www.acpl.info.