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I’ve always loved how romance stories bring people together—and it turns out, romance events do the exact same thing.
This past weekend, I had the absolute joy of attending Rose City Romance 2025, a new bookish conference held at Caesars Windsor. While I wasn’t able to make it for Friday’s events or the Romantasy Ball, I spent my Saturday and Sunday fully immersed in the heart of the event: connecting with authors, browsing tables, chatting with other romance readers, and falling in love with the genre all over again.
From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and full of excitement. Whether you were there to meet your favourite indie romance authors or discover your next five-star read, it was clear that this event was built with readers and community in mind.
Here's a look at what made Rose City Romance such a standout weekend.
About the Event
Known as “The Rose City,” Windsor, ON will be home to the Rose City Romance Conference, with the first year being held on June 20, 21 & 22, 2025.
Come and meet a wonderful panel of authors from Canada and the US.
Spend some time with your favourite indie authors & meet some new ones!
There will be some amazingly talented people and would love to talk about the craft of writing, publishing, and their books!
There will be an assortment of sub-genres at the event for purchase:
- contemporary romance
- billionaire romance
- sports romance
- dark romance
- paranormal romance
- shifter romance
- and more...
There will be a door prize on Saturday, raffle baskets on Sunday, and lots of opportunities to mingle. We even have a tattoo artist on site!
Event Highlights
Even attending just the Saturday and Sunday sessions, it was clear that Rose City Romance is something special. The energy in the room—from readers, authors, vendors, and organizers alike—was warm, inviting, and buzzing with shared bookish joy.
The weekend offered a mix of panel discussions, author signings, and casual conversations that made the conference feel intimate but impactful. On Saturday, the author signing was definitely the highlight of the day. Rows of indie romance authors greeted readers with stacks of books, custom swag, and genuine excitement. Whether you were there to meet an old favourite or discover someone new, there was something for everyone.
📚 Insert specific author interaction or panel takeaway here, such as:
“One of the most engaging panels I attended was [Panel Name], where authors like [Author A] and [Author B] discussed the evolution of tropes in contemporary and fantasy romance. Hearing them talk about how their characters come to life—and the balance between spice and story—was a reminder of how much intentionality goes into writing great romance.”
I loved that the event made space for all subgenres and storytelling styles, from small-town sweetness to steamy fantasy. The tables were also incredibly accessible, which made it easy to browse, chat, and really take your time connecting with the authors.
Sunday was a bit more relaxed but no less valuable. The lower-key vibe gave more space to chat with vendors, revisit tables, and swap recs with other readers. It was the kind of weekend where people asked what you were reading in line, complimented your tote bag, and left you with three new books to look up on your phone.
Even without attending the Romantasy Ball, I felt completely immersed in the spirit of the weekend. Everyone I spoke to said they were already excited to return next year—and I can see why.
Those Vibes Though
I didn’t realize how much I needed a relaxed bookish evening until I was in the middle of one. There was something about the combination of clinking glasses, the smell of paper and juniper, and that low hum of people gushing about books that reminded me why I love this community so much.
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As someone who reads a lot and shares a lot online, it’s easy to get a little detached from the joy of in-person book spaces—but this was cozy, casual, and left me feeling recharged.
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“One of the panels I really enjoyed was [Panel Title] with [Author A, Author B], where they talked about [topic]. It was a great mix of insight and laughter.”
“There was such a buzz in the room during the signings—every table had a line, and people were recommending books to each other while waiting. I picked up [Book Title] based on a reader rec, and I’m so glad I did.”
“Even though I didn’t attend Friday or the Romantasy Ball, I still felt like I experienced the heart of the weekend.”
What I Bought
Break it down into:
Books you brought to be signed
Books you bought at the event
Any cool swag (stickers, bookmarks, candles, etc.)
Final Thoughts
Wrap up with:
Whether you’d return again next year
What you’d recommend to first-time attendees
Any feedback or appreciation for the organizers
Even attending just two days, I walked away feeling re-energized by the romance community. If you’re local, or not!, Rose City Romance is absolutely worth the trip.
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Did you go to Rose City Romance?
Share your favorite moments or book finds in the comments below!
If you missed it, are you going to go next year?
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