10 Reasons To Read Romance

1. There is always a HEA (or HFN)

I am 100% here for the guaranteed happily ever after (or happy for now)! To clarify, not all love stories are classified as romance. To be a romance book, there must be a HEA (or HFN). Period. The HEA (or HFN) is non-negotiable; that’s literally what defines the genre! Does that make it “predictable?” Maybe. However the predictability allows romance to be a comfort.

2. best-selling genre

Romance, as a genre, has topped the charts for quite some time. Romance has a very faithful fan base, which makes it regularly one of the bestselling and most profitable literary genres. For that to be the case, romance authors are clearly doing something right! 

3. Tropes

Romance does some of my favorite tropes the best!  Give me all the enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-more, second chance, and small town romance books! You can truly find a trope to fit any mood.

4. Big love for indie authors

I understand that self-published authors exist across all genres.  However, there is a huge support system for indie romance authors.  Many are well-loved and respected among the romance community, therefore making them highly supported. With that level of support, a lot of indie authors have been best-sellers or have had their self-published books later picked up by traditional publishers. As frustrating as Amazon can be to me sometimes (shop small, y’all!), it has paved a solid path for indie authors, and for that, I am thankful!

5. ALL. THE. FEELS.

I love that romance can make me feel EVERYTHING!  So many romance authors have mastered writing evocative stories that allow me to experience them on such an emotional level.  When I pick up a romance book, that’s part of my expectation — I want to be able to connect with the people, places, and stories that I’m reading about. That expectation is met more often than not.

6. Sexy times

You can find varying levels of steam/spice in romance to fit your comfort zone. Personally, give me the steam!  Give me the off the charts chemistry!  I definitely prefer on-page sizzle to fade-to-black, but that’s my personal preference. If you prefer to read something closed-door (little to no on-page intimacy), you can find plenty to read still. Likewise, if you like things scorching hot or erotic, you also can find plenty to read. Again, there’s something for everyone!

7. Celebrates relationships of all kinds

Romance novels can be amazingly diverse, and I think that has a lot to do with people, in general, being diverse.  The diversity lends to fantastically different couples and relationships with characters of all colors, shapes, sizes, cultures, experiences, sexuality, or identity. And reading diverse books is so, so important!

8. So many sub-genres

While I gravitate strongly towards contemporary romance, particularly romantic comedies, there is so much variety in romance!  You can find contemporary, historical, erotica, paranormal, fantasy, suspense, LGBTQA+, own voices, etc. written across young adult, new adult, and adult fiction. You can even get a mash-up of sub-genres that makes for even more variety.  What’s greater still is that within each sub-genre, you can see a multitude of tropes and a myriad of character types.  Romance simply has a lot to offer (are you noticing a trend here!?)!

9. Romancelandia

The romance community is amazing!  I have “met” some of the absolute best people through romance reading/blogging, none of which would have been possible without romancelandia. You can easily find members of the romance community by searching Google or social media. Find recommendations, friendships, and more in romancelandia!

10. It’s THE PERFECT ESCAPE

Life is tough. The real world can feel very heavy at times. With the guaranteed HEA (or HFN) of romance, you know that in the end, everything is going to work out and love will find a way. Sometimes, your brain and your heart need that certainty. I read to escape, so why wouldn’t I want to escape to a place that brings me pure joy time and time again!? I cannot preach enough: READ WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY!