What is Romance in books?

25 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment

by rlpl4adult in Subject Guide Tags: boy, genre, genre study, girl, life, list, readalikes, romance

Romance books focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people. A writer can include as many subplots as he/she wants as long as the love story is the main focus of the novel. These novels must have an “emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.” In a romance, the lovers who risk and struggle for each other and their relationship are rewarded with emotional justice and unconditional love. Romance novels may have any tone or style, be set in any place or time, and have varying levels of sensuality—ranging from sweet to extremely hot. These settings and distinctions of plot create specific subgenres within romance fiction.

There are two formats for romance fiction:

Series or “category” romances: books issued under a common imprint/series name that are usually numbered sequentially and released at regular intervals, usually monthly, with the same number of releases each time. These books are most commonly published by Harlequin/Silhouette.
Single-title romances: longer romances released individually and not as part of a numbered series. Single-title romances may be released in hard cover, trade paperback, or mass-market paperback sizes.

Romance Literature Subgenres & Examples in Our Library

Contemporary Series Romance : Series romance novels that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and typically set after 1945.

Contemporary-Single Title Romance : Romance novels that focus primarily on the romantic relationship, released as individual titles, not as part of a series and set after 1945.

Historical Romance : Romance novels set in any time period prior to 1945, and taking place in any location.

Inspirational Romance : Romance novels in which religious or spiritual beliefs (in the context of any religion or spiritual belief system) are a major part of the romantic relationship.

Novels with Strong Romantic Elements : A work of fiction in which a romance plays a significant part in the story, but other themes or elements take the plot beyond the traditional romance boundaries.