The romance genre is experiencing a renewed sales surge, prompting publishers to revisit metadata standards. BookNet Canada’s Stephanie Small highlighted how BISAC and Thema classifications can be combined to capture both broad categories and nuanced tropes, from sports romance to disability representation. New BISAC and Thema codes introduced in 2024‑2026 address seasonal settings, cultural communities, and emerging tropes, while emphasizing restraint, accuracy, and consistency across formats. Applying these guidelines helps titles reach the right readers and maximizes market performance.

In recent TechForum sessions, industry experts from EDItEUR, BookNet Canada, and the Société de Gestion BTLF presented new ONIX and Thema guidelines aimed at improving metadata for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis titles. The best‑practice notes detail how to tag...