April 30, 2026 8:04 am
Arts & Entertainment, Life, Washougal 
Romance Readers Social Club members chat about books April 1 at Ashwood Taps and Trucks in Washougal. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)
A stack of romance novels sit on a table April 1, 2026, before a meeting of the Romance Readers Social Club at Ashwood Taps and Trucks in Washougal. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)
Romance Readers Social Club hosts Emily Lemucchi, left, and Megan Davis set up tables April 1 before a meeting at Ashwood Taps and Trucks in Washougal.
Romance Readers Social Club host Megan Davis, second from left, chats with Erica Karns of Washougal on April 1 before a meeting at Ashwood Taps and Trucks in Washougal. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)
Melanie Clarke of Battle Ground puts a sticky note answer under a prompt April 1. The monthly meetup draws women from across Clark County seeking connection as much as conversation, fueled in part by the popularity of romance and “romantasy” novels. Taylor Balkom/The Columbian
A stack of romance books sits on a table April 1 during a Romance Readers Social Club meeting. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)
Melanie Clarke of Battle Ground writes an answer to a prompt on a sticky note April 1, 2026, before a Romance Readers Social Club meeting at Ashwood Taps and Trucks in Washougal. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)
Emily Lemucchi had a simple suggestion for her friend Megan Davis: Read the “Empyrean” series by Rebecca Yarros, a popular fantasy romance saga set at a war college with dragon riders. Davis, typically a nonfiction reader, gave the novels a try — and couldn’t put them down.
“She loved to talk about it,” Lemucchi said.
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