What is storybooking trend? The Bridgerton-inspired return of slow-burn romance

Have you ever watched a smouldering and slow-burn romance unflod on the screen and wondered 'why can't my love life look like as amazing as this', you're not alone. The lingering eye contact. The almost confession. The emotional tension that spreads across episodes. The Meaningful gestures. The love build up. The corsets and candlelight. Well, that fantasy now has a name.

There's a new dating trend/term that has been coined on Bumble called Storybooking, and it's basically dating like you are in a period drama - just with Wi-Fi and WhatsApp.

In simple language, storybooking is leaning into classic romantic cliches - which means there are slow burns and not instant spark, clear devotion and no mixed signals, grand gestures and not left on seen texts, emotional availability instead of 'I am bad at texting'. It's less "last seen at 1:40 am" and more "I am downstairs in the car because I missed you".



As per dating platform Bumble, half of the women say love stories in film and TV influence their dating preferences, from who they choose to date to the standards they expect in relationships - which also makes sense.

Bumble sexologist Chantelle Otten told Vice that storybooking shows that singles are consciously choosing romance on their own terms and are also clear about their boundaries. So no, it's not delusion. It's intention.

Let's be honest. Dating in 2016 feels like a side quest that no one signed up for. It involves ghosting, breadcrumbing, situationships, and emotional unavailability that need Google Docs to decode. I mean, we have been through the low-effort era. We have survived the "no labels, just vibes" phase. And we are tired. Now, nonchalance is officially out and emotional availability is back in.



We are also living in the peak high-drama romance session. The new adaptation of Wuthering Heights starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi has reignited obsessive and operatic love stories. Meanwhile, Bridgerton continues to deliver longing stares, extended pining arcs and grand declarations. When fictional men are writing letters, making speeches and choosing their person loudly, it's natural to want that same energy in real life. If Heathcliff can cross moors in emotional torment, someone can plan a thoughtful date and reply on time for sure. The bar hasn't become unrealistic. It's just being remembered now.

On the surface, storybooking looks like fantasy-driven dating. But underneath, it's something else. Gen Z grew up hyper-consuming love stories. From Tumblr quotes to Wattpad stories, we understand romance like a narrative arc. We know the beats. The tension. The build-up. And the payoff. At the same time, we came of age during peak hookup culture and algorithm-driven dating. Emotional detachment became a defence mechanism. Caring too much felt risky. Playing it cool felt safer.



Storybooking flips that. It says I don't want confusion. I want clarity. No games and ambiguity, but effort and intention. In a world that feels unstable, where careers are uncertain, cities are expensive, attention is fragmented, romance becomes one of the few spaces where people can demand emotional security. The slow burn feels safer than chaotic sparks

Only if it's mutual. Storybooking doesn't mean romanticising toxicity or confusing obsession with passion. (We have already learnt that lesson.) It only means valuing consistency, communication, emotional presence, visible effort. After all, it is okay to want tsomeone to plan dates. It is okay to want reassurance. It is okay to expect commitment. That's not delusion but that's just setting standards. The cool-girl era is over. Now, we want the slow burn. The yearning. The efforts. And honestly? That might be the most grounded dating trend yet. Don't you agree?