Abstract
Contemporary romance fiction predominantly shows romantic intimacy beyond as an experience of attraction and desire. Besides, romantic intimacy represents continuous emotional and relational work to build a sustainable relationship. This study explores the gendered division of emotional labour in the formation, support, and rebuilding of romantic relationships in four contemporary romance novels: Beth O’Leary’s The Flatshare (2019), Emily Henry’s Beach Read (2020), Tia William’s Seven Days in June (2021), and Emily Henry’s Happy Place (2023). Implementing qualitative comparative textual analysis, this research investigates how male and female protagonists play role in sustaining a relationship that involves trust-building, emotional disclosure, care and compromise, conflict management, apology and forgiveness, and reconciliation. Therefore, this study examines considering relational labour and relationship repair to be reciprocal responsibility. It explores that how contemporary romance reproduces traditional gendered divisions of relational labour and relationship repair. The selected narratives upon analysis showcase a transition from feminized relationship maintenance toward reciprocity of intimate partnership. Thus, this dynamic responsibility in contemporary fiction is contributing to a new realm of gendered work of love.