The romance genre is so diverse and full of tropes that we love to hate, allowing readers to practically pick and choose what we read at any given time. Want a grumpy/sunshine with an age gap? No problem! Interested in a protector romance with enemies-to-lovers vibes, oh, and throw-in werewolves? Absolutely! Ask an avid romance reader and you’ll likely find that they have a favorite trope or two, or ten.
Romance sometimes gets a bad rap as being nothing more than porn on pages but there is so much more to the romance genre than the intimate moments between characters on a page. Ok yes, some of it is pure smut, that’s true but, other times there is a romance that goes on beyond the intimacy. Here are some of my favorite reasons to love the romance genre beyond the heat.
5 Reasons to Love Romance Novels Beyond the Chili Peppers:
It’s Always About The Money
There are plenty of billionaire romances out there, apparently, a million or two just isn’t enough anymore. Rockstar and sports romances are other tropes where money is typically not an issue. Even if a romance isn’t classified as a billionaire romance, by-in-large at least one of the main characters or their family, typically isn’t hurting for money.
Adventure Is Out There
While the adventure in romance novels is usually second or third on the list of important things to happen, there is no denying that the world always seems to be a much more interesting place for the heroes/heroines in romance novels. Whether they are a small-town girl who has never been anywhere or they travel the world, there always seems to be something interesting going on. For those of us who are stuck in the daily grind, the romance of something interesting happening can help get us through the same ol’ same.
Romance readers want that fairytale ending that tells us that everything is going to be okay, no matter how difficult and stressful life is sometimes (Nichols, 2018). Some would say that this means that romance is too predictable and that’s why Hallmark movies are so similar and the fact is, they are. Romance novels are mapped out in several important parts that can be interchanged or adjusted slightly to match the individual plot. So, even when adventure finds the main characters, there is still a level of predictability that keeps us centered and coming back for more.
Embrace Your Quirks & Insecurities
Curves for days, but you don’t love them? Insecure about a birthmark, your glasses, or the way you talk? No worries, because there is some romance hero who is going to love a female main character (FMC) with those same quirks and insecurities. There is comfort, a romance you could say, in being able to see ourselves represented in the main characters in romance books that endear us to them and vice versa. When we have a hard time loving ourselves because of those insecurities, there is always a hero out there in a romance novel who is ready to love their FMC unconditionally!
Unconditional Love
I, personally, love a good happily ever after (HEA), most romance readers prefer that, or happy for now (HFN). Knowing that the characters that we’ve grown to love are going to get to be together is an important part of the romance genre. One of the most comforting parts of the romance genre is that, no matter how flawed the main characters are, there is almost always a redeemable moment when they open up to each other and, here is the important part, accept them for who they are. We love to love a morally grey character, one who is willing to burn the world down to protect “his” chosen lady. There is a reason “touch her and die” has become such a strong trope in the romance genre. We want to feel valued beyond all else.
Found Families & Supportive Sibling Groups
I saved one of my favorite tropes for last! Found family and strong sibling groups are where it’s at. The romance of having a group of people who love you and will stand up for you no matter what is something that many people chase throughout their lives. One benefit to books that tend to have found family or supportive siblings is, that the author is likely, at least hopefully, to write a book or more about each of those supporting characters. Some of my favorite books are actually in a series of 6 to 7 individuals who are as close as friends can be and each book covers a different character and their main love interest.
I think we all dream of finding that one place in the world where we are completely and totally at home and accepted. At least, by my estimation, there is more to romance novels than the spicy scenes or the number of peppers or trigger warnings it has. Romance novels present those happily ever afters and sense of belonging that we’ve searched for since we read our first fairytale.
Happy Reading!
References
Nicolas, S. (2018, February 22). If it doesn’t have an HEA (or HFN), it’s not romance. BOOK RIOT. https://bookriot.com/if-it-doesnt-have-an-hea-or-hfn-its-not-romance/
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