Can romance novels solve the straight man reading crisis?

A 2025 survey by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) found that only 25% of men read fiction, a sharp decline from previous years.

This trend is part of a broader cultural shift where straight men, in particular, are reading less fiction compared to other genres like history, crime, or self-help.

The phenomenon has been dubbed the 'straight man reading crisis,' with some critics attributing it to a lack of relatable male protagonists in literature.

Others argue that while such protagonists exist, they are often portrayed in unflattering ways, such as in Tony Tulathimutte’s 2024 novel Rejection, which depicts the male psyche as deeply flawed.

The literary world remains uncertain about what straight men seek in fiction today, with theories ranging from adrenaline-driven plots to practical advice like pickup lines.