Could Romantic Comedy Books Actually Improve Your Health? (Science Says Yes)

By Suzy K Quinn

You know that warm, fizzy feeling you get when you’re reading a great rom com book—the one that makes you laugh out loud, root for love, and maybe even stay up way past your bedtime?

Well, it turns out that feeling might be doing more than just making your evening more enjoyable. It might actually be good for your health.

Yes, really. Science has spoken. And as someone who writes romantic comedy books for a living, I feel very smug about this.

1. Laughter reduces stress (and rom coms are full of it)

Not just romantic tension—actual laughter. Studies from the Mayo Clinic show that laughter activates and relieves your stress response, lowers cortisol (the stress hormone), and even improves immune function. Harvard Health backs this up, saying a good laugh can relax your muscles for up to 45 minutes.

So, next time someone rolls their eyes at your latest rom com read? Just tell them you’re biohacking your nervous system, thank you very much.

2. Feel-good fiction can reduce symptoms of depression

A 2021 study in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that reading uplifting fiction improved emotional regulation and reduced symptoms of mild depression. Rom com books, with their optimism, heart, and humour, fit this category beautifully.

And let’s be honest—when your brain’s been stuck in a spiral of laundry, deadlines, and doomscrolling, isn’t it healing to spend a few hours in a world where the biggest problem is whether the hot bartender will kiss the single mum by chapter nine?

3. Reading strengthens your brain (and makes you live longer)

A 2016 Yale study found that reading books—just 30 minutes a day—was associated with a 23% reduction in mortality over 12 years. Not bad for something you can do in bed in your pyjamas with a glass of wine.

And guess what kind of books participants were more likely to stick with consistently? Yep—fiction. And within fiction? Let’s just say romantic comedy books are among the most bingeable.

4. Emotional connection = mental resilience

Romantic comedies are often dismissed as “light” or “fluffy.” But actually, they’re stories about hope. About human connection. About overcoming mistakes and learning to trust again. That kind of narrative strengthens emotional resilience—especially during tough times.

In fact, therapists sometimes prescribe uplifting fiction as part of a treatment plan for anxiety and low mood. They even have a name for it: bibliotherapy.

Who needs therapy when you have banter, sexual tension, and a well-timed dog-walking scene?

(Okay, maybe still go to therapy. But bring a rom com for the waiting room.)

TL;DR: Romantic comedy books are a wellness hack.

They help your heart (emotionally), your brain (cognitively), and your hormones (calmly). So if anyone asks why you're reading Bad Mother's Diary or The Surprise Heir and the Secret Baby, tell them you’re on a self-care programme with proven medical benefits.

And then ask if they’d like to borrow it when you’re done.

With love, laughter, and doctor-approved book binges,Suzy K Quinn

P.S. Want to improve your health starting tonight? Browse my collection of romantic comedy books here. Your nervous system will thank you.