Fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) are being urged to head to London in search of their very own High Lord, as a dating app launches a lookalike contest inspired by the romantasy craze.
Tinder is hosting the High Lord Lookalike Contest at Main Character Books in Spitalfields on Thursday, October 29, inviting singles to channel the brooding, morally grey love interests beloved by fantasy romance readers.
The event comes as excitement builds around the next instalment of Sarah J Maas's hugely popular ACOTAR series, with romantasy continuing to influence how younger generations approach dating and relationships.
Contest Details and Research Findings
Attendees are encouraged to bring their best wings, most intimidating stare and strongest "I'd burn the world down for you" energy in the hope of finding their fictional dream date in real life.
New research commissioned by Tinder found that 68 per cent of Gen Z singles aged 18 to 25 said their fictional type had become their real-life type, while 56 per cent had opened a dating app because a spicy novel had put them in the mood to meet someone new.
The study also found that 72 per cent believed romantasy novels had changed what they looked for in a relationship, with emotional vulnerability and unwavering loyalty among the qualities prioritised by women.
Impact on Relationships and Sex Lives
For some readers, the influence goes beyond their choice of partner. Almost six in 10 respondents said romantasy had influenced their sex lives, while 65 per cent said they had recreated scenes from their favourite chapters.
However, the books can also inspire a little romantic backtracking, with 59 per cent admitting they had considered texting an ex after reading a particularly steamy passage.
Event Details and Comment
The High Lord Lookalike Contest takes place at Main Character Books, 30 Spital Square, London, E1 6DX, at 6.30pm on Thursday, October 29 and is free to attend.
Joanna Pons, senior marketing director at Tinder, said romantasy was helping readers rethink their expectations of love and connection.
She said: "Romantasy books are giving readers a vision of love, sex and connection that feels all-consuming and mutual. "What's interesting is how these dating desires are making their way onto dating apps like Tinder and into real-life connections.
"They're reshaping expectations, reminding singles that consistency, communication, respect for boundaries and genuine adoration shouldn't be considered extraordinary, in fact, they're qualities worth looking for in real life too.
"When fictional characters can set the bar this high, it's no surprise that readers are becoming less impressed by the bare minimum.
"And now, with Tinder's High Lord Lookalike Contest, we're seeing that fantasy move one step further - giving romantasy fans the chance to see whether their ideal fictional type can actually exist IRL."
