As a reading genre, romance novels are loosely defined as fiction books about romantic love and the relationship between two people. Many sources list romances as the highest-selling genre in the U.S.; percentages of total fiction sales range from 20-33%. That’s a hunk, a hunk of burning love!
Why is romance so popular? Well, romance books generally have happy endings. They focus on the main character’s happiness and well-being. And there are as many types of romance books as there are styles of beer in the PNW. Some of the major subgenres of romance are:
- Contemporary romance: these romances take place in modern times, although some definitions extend that time frame to start any time after WWII.
- Historical romance: centers on the relationship between two characters in an historical period such as Civil War or Regency.
- Paranormal romance: either one of the main characters can be characterized as supernatural (werewolf, vampire), or the story involves elements without scientific explanation (ghost).
- Romantic fantasy (Romantasy): a story that combines fantasy and romance
- Romantic comedy (Rom-com): romantic comedy, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines
- Western romance: adventure and romance, set in the American West. Hint: look for a woman on the book’s cover.
- Inspirational romance: themes of love, faith, forgiveness and personal growth.
Harlequin, the world’s largest publisher of series romance, even has a guide to romance genres on their website. And every romance book has a thermometer on the cover! Well, not really, but they easily could, because the temperature ranges vary from prim and proper to pyrotechnic.
Now, here’s your library secret for the week. If you have a favorite author (in romance or in other genres), and you have already read all their books, you can use the word “readalikes” to help you find similar authors. The term also works for specific titles. Listed below are some of the biggest names in romance fiction, along with several readalikes for each author. I hope you find a romance read that calls to you.
- If you like: Susan Elizabeth Phillips (contemporary romance), you might also like:
- If you like: Mary Balogh (historical romance), you might also like:
- If you like: Charlaine Harris (paranormal romance), you might also like:
- If you like: Sarah J. Maas (romantasy), you might also like:
- If you like: Sophie Kinsella (rom-com), you might also like:
- If you like: Janet Dailey (western romance), you might also like:
- If you like: Karen Kingsbury (inspirational romance), you might also like:
New at the Library
Fiction
- Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
- Haunted by Kat Martin
- We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
Nonfiction
- When the Clock Broke : Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked up in the Early 1990s by John Ganz
- The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum: The Rise and Fall of an American Organized-Crime Boss by Margalit Fox
- Freaky Folklore: Terrifying Tales of the World’s Most Elusive Monsters and Enigmatic Cryptids by Darkness Prevails
Children
- Where? by Jordan Collins
- Weird but True! Star Wars: 300 Epic Facts from a Galaxy Far, Far Away… by National Geographic Kids
- Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan
