The Bromance Book Club

Romance novels serve as a crucial symbol in The Bromance Book Club, representing The Importance of Communication and the challenges posed by Gendered Stereotypes and Norms. Traditionally associated with female readers, romance novels are sometimes considered frivolous. This stereotype extends to men, too. When the book club first hands Gavin a romance novel, he instinctively assumes the men are mocking him, revealing how deeply ingrained the notions that romance novels lack literary value and are exclusively for women are.

However, the members of the book club quickly dismantle this misconception. They explain to Gavin that novels of romance “are primarily written by women for women, and they’re entirely about how they want to be treated […] We read them to be more comfortable expressing ourselves and to look at things from their perspective” (34). This insight highlights one of the novel’s broader ideas: Romance novels are not trivial, because they are filled with “universal truths” about relationships, love, and emotional connection. The men in the club use these novels to better communicate with their partners, see things from a woman’s perspective, and understand their emotional needs more deeply.