As a romance writer, I’m always interested in the history of romantic fiction and the general snobbery towards it that unfortunately still exists to this day. Romance books are often considered easy to read and must therefore be easy to write, but the fact is, that romance is one of the best-selling genres in commercial fiction, making up a sizeable amount of publisher’s income and the authors behind these books are talented individuals, masters of their craft. So why are romance books are constantly left of broadsheet round-ups of the best books each year, and why does romance still face such snobbery?
Is it the patriarchy?
Umm…actually, yes! In my opinion, a lot of it comes down to the fact that it’s primarily written by women, for women and that immediately devalues it in the eyes of some. It’s an old-fashioned attitude but unfortunately one that still exists. Yet, The Bookseller reported earlier this year that romantasy and love stories led the way in 2024’s fiction sales statistics. However, despite the snobbery there are many advocates for the genre within the industry and readers are proving that no matter how much people sneer at it, we’re still going to get our fix!
Do people really believe in happy-ever-afters?
As the world turns into a dumpster fire, people of all different age groups and backgrounds are turning to the uplifting, heartwarming genre to seek escapism and emotional support. There’s always the safety of a happy-ever-after or a happy-for-now in these books and readers don’t mind which one, as long as there’s a satisfying resolution! In an unpredictable world, a ‘predictable’ ending like this can offer great comfort, and predictability doesn’t mean boring. Yes the hero and heroine end up together, but we go with them for the journey.
Is it the writing?
From a writer’s perspective, romance books are definitely not easy to write. Right now, I should be tackling a first draft that feels more like getting blood out of a stone as I try and balance character journeys, setting, action, and creating a sizzling romance. (Don’t tell my editor I’m procrastinating!) It takes a lot of skill to achieve the balance of drawing readers into your world and doing it in a way that doesn’t feel like you’re reading an academic essay (no shade to academics here!). Easy writing is a skill, a book that flawlessly flows, is a skill. Romance authors are masters of the writing craft and deserve way more credit than they get.
So why the shade?
To be honest, we still don’t really know! But as romance writers we’ll keep battling genre snobbery where we find it and relying on readers to prove how wrong those people can be. After all, no amount of outside validation will ever replace the feeling of a good review, or a message from a reader telling us how much our books have cheered them up or got them through a dark time.
If you’ve never read a romance book before, I’d urge you to give it a go with fresh eyes and if you’re already a steadfast fan, thank you for your support! The genre still has some battles to fight and will one day win the respect it deserves, and until then, we’ll keep doing what we love and reading and writing romance that’s inclusive and uplifting.
