Spend hours curating playlists exclusively populated with love songs? Always thought of yourself as a hopeless romantic?
As the seasons change and the leaves crisp up, ‘lover girl’ autumn is making its debut as, according to new research, 3 in 5 UK women (60%) are embracing ‘romance with wholehearted enthusiasm.’
As per the study, from dating app Bumble, nearly a third (31%) of these self-described ‘lover girls’ feel that old school romantic gestures aren’t celebrated enough, while over 1 in 3 (37%) see autumn as the season of romance.
But this mentality isn’t necessarily exclusive to gender, as more than half of men (54%) align with the ‘lover boy’ identity, which, according to Bumble’s research, sees individuals bring traits like thoughtfulness (51%), passion (51%), care (45%) and affection (42%) to their dating life, prioritising deep emotional connections.
Feeling seen yet? Another key trait of the ‘lover girl’ mentality is wanting affection not only to be acknowledged, but reciprocated (48%), and the strongest desired traits are a sense of humour (48%), passion (46%) and strong communication skills (45%).
It’s a sentiment that’s gaining traction online too, as @maneeshasem declared on X, formerly Twitter: ‘the healthiest lover girl is back in town. She is secure. She is whole. She is intuitive and she only vibes with healthy, divine love.’
‘Born to be a lover girl forced to act like I don’t care,’ @xzydc1 added, while @wambuiiidoc noted that they’re a ‘lover girl’ that craves ‘texting all day, random FaceTime calls [and] sweet, reassuring messages.’
So, the overwhelming message is that love isn’t dead, but why are people turning to romance now?
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According to Bumble’s research, people are increasingly looking to find intentional, authentic connections, as nearly half (47%) are now clearer about their dating goals than they were in 2023.
Along these lines, 40% are focusing on the quality (rather than the quantity) of dates, and 44% are seeking commitment in a way they haven’t before.
And, if you’ve always had a soft spot for ‘traditional’ displays of affection, gestures sometimes written off as cliché are more popular than you might think, as 43% relish in both giving and receiving unexpected gifts (43%), forehead kisses (42%) and handwritten notes (38%).
‘The ‘lover girl’ has never gone away, but she has often gone under-appreciated. Being confident and intentional when you date can be a really attractive quality,’ Dr Caroline West, Bumble’s sex and relationships expert, explains.
‘Bumble’s research suggests that we’re embracing our emotions this year, with over a third of people being more intentional about getting what they want when it comes to romance and dating.
‘It’s historically been a bit ‘uncool’ to admit that you are romantic – but this shouldn’t be the case, so now is the time to drop being ‘coy’ and embrace a season for lovers.’
So, what are you waiting for? Now is as good a time as ever to channel your inner ‘lover girl,’ whether that involves getting the boombox out and blasting some good old-fashioned love songs to your partner (just like in Sixteen Candles), or simply penning them a little love note.
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