In view of the long queue of young women waiting patiently in the auditorium of the Jean Vautrin media library, there was no doubt that the authors Rosa Mia, Alicia Garnier and the duo of novelists writing under the pen name of Emma Green was eagerly awaited…
At the Gradignan Read in Pocket festival, between the thrillers and novels offered on the theme of exiles, “New Romance” is now a genre that matters.
For several years now, this literary phenomenon, which appeared in the Anglo-Saxon world a few years ago with the emblematic “50 Shades of Grey” by EL James, “After” by Anna Todd or “Our Tormented Souls” by Morgane Moncomble fills the shelves and grabs the top spots in the platforms’ best sellers.
As its name suggests, New Romance features stories centered essentially around romantic relationships, often a little more daring and “realistic” than simple romance novels. “There is a spicy, sulphurous side, which I love enormously, it’s not just a fairy tale”, estimates Charlen with a smile, holding without his hands “10 good reasons to hate you”, from Emma Green.
Alicia Garnier, Rosa Mia and the duo behind Emma Green during an interview with Lire en Poche.
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Especially since the distance between the author and his fans seems much more tenuous, many writers having started their careers on YouTube, such as Alicia Garnier, TikTok or the social network dedicated to the publication of stories, Wattpad.
Social topics
Despite their front cover and the titles chosen, the authors deny writing only flowery stories. “What I write is centered on romantic relationships, readers know what will happen at the end,” develops Rose Maria, author of “High Lover” and “A Slight Misunderstanding.” “For us, the pretext, which we find in a ton of other novels, becomes the main issue, but at the same time, thanks to that, we can evoke many underlying themes. »
Gradignan: a black pocket book like a thriller
From Friday October 11 to Sunday October 13, the Read in Pocket festival is being held on the theme “Exiles”. Three days of meetings with around a hundred guest authors, concerts, readings, events, workshops, signings…
The Romance would thus seek to break certain codes or clichés chained to the genre, centering its main characters, predominantly female – like its readership – on important modern societal issues: fatphobia, toxic masculinity, harassment, etc.
“The genre speaks about us, about our sisters, about our readers. It’s not the destination that’s the end goal, but the journey,” explains Emma Green, believing that behind most of the criticism and mockery lies a form of “misogyny.” “We don’t do ‘good woman’s reading’, we talk about real things, without cliché or prejudice.”
On the program this Sunday
For this closing day, the 2024 edition of Lire en Poche receives several big names, including Goncourt prizes. Thus, Brigitte Giraud, in a cross-interview with Véronique Ovaldé, will be in the large room of the theater at 10:30 a.m., before Hervé Le Tellier at 11:30 a.m. In the same room, at 3 p.m., Sylvain Tesson will answer questions about his latest work “White”. Yasmina Khadra, sponsor of the festival this year, will give her carte blanche to Lilia Hassaine at 11:30 a.m. at the literary café. Note the absence of Virginie Grimaldi, although announced in the program.
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