When Romance Books Go Halal. Author: Hélène de Lauzun,

The phenomenon is still relatively new in France, but it already has its own authors, publishing houses and a following on social media. In 2025, Dounia Bendouma founded Mawadab Éditions, a publisher specializing in halal romance. Then, in spring 2026, Nous, malgré tout, by LK Imany and published by Scrineo, became a breakout success, giving the genre fresh visibility. Aimed at female readers aged 14 and up, the novel follows Amina, a Muslim high school student who has just moved to Grenoble. She meets Yahya, a young Black Muslim man who dreams of becoming a writer, and their relationship unfolds gradually, against a backdrop of racism, Islamophobia, grief and identity struggles.