The Romantic Comedy and Bibliotherapy

In this week’s episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah, we turn our attention to one of the most joyful yet underestimated genres in literature — the romantic comedy. So often dismissed as light or escapist, the rom-com is in fact one of the most powerful forms of emotional storytelling, offering laughter, tenderness, and deep psychological insight.

We’ll explore how romantic comedy functions as a form of bibliotherapy — a way of healing through reading and emotional reflection. From Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to modern favourites like The Flatshare and Bridget Jones’s Diary, these stories trace the journey from chaos to clarity, self-doubt to self-acceptance, and loneliness to connection.

I’ll also be unpacking the role of the romantic hero — from the proud, emotionally guarded Mr. Darcy to today’s more vulnerable and emotionally intelligent figures — and how their transformation mirrors our own healing journeys. Along the way, we’ll discuss how humour, hope, and the rhythm of love stories can help us recover from stress, heartbreak, or burnout, teaching us that joy is not frivolous but restorative.

Join me as we rediscover the romantic comedy and the role of humour as a therapeutic intervention in bibliotherapy.

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If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.

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