The first comment you get on any discussion of the romance genre is the idea of fantasy. Romantic fantasy, sexual fantasy, idealistic fantasy, etc…. But fantasy is such a broad, clichéd word, and I’m not sure that it gets to the heart of why romance.
I’ve been thinking a lot about thisbecause of something I had recently mentioned about reading for the emotional bond with the characters vs. reading for the fantasy. Ideally, I want both in the romance, the bond with the characters vs. the idea of an escape from the world, but I am more likely to bond with ordinary characters, rather than the large-than-life heroes and heroines that populate our pages. I think it’s why I tend to gravitate toward writing ordinary characters, because these are the people that I bond with most. Now, on most days, I read for the emotional bond, but sometimes, on those days when life is just killer, I do love to read something fluffy and non-bonding to get “swept away.” But am I truly reading to get “swept away” or am I doing what likari called “mental hygiene?”
Redrobinreader, mcvane, likari, and I were tweeting about the idea of the fantasy that drives romance, what readers are truly seeking when they read romance, changes over time and economic situations. I started thinking about the heroes in romance and their changes. In the 80s, we had the uber tycoons, the brooding dudes, the rugged adventurers who were very domineering. Johanna Lindsey, Linda Howard, Julie Garwood, and Judith McNaught all blossomed here. In the 90s, we had Pat Gaffney, Lara Kinsale, and Mary Jo Putney. Very tortured, very flaws, lots of angst. In the 00s, we swung back to alphas, romantic suspense, paranormal reigned and we left some of the angst behind. Harlequin Presents, JR Ward, Julia Quinn.
But there’s a lot of splintering in that discussion. The era of the category, the rise of the paranormal, the days of the tear-jerker historical, etc, so maybe a change in the romance genre is not due to *people changes* or society changes, but simply a gravitation toward something new and different.
It’s very tempting to cookie-cutter romance readers and books and society, but I think it’s important to respect how diverse we truly are — in personal taste, in emotional need, in societal background, etc. As we were going back and forth on twitter (try and have interesting philosophical discussion on romance in 140 characters or less), I began to realize that we tend to cookie-cutter the reasoning behind romance as well as the drivers in our life-environment that keep us reading romance.
So, let’s talk about the whys, and recognize that it’s a fluid, dynamic thing. In your 20s, you might read romance for one thing on one day, and the next, it might be different. So what are some of the reasons we read romance?
Escape? I’ve always disliked that word, because it implies that I *need* to escape. Idealized world? Maybe. Idealized people (hero, heroine)? Eh. The thrill of heart-pounding excitement? Sexual or otherwise? Sometimes, yes. A loss of control? A desire to hand over the reins for a few hours to someone else?
Redrobinreader pointed out that romance is all about problem-solving to eventuate optimistic, satisfying conclusion, which I thought was really interesting. Reading and learning at the same time? A sort of relationship psychology? Or is it the inverse that’s true. Are romance readers better geared to handle relationships because they’re exposed to a wide variety of relationships and how those conflicts were resolved?
I tried to analyze my own drivers for reading romance, and I wasn’t sure that I could define it. I think a lot of it is my optimistic view on the world, and romance novels reinforce my viewpoint. I believe that love solves many problems and I think romantic love is one of the few things that can truly impact a person and can cause real change.
I apologize for rambling, but here’s the deal. I have a few questions in my survey, and I’m going to give away a bagful of books (some mine, some others) to one lucky commenter, because I’d love to get a lot of input on this one.
So, here are the questions:
1. Does your reading choice vary over time/mood/age? That is, has your reading habits changed and how?
2. Do you gravitate toward one specific sub-genre, or do you read in all romance sub-genres, or all fiction genres as well? Has this changed for you, and do you think it’s because of getting tired of something, or something seems more interesting, or is because your life-circumstances had altered?
3. Has your reading changed in the past year? What were you reading prior to this year and what are you reading now?
4. Do your likes and dislikes of heroes and heroines change, or do you think it’s remain constant? Alphas, yay, nay?
5. Any other comment you want to add on this very unorganized discussion.
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I would be here forever if I answered all those posts. But was part of the twitter discussion loosely, until those lovely ladies lost me with their eloquence and cleverness in their 140 characters. ;-( lol
I want more Alpha heroines, don’t mind the alpha hero, but want the heroine not to be lost in the alphas story, my romance reading has been slowed down lately, cos IMO the heroines seem to be getting swallowed up by the heroes, and am uncomfortable in many ways with the hero always being dominant.
I don’t see why it is so rare for the kick ass heroine to be able to kick the hero’s butt. Not on all levels, just on some would make me happy.
I think there’s two predominant ways to handle the alpha heroes: alpha heroine or the spunky, feisty heroine who uses her charm and wiles to get him. Julie Garwood did this almost uniformly and I thought it worked well. Tessa Dare’s book (which I just finished and really enjoyed) did this pairing as well, which I hadn’t seen in a while. I think the alpha hero and heroine are more common in paranormal, where you get to see a heroine who can slay evil dudes with her sword. Alpha heroines in historical, or contemporary are difficult to make believable, and likeable. Just musing here…
I agree with you, Edie, that it’s easy for the heroine to get lost when the hero is so much the center of the universe, but if you look at the numbers, IMHo, there’s a ton of readers who don’t care as much for the heroine at all. I wonder if this will shift some. The genre seems to have shifts that move back and forth.
I decided to kick this one off, because… it’s Monday:
1. Yes. I read a lot more romance than I did in my 30s, and I don’t read as much historical romance as I did in my 20s. My reading time has increased, so I don’t rely on thrillers as much, and am more inclined to pick up a longer book. In college, I read a lot of categories, because of a shortage of time and money. Also, I tended to expect less of my books that I was reading in my 20s and 30s. I read for the entertainment value and not necessarily for a validation of my optimstic beliefs. Also, I like to make friends with characters in books, if that makes sense. Perhaps because I tend to socialize less than I used to, I use books to fill that social void.
2. I love the contemporary and historical. I read a little paranormal, but I’m not the target market for paranormal romance, at any means.
3. After the recession, I actually did begin reading more contemporary romance, but I’m not sure if that’s because the market was heading that way, or if my tastes were heading that way. I cut down on paranormal (not that it was a lot; as I said I’m not the target market), and my historical reading habits stayed the same.
4. My hero viewpoint has def changed. When I was in my teens and 20s, I read and loved a ton of alpha males. Now, I read less than before, and my sensibilities of what qualities I love in a hero have changed. I have always loved the tortured hero, alpha or not. As long as he doesn’t whine.
5. I’m hoping this helps as to what information I’d love to see.
1. My reading definitely changes depending on my mood. I do enjoy reading category romances when I am busy. I like the shorter length when I don’t feel like I have a lot of time.
2. I read stories in several different sub-genres but not every one. I read mostly historical, contemporary and romatic suspense.
3. I don’t think my reading preferences have changed in the last year.
4. The heroes and heroines have to act in a way that makes sense to me. I like all different types of characters and I don’t think I have a preference.
Thank you for your insight, Maureen. It’s fascinating to see into the mind of a Blaze reader.
I read almost anything (romance or other genres), and it definitely depends on my mood. And I have no way to explain how mood vs book lines up until after I finish a specific book…I’m not that predictable.
I’m less inclined to read a lot of the category romances, with a major exception for Blaze. I don’t read a lot of “virgin secretary, horny tycoon” stories, and used to think I could never read a romance less than about 400 pages. But, I never say never, and am willing to try anything at least once. In books, that is. Ahem. That’s how I ended up trying a Blaze, and have read a handful now, and love the non-virginal heroines and more grown-up feeling storylines
It’s also how I’ve ended up reading an inspirational (not my cup of tea, but it was a mostly enjoyable story), the occasional cozy mystery, a horror or two, epic Sci Fi/Fantasy, and even memoir and other non-fiction (in small doses…I just prefer fiction when I’m not researching something).
Kristi,
Thanks for this. I wonder about that unpredictability. I discovered that too when I was writing this post, but I’m wondering if there is something that drives it, I just don’t know what it is, and I’m not sure that it’s genre related as much as emotion related. I don’t know. I’m going to try and analyze my own reading habits in more detail.
1. Yes my reading changes with mood… sometimes I want something short, or something funny, other times I want really hot or very mysterious… whatever my mood, I try to find a book that will fit.
2. I love variety so I look for alittle bit of everything, but it has to be romance and have a HEA.
3. Last year I started reading more paranormal and mystery, but now I am swinging back to Historical and contemporary.
4. As I said before I love variety. The hero and heroine can be whatever personality they need to be as long as the book and characters flow!
5. Nothing that I can think of to add at this point! (F)
Colleen, last year, i was doing more paranormal as well, and this year I’ve been reading more historical and contemporary, too. I was trying to decide if my preferences changed, if there were just some really good historicals and contemporaries coming out, or if I got burned out on paranormals, or some combination of all three.
1. My reading tastes definitely vary by mood. Sometimes I want something dark and edgy, and other times I want something light and funny.
2. While I read in all romance sub-genres, contemporary will always be my favorite. They’re also what I started out with when I first started with romances around age 11. I just prefer the modern settings, plots, and characters, and have found that I enjoy other subgenres only in small doses.
3. About a year ago I started reading historicals. Honestly, I can’t believe I’ve read romances for 20 years and just started with historicals, but there you have it. I now really enjoy escaping into such a different world, but I find that I can’t read too many historicals in a row before I get temporarily burned out on them and have to switch subgenres.
4. I think my tastes for heroes and heroines has pretty much stayed the same over the course of my reading romances. I enjoy intelligent, strong characters, and above all want to feel like they have an equal relationship. I enjoy both alphas and betas, but in the case of a
5. Romance has long been my favorite genre, and I think it’s because I am naturally optimistic, and the inherent optimism of romance fits me perfectly. I’m also fascinated with the human connection, and the myriad of ways a love story can be told is a subject that I never tire of.
I swear I typed a longer answer to #4. Here’s the rest: in the case of an alpha I want a heroine that is an equal match. No doormats! (And no psycho-controlling alpha-jerks, either!)
To add on, just because I forgot some stuff I wanted to say, in the last few weeks my work schedule has nearly doubled, so I’m reading a lot of the Blazes that I’ve been accumulating. The shorter format is perfect for my schedule. I only wish that I enjoyed the other category lines as much as I enjoy Blazes. Harlequin: Can we have more Blazes per month, please?
LOL about more Blazes. I’ll mention that to Brenda.
I really should just plan out my replies before submitting so I don’t forget stuff. I forgot to mention in my original post that this isn’t a contest entry, I just wanted to respond to the questions.
Katie, thanks for responding. I’m trying to figure out if when I’m in a bad mood, do I want light and funny to make me feel better, or do I want weepy angst to commiserate my misery…. Are people wired to reach for the same, do you think? I’m cracking up about you just starting historicals a year ago. For so long, if you didn’t want glitz, that was all there was, except for Harlequin.
The myriad ways of a love story is very true. I talked to my doc one time and she asked what I did, and I told her I wrote romances for HQ. She asked if I got tired of telling the same story, and it surprised me. I looked at her, looked at her asst, and said, but your story wouldn’t be the same as hers. Everybody’s is a different journey. I think when people talk about the formula of romance, they overlook the very unformulaic aspect of people. As long as we write about humans, rather than widgets, every story is unique.
(Y) my taste has not changed
i like contemp and romatnic suspense
i like catergory romances
more erotic fiction for me
i dont think my taste will change
Thank you, KH!
1. Does your reading choice vary over time/mood/age? That is, has your reading habits changed and how?—–Yes, as I’ve gotten older I read alot more erotica and m/m stuff. I guess I’ve gotten wilder in my old age. I’m more willing to read new genres.
2. Do you gravitate toward one specific sub-genre, or do you read in all romance sub-genres, or all fiction genres as well? Has this changed for you, and do you think it’s because of getting tired of something, or something seems more interesting, or is because your life-circumstances had altered?—-I read everything in the romance genre. I have certain authors I read no matter what and if I hear raves about a certain book I’ll try it too.
3. Has your reading changed in the past year? What were you reading prior to this year and what are you reading now?—-The only thing that’s changed is I’m reading more ebooks. And since there’s more paranormal books available on the market, it just FEELS like I’m reading more of them. But I don’t think that’s the case.
4. Do your likes and dislikes of heroes and heroines change, or do you think it’s remain constant? Alphas, yay, nay?—-I love alphas and physically strong men, that won’t change. And I’ve always hated weak heroines, and that will never change either. In fact, I prefer them stronger than ever.
Jody,
Your #1 is interesting. I think my tastes have gotten less *sweet* as I got older, and I’m trying to decide if the market has moved and I moved with it, or whether my tastes have truly evolved. Let me know if you have an opinion.
Hey Kathleen, it is great to see you again…love the blog topic…
1. Does your reading choice vary over time/mood/age? That is, has your reading habits changed and how?
I definitely think that my reading choice changed over time. As I got older, I started to read more across the genre and sub-genres. When I started reading romance novels, i was too young to even understand what was going on…I really read them as fairy tales…I read mostly medical ones…Betty Neels was a big favorite…I also read Diana Hamilton, Anne Mather, Margaret Way and Penny Jordan. As I hit the teen years, I went for the Super romances because I wanted to read a guaranteed HEA, and it felt more realistic for me. as I hit my 20s I was deep into the historicals…it didn’t matter what century, which country, whether there was a caste or class system. In my 30s I became a big contemporary and paranormal addict. I still read all my other favs, but I feel like I am at an age when I could really relate to some of the experiences that the authors write about.
2. Do you gravitate toward one specific sub-genre, or do you read in all romance sub-genres, or all fiction genres as well? Has this changed for you, and do you think it’s because of getting tired of something, or something seems more interesting, or is because your life-circumstances had altered?
I pretty much read in all fiction genres. I don know that no matter what genre I read, I always looked for an HEA or the possibility of one, for example, I read a lot of Jack Higgins because I just love Sean Dillion and I always wanted him to get involved with Helen Bernstein. I also love to read John Sanford, Stuart Wood, Tom Clancy, Elizabeth Lowell, Robin Cook, etc…I even read the Classics…None of the books that I read are dependent on my life circumstances. My reading tastes are just dependent on what I feel like reading or whether or not my fav authors have a book cominig out or I discovered a new author and I glom on to them.
3. Has your reading changed in the past year? What were you reading prior to this year and what are you reading now? No, my reading hasn’t really changed much during the past year…heavy into paras and contemps along with a LOT of BLAZES! Prior to this year, I was readin ghte same stuff, with a huge emphasis on laughter…Stephanie Plum series and feel good reads like those of Gibson, Susan Wiggs, Sherryl Woods, and Robyn Carr. Tight now I am reading Jessica Anderson’s Final Phrophecy series, Colleen Gleason’s Gardella series, Leslie Parrish’s Black CATS series, Blazes, and J.D. Robb’s In Death series. I throw in a couple of contemps as well.
4. Do your likes and dislikes of heroes and heroines change, or do you think it’s remain constant? Alphas, yay, nay?
I think that my likes and dislikes of heroes and heroines are pretty constant. I love Alphas, but it just depends on what type of mood I am in. I genereally read up to five books at a time and I try to cover my bases by reading different genres and sub-genres so that I can slake my thirst on the type of h and H that I want.
Kathleen, I absolutely love the questions. I haven’t really thought about stuff like this in a while. Great blog topic!
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Paula,
Glad to see you here as well! Interesting comment about reading them as ‘fairy tales.’ I started romance when I was in my early teens, lots of Barbara Cartland’s, so obvs very fairy tale there as well. I hadn’t thought about that comparison. Looking at your list of present-day reads, it sounds like you’re reading darker than last year. Do you think that’s the case? I think I’m reading lighter, not as many serial killers as last year, more LOL sort of things…. I don’t know.
Thanks for the input.
I might be reading darker than last because of the kinds of books I won and when I was done collecting the rest of the books in a particular series last year. It was also dependent on the types of some the books my favs and their alter egos were pubbing at the time. It was also dependent on any new to me authors I discovered as well.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
1. My reading habits have changed over time. I started out just reading fiction, then classics like Jane Austen, then moved to chicklit…now I am strictly a romance reader…the hotter the better
As far as mood, I am definitely a mood reader. 
2. I read all romance genres, but mostly contemporary and historical, with a few paranormal every now and then :-[
3. I’ve started reading more ebooks and erotic romance with the past year…never tried either of these before, but was surprised at how much I like some of the authors. (Y)
4. I am definitely an alpha lover, but a great hero doesn’t have to be alpha to be great. A great hero can also be a hero of the heart. (L) Otherwise my taste in heros and heroines hasn’t really changed.
5. Not really
Hello, booklover1335!
Thank you for the input, and I think it’s cool that you started in Jane Austen and now it’s the hotter the better :-$
What a great topic.
1. It does make a difference what kind of mood I am in, or if I am feeling bad. Before my arthritis treatments kicked in I wanted strictly books that would take my mind off my health problems. Cheer me up. I started reading more fantasy and time travel, paranormal type books. I’ve been a Harlequin reader since the 1970′s so I have stepped out of my box.
2. Yes, as I stated above, I have added some new genres to my reading piles. In the past it was really hard for me to get into anything futurestic. I read J.D. Robb’s Naked In Death (the first of her Death series) about five years ago and I thought it just wasn’t for me. Then a couple of years ago I re-read it and was hooked. Now I have them all and read them as soon as I can get my hands on them. I have no idea why my tastes changed. Obviously I’m older but I really don’t know why I like them so much now. I have had a lot of life changes in the past years so maybe that contributes to my changes in reading habits. I read paranormal now and more contemporary romances not just in the series lines.
3. I think I’ve probably answered this one in the above comments.
4. I don’t think my tastes have changed in this area. I still tend to go for the Alpha’s and strong minded heroines. I never have cared much for the women with the vapors. Give me a smart strong minded women any day of the week. A little bit of meek and mild is OK, but no wimpy women. And I guess I do like the action hero kind of guy. And the Presents line has those ruthless Tycoon types that I enjoy too. And who can resist the bad boy.
5. So in closing I would say that reading tastes do change with the times. And even though the economy is bad and I’m on a limited income now I haven’t given up buying books. I mean there are only so many times Calgon will take you away. Give me a good book, not bath products.
Linda Henderson
Linda,
I’m awarding you the winner of the bag o’books strictly on the merits of this:
“And even though the economy is bad and I’m on a limited income now I haven’t given up buying books. I mean there are only so many times Calgon will take you away. Give me a good book, not bath products.”
I think I can get your email from the site, but just in case, send me a line at kathleenoreilly@earthlink.net
Congrats Linda…great choice, Kathleen.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
1. Does your reading choice vary over time/mood/age? That is, has your reading habits changed and how? I find myself reading more romance in my late 30s than I ever have in my life. However, I do have moods and sometimes I just want to read something dark.
2. Do you gravitate toward one specific sub-genre, or do you read in all romance sub-genres, or all fiction genres as well? Has this changed for you, and do you think it’s because of getting tired of something, or something seems more interesting, or is because your life-circumstances had altered?
There are a few sub-genres that I don’t care for. There are also a few genres I don’t care for, anything with tanks, submarines or Tom Clancy in the title are probably not in my TBR pile.
I admit I love category romance now and didn’t always.
3. Has your reading changed in the past year? What were you reading prior to this year and what are you reading now?
I have read more series/category romance this year than ever before.
4. Do your likes and dislikes of heroes and heroines change, or do you think it’s remain constant? Alphas, yay, nay?
I prefer Betas, but dont’ mind Alphas. I don’t like doormats of either gender.
5. Any other comment you want to add on this very unorganized discussion.
I think that my tastes have changed, and I am sure they will change again. That is the best part about reading, there is always something new to be found!
Samantha,
Thanks for the feedback. Any idea why you’re reading more series/category this year? Is it a money/time/or taste thing, do you think? I’m just curious. I have done a lot more series this year, but I think it’s because I’m seeing more reviews of series/category books now….
Honestly, I think it is because I am exposed to them more now that we have a book store. I never gave them much notice when I saw them in stores or the library. I guess I had the wrong idea of what they were. I also love that they are shorter, yet still tell the same great story of a book over 400 pages.
Samantha,
Interesting stuff. Thanks! Glad you got the book store.
When I was a young man, romance was more prevalent. Young men and women were more shy and inocent therefore each date was more romantic and thrilling. Today I notice even in my own children, that romance seems to be old fashened. The children are more sophistcated. However, the need for romance though supressed is still there. I believe that Romantic Novels fill that need.
Angelo,
I feel privileged to have male feedback! Thank you for your comments. I agree on your thoughts about the need for romance. I feel very sad that our modern sensibilities are such that romance = sex. Sigh. The body might need sex, but the soul needs romance.
Thank You So Much.
Linda Henderson
Congrats Linda!!! (*)