InStyle recently dropped an article pointing to a massive trend we at OBC have known about for ages: the romance genre in books, TV, and movies is absolutely exploding because real-life dating has switched gears. People are trading in dates looking for The One for Bridgerton marathons, and swapping out ghosting for a guaranteed Happily Ever After on their Kindles.
But here is the secret to surviving the modern romance apocalypse: Compartmentalization.
We say: let fiction do the heavy lifting! Get your sweep-you-off-your-feet, rain-soaked declarations of love, and enemies-to-lovers slow-burns from your bookshelf and your Netflix queue. Fictional men don't leave their socks on the floor, they always know exactly what to say, and the banter is guaranteed to be top-tier.
Then, when it comes to the real world? Lower the stakes. Stop looking for Mr. Darcy at the local happy hour. Keep real-life dating fun, laid-back, and casual. Go out, have a few overpriced cocktails, flirt a little, and stop treating every OBC match like an audition for your soulmate.
Save the high-stakes, heart-pounding drama for your reading list. Treat real-world dating like a low-pressure hobby until you are actually ready to settle down and build a life with someone.
Until then? Leave the epic romance to the professionals (the romance authors, obviously), keep your expectations in check, and make sure your e-reader is fully charged. And if you're just looking for a fun night on the town that ends in, "see ya around," hop onto OBC. We've got your one-night-only fun covered.
And if your booty call does turn into a streaming-worthy romance? Well, that works for us too.