Popular online platform Wattpad.com is highly likely to be your partner’s guilty pleasure—if they enjoy reading.

Whether you are an enthusiast of fantasy, rom-com, chick-lit, erotica, fanfic and many others, Wattpad.com provides a space to read works created by writers from all over the globe, from amateurs to professionals.

For the past 17 years, it has been supplying over 90 million readers (more than 70 per cent female, and 80 per cent Millennials or Gen Z) with novels to fill their individual needs. The platform provides bourgeoning writers an opportunity to flex their writing muscles and showcase their skills as well as offering stories and poetry in over 50 languages from writers around the world.

But what makes Wattpad a guilty pleasure?

The simple answer is Wattpad has a lot of smut, which supposedly means women more than men enjoy smut with a good storyline (typos and all) since some books amass millions of reads. A few titles even get adapted into movies, such as the ‘After‘ series, ‘The Kissing Booth‘ trilogy and ‘Through My Window‘.

Getting lost in a good romance…

When it comes to fiction, particularly romance, chick lit, fan fiction and erotica, the gender gap is extreme.

Men account for barely 20 per cent of the fiction market, according to surveys undertaken in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Now why romance, erotica and chick lit? Women’s attraction to romance novels can stem from various factors, and it’s important to recognise that preferences vary greatly among individuals.

Common reasons why women may enjoy romance novels:

Romance novels offer an escape from reality into a world of passion, excitement, and fantasy. They provide a break from the stresses and monotony of everyday life, allowing readers to immerse themselves in compelling stories and vivid settings.

With their main focus on relationships and emotions, readers get a chance to experience love, desire, and intimacy vicariously through the characters. These stories can inspire a range of feelings, from joy and excitement to heartache and longing, providing a cathartic emotional experience.

They also explore various types of relationships and dynamics, from passionate love affairs to slow-burning romances. Readers may enjoy witnessing the development of complex characters and the evolution of their relationships throughout the story— with detailed sex scenes.

Romance novels typically have a happy ending, with the couple finding happiness together despite any obstacles they face along the way. This sense of hope and optimism can be comforting and uplifting while serving as a reminder that happy endings aren’t always a fairytale concept.

Some women confess that romance novels, while incorporating sensual and descriptive language to evoke the physical sensations of love and desire, can feel like a guilt-free cheat day. This sensory experience can be highly enjoyable for readers, stimulating their imagination and enhancing the reading experience.

Wattpad offers a space where women can escape into their fantasies or guilty pleasures.