If there’s one thing ATX TV Festival proved this year, it’s that romance is having a moment…and we are absolutely here for it!
We spent an incredible few days attending screenings, panels, and interviews, and came away feeling more optimistic than ever about the future of romance on screen. From conversations about steamy scenes and swoon-worthy adaptations to exclusive previews of upcoming series, it felt like romance fans are finally getting the spotlight we deserve!
Romance Is Having a Moment
Two of our favorite panels at the festival, Bringing Sexy Back and BookTok: From Book to Screen, highlighted something we’ve been noticing for a while: romance is no longer being treated as an afterthought in television.
The Bringing Sexy Back panel, featuring The Hunting Wives author and executive producer May Cobb, showrunner Rebecca Cutter, GLAAD’s Raina Deerwater, and Survival of the Thickest star Tone Bell, explored the return of romance, intimacy, and emotional connection to the TV screen.
Meanwhile, the BookTok panel, featuring Cobb, Cutter, and XO, Kitty showrunner Sascha Rothchild, focused on the growing influence of readers in shaping what gets adapted for television and film. From bestselling romances to beloved fan favorites, passionate reading communities are increasingly driving industry conversations about what stories deserve a screen adaptation. Shoutout to moderator Megan Vick who really made this conversation come alive!
Taken together, the panels felt like a true celebration of romance. We left feeling encouraged by the growing recognition that romance isn’t a guilty pleasure or a side plot. It’s a genre with passionate fans, powerful stories, and a major impact on today’s entertainment landscape.
(We also left with an adaptation wish list that somehow doubled in size.)
Murder, Mystery, and Brooke Shields
One of the most delightful screenings we attended was You’re Killing Me, an Acorn TV original starring Brooke Shields and Amalia Williamson. Following the screening, Shields (who also serves as an executive producer on the project) joined Williamson for a conversation moderated by Hunter Ingram.
The series follows a mystery author pulled into a real-life murder investigation, which immediately had our attention…and it delivered exactly what we hoped for: charm, humor, suspense, and plenty of cozy mystery energy. Seeing Brooke Shields and Amelia Williamson discuss bringing the project to life only made us love it more!
The Shows We Can’t Stop Thinking About
Two shows completely stole our hearts this weekend: The Other Bennet Sister and The Way Home.
As longtime romance readers, The Other Bennet Sister felt tailor-made for us. Based on Janice Hadlow’s beloved novel, the series finally gives Mary Bennet (the often-overlooked middle Bennet sister from Pride and Prejudice) the story she’s always deserved.
The series is witty, heartfelt, romantic, and deeply invested in Mary’s journey of self-discovery. For anyone who has ever felt overshadowed, underestimated, or overlooked, Mary’s story resonates in all the best ways. Austen fans are going to adore it, but you don’t need to be an Austen expert to fall in love with this world.
Then there was The Way Home, which continues to weave together family drama, romance, mystery, and just enough time-travel magic to keep us completely invested. The series has mastered the art of balancing emotional storytelling with compelling twists, and every sneak peek and behind-the-scenes conversation left us desperate to know what happens next.
If you’re a fan of slow-burn relationships, layered family dynamics, and stories that aren’t afraid to make you laugh and cry in the same episode, this show deserves a spot on your watchlist.
Exclusive Interviews You Won’t Want to Miss
As exciting as these screenings were, one of the biggest highlights of our ATX experience was getting the chance to sit down with some of the talented people bringing these stories to life.
We spoke with The Other Bennet Sister star Ella Bruccoleri and writer/executive producer Sarah Quintrell about adapting a beloved literary world, what draws them both to the character of Mary, and even quizzed them to see if they could recognize contemporary romance quotes from classic Jane Austen quotes. Their passion for the material was infectious, and after speaking with them, we’re even more convinced that romance readers are going to fall head over heels for this series.
We also sat down with The Way Home stars Chyler Leigh, Evan Williams, and Sadie Laflamme-Snow for a conversation that fans will not want to miss. We talked about their favorite couple ships from the past four seasons, the most romantic moments, and their favorite romance tropes.
Trust us…you’ll want to keep an eye out for these interviews.
In the meantime, you can catch sneak peeks of both interviews here:
Until Next Year!
ATX TV Festival reminded us why we love stories about love. Whether they’re found in classic literary adaptations, time-bending family dramas, or the next big BookTok sensation, romance stories continue to connect with audiences in powerful ways.
We left inspired by the creators championing romance, excited about the adaptations headed our way, and completely smitten with a few new shows.
And judging by everything we saw this weekend, the future of romance on screen looks very bright indeed!
