Welcome to Smart Romance
I’m so glad you’re here.
For far too long, love stories haven’t gotten their due. They’ve been dismissed as frivolous, shelved with a wink, reviewed with caveats—if at all. But the truth is: romance novels are some of the most emotionally complex, culturally relevant, and narratively sharp books being written today. They deserve real attention. Serious conversation. Literary criticism with heart.
That’s where Smart Romance comes in.
This is where literary analysis meets the love story. Every Tuesday, I publish a new essay that treats romance with the rigor it deserves—whether it’s unpacking a single author’s arc, tracing the tension in a standout scene, spotlighting a criminally overlooked book, or lingering on a line that stops me in my tracks.
Subscribe, share, stay awhile. Let’s read love stories like they matter—because they do.
I’m Rena Rani: a writer, lifelong romance reader, and debut novelist. I started Smart Romance because I wanted the kind of writing I couldn’t find anywhere else—critical but loving, rigorous but readable. Think Tressie McMillan Cottom meets Book Lovers. (Minus the khakis.)
If you’re the kind of reader who highlights your paperbacks, debates trope execution over brunch, or just loves a well-turned sentence—you’re in the right place.
Smart Romance is brand new—but growing fast. If you believe love stories deserve thoughtful criticism, help spread the word. Share with a reader, a writer, or a friend who sees romance the way we do. 💌
