Exploring our love for romance novels

by Heather Wang ARTS WRITER

Despite the staggering number of people who openly profess hatred for romance novels, they maintain their status as one of the most popular genres. Far outshining any other book genre in terms of revenue, these books raise the question: what makes them so alluring to so many people?

Perhaps the most obvious reason is the lighthearted nature of many of these books. In their perfect world, the two protagonists fall head-over-heels in love and go on to lead lives where their beloved dogs live forever and no disaster ever strikes their white picket fenced home. If they encounter any problems, they are resolved quickly.

The blissfulness is contagious and leaves a pleasant feeling once the story concludes. Many readers of romance novels are not looking to understand the meaning of life or delve into the intricacies of societal problems–they want something that can provide simple, relaxing entertainment. For those purposes, these books are perfect.

People also love romance novels that have an optimistic outlook on life because they make a near impossible ideal into reality for the book’s characters. Readers get invested in the lives of characters from books and apply their situations to their own lives.

This is a reason why romance novels are so popular–according to psychologist Maryanne Fisher, readers love romance novels because they can “live vicariously through the [characters] without any of the consequence[s].”

But romance novels that take place in mysterious and fantastical worlds, or do not perpetuate happy feelings, also exist and have a large fanbase.

Referred to as “paranormal” or “dark romance,” these books include themes of love and relationships while also featuring supernatural elements such as werewolves, vampires, and ghosts. They also may explore more serious themes. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, with over 150 million copies sold, is an example of this subgenre.

These books appeal to human desire for emotional connection and love, a reason for their growing popularity in recent years.