The 10 Most Popular Fandoms Inspired by Romance Novels

By Heat Theory • May 30, 2023 • Fanfiction

Key Takeaways

  • By sheer volume of fan works on AO3, The Vampire Diaries is the most popular romance-inspired fandom.
  • The largest romance-based fandoms share detailed world building and popular screen adaptations.

Fans

Romance novels occupy a significant place in the publishing market, captivating readers worldwide. However, within the literary fandoms on Archive of Our Own (AO3), one of the most popular fanfiction sites, romance inspires a small fraction of the creative outpouring. What causes this discrepancy, and what makes a book a popular jumping-off point for fanfiction? Here are some of the key factors:

  • Well-funded movie or TV adaptations play a crucial role in introducing fans to fictional universes.
  • Detailed world building across multiple volumes draws fans in, allowing them to immerse themselves in intricately crafted settings.
  • A large ensemble of characters maximizes opportunities for unresolved sexual tension and M/M pairings.
  • Finally, nostalgia, for example, revisiting beloved young adult literature, contributes to the appeal of popular fandoms.

A prime example of this phenomenon is the Twilight series, which birthed thousands of fics including the record-breaking Fifty Shades of Grey, originally known as "Master of the Universe." But are there other romances that have sparked similar levels of fan creativity? In this article, we delve into the top 10 fandoms driven by romance novels:

  1. The Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith: Topping the list is L. J. Smith’s vampire series, propelled by the popularity of the CW TV show. Almost 24,000 fics delve into the world of vampires, including show-developed relationships like Caroline Forbes and Klaus Mikaelson, along with a smaller fandom specific to the books. Related fandoms encompass Smith's other works including:

  2. The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare: With beloved characters Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood capturing the hearts of readers, Clare's YA fantasy series boasts an impressive 16,000+ works. The fandom expands further to include works inspired by the TV show as well as related works like:

  3. The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer: While E. L. James’s famous fic initially gained traction on FanFiction.net, the AO3 fandom dedicated to Meyer's series boasts over 10,000 works. These fics primarily explore the intense relationship between Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, both in the books and the movies.

  4. A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas: Maas’s steamy YA novels have captivated readers and will soon reach an even wider audience through an upcoming TV show. Over 8,000 works expand on the ACOTAR universe, exploring the relationships between Feyre and Rhysand, as well as Nesta and Cassian. Maas's other works also receive fan love:

  5. The Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn: The recent Netflix adaptation catapulted this series to fame, resulting in a dedicated fandom of 5,000+ fics. Fans favorites include Anthony and Kate from Season 2 of the show, closely followed by Colin and Penelope. Other works by Quinn also receive attention:

  6. The works of Jane Austen: Austen’s timeless classics, notably the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, have spawned a fandom of over 4,000 stories. Many of Austen's novels, along with their various screen adaptations, have garnered individual fandoms: Additionally, fans have expanded on the Austen universe of published tributes like:

  7. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: Claire Beauchamp and Jamie Fraser's time-traveling adventures have drawn in readers, leading to a fandom of 3,000+ works. The popular TV show based on the series also has a dedicated fandom.

  8. The works of Lois McMaster Bujold: Fans of Bujold's acclaimed Vorkosigan Saga have crafted over 3,000 works, celebrating the author's Hugo award-winning novels.

  9. Captive Prince by C. S. Pacat: Initially an online serialized novel, this series has inspired a devoted AO3 fandom of over 3,000 works. Fans craving more have crafted numerous tributes to the world of Damen and Laurent.

  10. Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: With its upcoming movie adaptation on the horizon, this romantic tale of Alex Claremont-Diaz, the US president’s son, and His Royal Highness, Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, has already sparked approximately 3,000 works on AO3. Fans have also shown appreciation for McQuiston’s One Last Stop.

    11. Other notable fandoms with a romantic focus include:

    • The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater: More than 9,000 fics on AO3 celebrate Stiefvater's series.
    • The Simon Snow series by Rainbow Rowell: With over 8,000 works, Rowell's meta exploration of fanfiction draws from her previous experience writing Drarry fics.
    • The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: This fandom boasts 2,000+ stories elaborating on the heartbreaking love story between Achilles and Patroclus.
    • Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman : The novel and its movie adaptation have amassed over 1,000 fics.

Curious about how this list compares to the top fandoms on FanFiction.net? Here are the top 10 romance and romance-adjacent fandoms on FanFiction.net:

Interested in reading the most popular romance-inspired fanfiction on AO3? We've assembled a list of the top romance novel-based fanfics.

While romance novels may not currently dominate AO3's literary fandoms, the tide is bound to shift with the increasing number of screen adaptations in the works. Fiction is a conversation between authors, exploring, responding to, and challenging the ideas and themes of past stories to forge new narratives. The rise of self-publishing and fanfiction sites has amplified these conversations to unprecedented levels. The top 10 romance novel fandoms serve as testaments to the profound impact of love stories on readers and their unwavering desire to immerse themselves further in these worlds, and these fan creations will themselves serve as inspirations for the next generation of love stories.