Why I Love Romance Novels

Do you ever wonder why you find a certain genre so appealing? Last month was National Romance Awareness Month, and this prompted me to consider why I love reading romance, especially new adult romance, so much. As someone who is generally considered quite cynical, somewhat unaffectionate, and much happier without a significant other, loving romance novels seems a little off base. However, anyone who has read a good romance story knows that there is so much more going on than a simple HEA. Here are a few of my reasons for adoring this genre:

1. Romance novels do an exceptional job of exploring human interactions. What draws one person to another? What characteristics add up to an ideal partnership? What are the greatest obstacles both individuals and couples face that require the most growth and development to conquer? From someone who loves psychology and sociology, explorations revolving around these kinds of questions are absolutely fascinating.

2. Romance novels can remind you that love is powerful. I’m not just talking about romantic love. Often, romance novels feature secondary relationships between friends, family members, coworkers, etc. There is so much hate in the world, and sometimes that can be hard to handle. It can take away your faith in good and kind people. The best romance novels I’ve read have combined the realistic elements of a harsh world and laced them with the hope and power that a little love can bring.

3. Romance novels explore major internal conflict. Internal conflict is a big ingredient in most genres, but I think it comes up especially in romance novels. I believe that more often than not, external conflict is not what keeps most people from being together or from being happy. This isn’t always true of course, but internal conflicts, conflicts a character might have had for years, are tough as hell to work at. With many external conflicts, one battle might end it forever, but with internal conflicts, it’s usually a daily battle to choose a different path.

4. New adult romance novels show connections in unique ways. In my opinion, part of what makes this genre get its own category is because it deals with issues most relevant to someone at a new adult age. The late teens/early twenties years are some of the most exhilarating and terrifying all at the same time. You have more responsibility and freedom than the young adult years combined with serious concerns over job prospects, finding an apartment, and trying to figure out how to really do taxes and cook more than Ramen noodles. Adding in a romantic connection throws a wrench into everything, especially at an age when you realize how truly high divorce rates are and might already have an idea as to why so many relationships don’t work out.

What draws you to romance novels? Do you remember the first romance book you read that made you fall in love with the genre?