Do you know someone who seems obsessed with romance novels? Are you one of them? Have you ever stopped to consider what makes the ‘romance' genre so successful?
If you think about it, the romance writer is no better or worse at their craft than any other writer. There are no trick endings – man gets woman every time. You can even gauge how explicit the sex will be by the series you are reading. Yet millions of these books are read every year. Why?
To help us understand we need to take a close look at what a ‘romance' novel gives back to the reader.
- A happy ending every time. In a world of uncertainties sometimes you just need to escape into ‘happily ever after'.
- Conflict and resolution. It helps to see how others deal with conflict in their relationships.
- A perfect lover. The hero in every romance is always a considerate, unselfish lover intent on pleasing his woman. SIGH! If such a man really exists then we need to keep reading and learn everything about this man so we don't miss him.
- The women seem real. They have flaws and moments of stupidity, emotional uncertainties and problems we can all relate to. It's great to feel not so alone.
Every romance reader reads for their own reasons but whatever the reason I'm sure the romance will continue to be a popular genre for a long time to come.
