Letter From The Editors

There is no high like a new crush — the fire of attraction, the thrill of possibility. And there is no torture like a new crush — the waiting, the longing, the uncertainty. We anxiously try to decode signals (wait, was he just making eyes at me?), then send up our own (who among us hasn’t posted a cryptic, crush-baiting Facebook status or AIM away message?). But of course, the angst is part of the fun.

As we age, crushes can become scarce — in part because instead of stealing glances across the high school gymnasium, we can actually do something about them. We have the tools (disposable income, autonomy over our whereabouts) to actively pursue the objects of our affection, taking the mystery out of a crush like the air from a deflating volleyball. For the single and/or swinging among us, hookup culture is a shortcut, bypassing the sexual tension and going straight to the sex. And for the monogamous marrieds, tending an all-encompassing relationship can be an emotional bandwidth buster.

Not long ago, this notion of the crush — both bygone and beckoning — shot its way into a Bustle editorial meeting. As if struck by Cupid’s arrow, our team was buzzing. Every editor in that room and on Zoom had a story idea, a memory, a personal anecdote — or five — they felt compelled to share. Suddenly, we were all transformed into awkward teen versions of ourselves, humbly recalling the triumphs and tribulations of our crushes of yore, and cautiously sharing those whose flames continued a’flicker. The excitement had us blushing: yes, just like a crush.

That’s the thing about crushes. In addition to being a thrill in and of themselves, a pathway to an actual relationship, or an excuse for a little self-improvement, they’re a vehicle to finding common ground — to strengthen friendships, to get the group chats giggling.

Which is why we’re excited to explore this topic — this high-wattage aspect of the human experience — with you, from all sorts of directions: We’ll pump your tires (and occasionally deflate them), we’ll share with you the why behind this special stripe of infatuation, and we promise to deliver some of the weirdest, wildest tales from Crushlandia you’ll ever hear. (Because what is a crush if not specific?)

Forget Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, and the like; welcome to Crush Week, where the rosé is effervescent and flowing, the chocolate is messy, and the camaraderie is finer than a Cartier love bracelet. Let the games begin!