More Romance Novels Being Adapted For Streaming Than Ever, Ampere Finds
TV audiences love a bit of romance, but in 2026 they want their romance to be fictional, and preferably adapted from a novel.
Research from Ampere Analyis has found that the vast majority of romance shows on global streamers are now scripted, while book adaptations have soared. Unscripted reality TV has, at the same time, dipped.
With the success of the likes of Heated Rivalry, Off Campus and of course Bridgerton, this doesn’t come as a huge surprise.
Over the past year, the volume of first-run book adaptations has shot up by a hefty 73%, according to Ampere, while book adaptations have accounted for more than 40% of scripted romance commissions since the first half of last year.
Amazon and Netflix are leading the trend, accounting for half of the overall romance shows, the majority of which are greenlit out of the U.S.
Unsurprisingly, Ampere cited BookTok, the growing trend of hit novels that gain traction on TikTok and are subsequently picked up for adaptation for TV. Nearly one third of 18-24 year old respondents to Ampere’s survey said social media influences their viewing choices. “The growth of social media has given rise to communities with shared interests, such as BookTok, which is transforming how young audiences discover, engage with, and share cultural content,” added Ampere.
Scripted romance has “proved unusually resilient among younger audiences, maintaining the same level of appeal among 18-24s since 2020, while interest in several other major genres has declined,” added the research firm.
Ampere’s research appeared to suggest that the influx of romance book adaptations and romance drama in general has dulled the appetite for reality shows about love.
Where a few years ago there was an almost equal balance between reality and scripted romance on streaming, that figure has now moved to 83% for scripted romance.
Mariana Enriquez Denton Bustinza, Senior Analyst at Ampere, said: “The continued success of these titles has encouraged global streamers to rethink their commissioning approach to new romance content, moving away from reality TV and towards higher-budget scripted shows with established fan bases. Romance and its book adaptations target a younger demographic that has become increasingly visible on social media. By tapping into these online communities, streamers improve their show’s chances of success and ensure longevity through sustained fan interactions and commentary.”
