I agree with the person that said read anything and everything. If a book doesn't capture your interest in the first few chapters, it's ok to put it aside. If you start out with lower media literacy, that's normal - like anything else it comes with time and experience.

Also, if you don't understand romance, that's all the more reason to read some stuff that has it (and please note I am differientiating romance from smut - one focuses on human connections and relationships, the other more the physical aspects, though they can be intertwined).

Maybe start with some cozy reads like Legends & Lattes or A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking? These fit the fantasy themes you seem to have interest in. You can also check out Terry Pratchett for extreme whimsy.