Hey, it's Empire's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbong. Anyone who follows the business behind books and publishing knows that the industry would be a complete economic mess, if not for romance. The genre is the main pillar on which the rest of the industry stands, and that's only gotten more true in the past five years or so.

So we're going to wrap our pre-valentine's week with a couple of roundtable discussions

with contemporary romance authors about what makes the genre work, how it's changed,

and tips on writing good sex scenes. First up is an interview taped on Valentine's Day,

2022, between here and now Celeste

Headley and two big names in the romance industry, Helen Huang and Emily Henry.

In a lot of ways, the discussion is a defense of the genre, an argument for why you shouldn't

dismiss it based on its popular appeal, and how it can be the perfect vehicle to examine quote more serious themes.

That's after the break.

On the TED Radio Hour, if you won the lottery, your life would be amazing, right?

So I think everyone's got a vision of what it's like to win the lottery in their head when they're playing.

The reality, of course,

is very different. Ideas about making the most of what you've got and finding agency. Listen to the TED Radio Hour on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Today is Valentine's Day,

and we just wanted to take a little trip to the wonderful world of romantic fiction.

Romance novels are often dismissed as cheesy, but the genre has provided a much-needed escape to many bookworms, especially during the pandemic.

And in between the stolen glances and the witty banter are actually thoughtful discussions of everything from dating with a disability to sex and consent.

Joining us now to help us fall a little more in love with love is New York Times bestselling author Helen Huang.

She's the author of The Kiss Quotient and its two spin-off novels, The Bride Test and The Heart Principle.

Welcome to the show, Helen.

Hi. Thanks for having me.

And we're also joined by Emily Henry, another New York Times bestseller. Her novels, Beach Read, and people we meet on vacation are adored by romance lovers everywhere. So welcome to the show, Emily.

Thanks, Celeste. Before I make the assumption that the two of you like Valentine's Day, is that true?

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