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What is the appeal of romance novels? + Giveaway!
What is the appeal of romance novels? By Jennifer at Clean Romance Reviews
There are few women out there that truly don’t enjoy reading a good romance, even if it’s just once in a while. Though they might not actually site down and read them. I would say that there is rarely a story out there that cannot be improved by adding in a good romance. More than enjoying, I think I am officially obsessed with reading romances, watching romantic movies, or even hearing romantic stories.
But I started to think, why is that? Is it because I need to read about how other people have fantastically perfect romances? That I want that perfect knight-in-shining armor and can only get it in the pages of a book? Of course not! I myself am blissfully in love with my own husband, so why am I drawn to reading about other people falling in love?
I once heard that the appeal of romance novels comes from the fact that no one ever has to do laundry. Meaning that in romance novels, while there might be difficult situations, seemingly insurmountable circumstances, misunderstandings or any number of other obstacles, the bare necessities of everyday life is rarely involved. It makes sense; no one wants to take a break from doing chores just to read about someone else doing them. We want to get caught up in a new world where there is excitement, fun, danger and of course, a wonderful man who stands in as a knight in shining armor – whether that armor is tarnished or not.
I think my love of romances also stems from the fact that I love being in love. I love reading scenes that remind me of falling in love with my husband. Granted my husband isn’t a vampire, ghost, medieval knight, war veteran, rancher, business tycoon or any of the other heroes of most romance books, but at the root of it all, it’s about a man and a woman falling in love and making it work. And in the end, that is something we can all relate to. It is something that we have all either already experienced, yearn to know, or wish to taste again.
So with the fantasy of a semi-unrealistic life of no day to day chores, and the universal excitement of love, why do so many people turn away from this genre? I think there are a couple of reasons for this. The first and foremost I have encountered is that there are those out there who are opposed to reading steamy bedroom scenes and therefore skip the genre altogether in order to avoid it. I found this problem myself, but my desire to read cleaner romances forced me to not give up on romances. In fact, this very problem is the reason I started blogging. My site, Clean Romance Reviews, dedicates itself to reviewing and promoting romance books that are all about the romance and not the steam. I figure, why deny yourself the wonderful world of romance books just because you want to keep things on the sweeter side? 
Question: Why do you think romances are so popular? What prompts you to read romances? If you don’t read them, what turns you off to the genre? Remember, 5 commenters are chosen each week to win a free book – winners announced on Sunday – good luck!
My bottom line is pretty simple: romances reward decent behavior; hero and heroine make promises to each other and keep them; loyalty, honor and human decency are valued rather than dismissed as uncool or old fashioned. I read romances not for proof that lasting love exists, but in the hope that it still does.
Janice, you are always so eloquent in your comments – nicely said.
I like falling in love again and again; I love the rush that follows the meeting of a new love interest, the getting to know him phase, the initial fire blended with awkardness… But, since I’m happily married and can’t go there physically, I get to live that through my book heroes. They’re perfect, charming, everything I ever imagined, so I inevitably end up falling in love with most of them BUT that doesn’t count as infidelity, right?
I also like the inevitable HEA. It makes me feel less stressed while reading it and I certainly don’t need any more stress in my life!
nice comment — that falling in love part is fun & no, I think you’re clear of the infidelity part unless they jump off the page *G*
I think they are an escape for most people. The realities of being in a real relationship is really hard. The beginning of a relationship there is there is such excitement! And you get to relive that through the books. lilsis_75@hotmail.com
I think it is because many people live through the characters in a romance novel. It is a great escape.
I totally agree. I love getting lost in other worlds and living it through the characters on a page.
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I like to read romance novels to escape the hum drum of normal life. It’s become my little escape. And they always have a happy ending.
I love romance. It has nothing to do with anything lacking in my own life, but allows me to experience something totally different. Reading a romance lets the real world stand still for a bit, while something normally unattainable takes place.
very well said & totally agree
I love romance because it lets you escape from the everyday life, and it is nice to read about other people falling in love.
I like romance because I love to read about it. Yes I have romance but its good to read, see and hear about it.. I just am a romantic
ditto
Ditto.
I enjoy the HEA and how 2 people get there.. Good writers make for great entertainment..
yep — better than Words for Friends or whatever that game is
Readers of romances are looking for that HEA ending that is hard to find in real life. Romances are a wonderful form of escapism from the stresses of life.
True – & it is fun to see what everybody’s estimation of HEA is – don’t you think?
For me I think its because romances always have a happy ending, and with so much unhappiness in this world I could always use an escape to a place where love conquers all.
Some of my attraction is just what you said. Love the story of falling in love. Another good part, they never try to pass on moral lessons. I really do not need one more avenue of being told I am doing it wrong!! Dont tell me one more way that I need to be a better woman, wife, mother, American, human…..And the best part is that it is always a happy ending!! I love that!!
Jennifer -
Many of my friends ask me why I love reading romance books so much. The one thing that I really connected to that you said was that romance is “about a man and a woman falling in love and making it work”!
My husband and I are getting ready to celebrate our 42nd Anniversary next month and our perfect romance is imperfect in a wonderful way. When asked by friends how we have “lasted” so long we tell them that we have always agreed to disagree!
Like our marriage I want my romance to have conflicts, disagreements, questioning but also forgiveness and truthfulness and most important love.
That’s also the reason that romance is so popular. Everyone wants a happy ending even knowing there will be conflicts to resolve along the way.
Great comment Jeanne – making it work is key especially in our society — nice to see our authors keeping the faith!
Wow, what a great statement. Thank you so much and congrats on your anniversary!
It’s fun to get into someone story. How they meet, their pasts, all the different ways love blooms.
It is the journey for sure – thanks Claire
It is an escape and an enjoyable way to pass times – HEAS, etc.
Its gotta be the “love will find a way, happily ever after” vibe you get when you read them.
This may be a little philosphical… Because of the happy ending romance always fulfills our need for hope. No matter into which genre a romantic story is woven into, it changes the story to be life-affirming. It fulfills our inmost need to love and be loved, fulfills our hope that despite all challenges life throws at us there is a loving refuge to shelter us. It touches us at the center of our being. That is also why we never tire of it. We rejoyce with each and ever story of love and hope fulfilled.
Sorry about the typos! Philosophical; each and EVERY story
LOL no worries here
Well put. Thanks for pointing that out.
I love that you can escape through them and live vicariously through the characters. I also like that you can fall in love with them again and again.
-Amber
goodblinknpark@yahoo.com
Romance novels are entertainment, an escape from the nitty gritty of everyday life. As you pointed out our heroines don’t do laundry or dishes, cleaning, etc. Shoot, how often do you read about them actually cooking a meal? They don’t suffer cramps or even constipation! It’s everything our life isn’t. If those who don’t read romance think they are never reading romance, think again. Nearly every piece of fiction from WAR AND PEACE to the newest bestsellers have romance in them, if only in the protaganist’s thoughts. I say ‘hear, hear’ for the HEA!
I love romance novels or any good fictional novel for the escape. To pretend you are the heroine having a funfilled adventure with your hero. I also like historical romance especially when the author researches that timeline. It’s like learning a little history but not in a boring class room and you don’t get tested on it!
I love historical novels too. Of course, I am a big history fan too but it does pull you into a realistic world that is not your own.
I love Romance novels as they are like a holiday for my mind. You forget about the stress in your own life and if you read them before going to sleep you might be lucky to dream of them – I’ll wake up with a smile
Your comments have been fun — I always feel sorry for friends that have not discovered the genre yet — this post certainly conveys what they are missing.
Thank you very much. It is such a wonderful and diverse genre.
I read romance to escape the real world for a while. There is nothing like falling in love and the HEA.
I read all genres of books but always return to the romantic ones. I think most people can relate to a love story-they can’t relate to the science fiction or the western or various other genres. But eveyone has had love in their life.
I like reading Mia’s books and would love to win this one.
Romance is an escapist genre. Many people read romance novels to get away from real life…and no matter what happens, they are guaranteed a happy ending. In life there are no guarantees of happily ever after…but in romance, there always is.
I love how a great romance can remind me of those first flutters of excitement and anticipation, when you can’t stand to be away from the person.
I love my HEA! A great love story has to have a great ending for me, because sometimes things in real life just don’t work out the way you think they will. It’s nice to have an escape in reading.
Aside from the great stories, reading about romance and “happy” topics gives a biological response as well. Our emotions trigger chemical responses in the body and who doesn’t love that euphoric, bubbly, dreamy, cloud nine bliss we get when we are taken along for the ride from angst to awww? I love reading romances personally because I enjoy the conflict resolution, the journey to get to the HEA and beyond. No relationship is “perfect” and most of the romance novels I have read do not portray the relationships in terms of “perfection”, there are problems, obstacles to overcome, and a need for each in the relationship to bend a little to help it work and THAT is what it takes for relationships to make it to that HEA!
Well said!
I like romance. So sue me. I like kissing. I like that feeling of butterflies. I enjoy the predictable endings. Why wouldn’t you want to know they end up happy?! Life is hard enough isn’t it?!
I’m read countless articles from people in academia that state romance novels aren’t real books. Um, what are they then? They say I’m not engaging my mind. Whatever!! I read for enjoyment. Period. But, reading is reading. My mind is totally engaged and I’m learning just by reading.
I’d really like to see this genre stop being so faux pas!
Yes, unfortunately romance books get a bad rep. Just because they are often somewhat predictable with a HEA doesn’t mean they are of less worth than other fiction.
I think the promise of a HEA are what most attract readers to romance. It’s also fun to see the journey the couple take to achieve that happiness.
I find romances so satsifying and I know I can feel good about the ending. I like that there are so many sub-genres to suit my moods and it shows the different ways people do fall in love. It keeps me coming back for more.
Romance Novels are very versatile reads — you can read them when you’re happy and when you’re sad. (You can read them during your quiet time and while on commute.)
What I love about reading romance novels is the reflection on the question: Why (and How) do we fall in love?
I love how each author explores relationships and the question of love through their stories and characters.
I love how you said you cnan read them when you are happy or sad. I totally agree. I am rarely not in the mood to read a good romance novel.
Romantic movies like The Proposal, Enchanted, Leap Year, Made of Honor, The Notebook, even Miss Congeniality all are successful due to the romantic elements! The story matters – and I prefer the HEA also, or at least Happy For Now. And sweet authors (like myself) love writing them for the same reason!
I completely agree! I wondered why my favorite part of any book was the romance when I am happily married. I discovered that I love being reminded of my emotions when my husband and I met, and I love watching others fall in love. It’s exciting!
Great post, Jennifer. I’m a huge fan of your site! Thanks Random for giving Jenn the opportunity!
Awwww, thanks Bonnie!
I think people love the happily ever after, I know that’s why I read them. I love getting to know the characters and not being disappointed at the end by someone dying or riding off into the sunset.
To love cherish and honor, some of the reasons. I don’t like bad endings, sad stories and lots of killings.
A good book is a good book is a good book. I try not to put any of them in a box. I think the people who put romances down have never read them. The books I enjoy the most are the ones that take me away.
I think they’re popular because they have happily ever afters and involve fantasy or problems that are nicely wrapped up.
I’m a sucker for HEA! Yup I admit that. I love the journey in which 2 people take to get their HEA.
I read to escape a very dull life that is full of working full time and stress from life.
I love the journey to the hea.
There are so many stresses in life:
work, raising a family, money, health, relatives, bad news about the war, murders…
It’s nice to be able to get away. I like knowing that there will be a happy ending. Every author has a unique take on love and happiness. I travel to locales I’ll never visit personally. So for me it spices up my everyday life in an enjoyable, loving manner.