There’s a conversation I’ve been hearing with increasing volume lately—on forums, in reviews, whispered between lines in publisher catalogs: Romance is taking over science fiction.
You’ve probably noticed it too. Once the domain of hard-nosed engineers, distant stars, and sprawling battlescapes, science fiction is now rife with longing stares across alien jungles, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers in zero gravity, and yes, spice levels high enough to power a starship.
And depending on who you ask, this is either a crisis or a renaissance.
A Personal Perspective from Both Sides
Until two years ago, I maintained strict genre boundaries. Cameron Cooper—my science fiction identity—stayed firmly in the non-romantic lane. Meanwhile, as Tracy Cooper-Posey, I built complex, emotionally driven worlds steeped in romantic arcs and speculative settings. These were two different universes. Two readerships. Two languages.
Or so I thought.
Coming out publicly as the author behind both personas has given me a rare vantage point: watching, in real time, the walls between genres soften. Not dissolve—but stretch. Romance in science fiction isn’t a takeover. It’s an infusion. A graft that’s thriving.
The Original “Cozy” Genre?
Here’s a theory I’ve been mulling: Romance might be the original cozy genre.
Long before “cozy fantasy” became a hot trend—offering tea shops and quiet quests instead of apocalypses—romance was already delivering tight, intimate, and profoundly human stories. Regardless of setting or trope, romance is about connection. It thrives on nuance. And in that way, it’s deeply compatible with science fiction.
Because let’s be honest: all the sweeping space operas and dystopian rebellions mean very little if we don’t care about the people inside them. Romance doesn’t just add heat—it adds heart.
Not a Niche—A Foundation
Consider this: Romance writers are full, recognized members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. That’s not tokenism. That’s institutional validation. And for good reason.
Romance isn’t just tagging along with the genre boom—it’s pulling the cart. With romantasy fueling TikTok’s book scene, and sapphic space operas finding loyal followings, it’s clear that emotional arcs and personal stakes aren’t diluting science fiction—they’re giving it gravity. Something to orbit.
What Gets Dismissed Is Often What Works
It’s tempting to mock “spicy space opera” or roll eyes at yet another forbidden alien love story. But behind the covers and tropes is often tight, original world-building and thematic bravery. Romance allows readers to engage with speculative concepts through deeply personal lenses: identity, loyalty, intimacy, survival. It humanizes the abstract.
And at a time when many “pure” science fiction releases struggle to gain traction unless backed by a franchise or a streaming service, romantic SF consistently finds its readers. It connects. It sells. It stays.
A Genre Saved by Its Heart?
Is romance saving science fiction? That might be too tidy a statement—but I’ll say this:
Romance is keeping genre fiction alive. Not just SF. All of it.
And in a marketplace that’s more competitive, fragmented, and unpredictable than ever, that kind of vitality deserves not just respect—but celebration.
Especially from those of us who’ve lived on both sides of the supposed divide.
Have you tried science fiction romance yet?
If not, here’s my challenge to you: read one.
In fact, I’ll make it easy—Faring Soul, the first book in my Interspace Origins series (written as Tracy Cooper-Posey), is completely free.
If you love tight plots, sharp tech, and characters who fall in love while facing down the stars… give it a try.
You might just find there’s room in your heart—and your bookshelves—for a little gravity.
And if you do accept my challenge, feel free to email me, or come back here and leave a comment, telling me what you think.
You could really pay it forward by leaving a review where you acquire the book, too. 🙂
Latest releases:
Quiet Like Fire
Solar Whisper
Ptolemy Lane Tales Omnibus