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?
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