When the romance genre first emerged, it was a fresh kind of story that typically featured a female protagonist, which was a rare occurrence for the time. Romance novels follow a character who often has to work against a societal norm or overcome challenges to pursue their own happiness. Readers of this genre sometimes use these novels as an escape from reality into a lighter, more hopeful world.
“You get to feel delulu [and] see different love stories,” FHS freshman and romance reader Atheena Meza said.
As time progresses, the plots, characters and settings are constantly branching out. Books of this genre can incorporate qualities of fantasy, science fiction and others while following characters who just so happen to experience romance.
“I think sometimes romance books get put into this category, like, just about romance.” FHS math teacher Alissa LaFerriere said. “But so often with romance books, there’s so many other things, it’s a whole life.”
Reading romance novels can not only be a way to explore what one might look for in a relationship, but also model what is not acceptable.
“Especially when you’re a teenager and you’re just starting to explore relationships for the first time, seeing [for yourself] things everyone online is talking about, ‘that’s a red flag,’ [or] ‘Oh, why is that a not okay thing in a relationship?’ versus ‘What does it actually look like to have a relationship that is working well?’” LaFerriere said.
Some books made widely popular through social media and BookTok, such as A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) by Sarah J. Maas, have received mixed reactions. One scene in the book describes the protagonist actively rejecting the physical advances of a romantic interest.
“This entire scene left a bad taste in my mouth,” a Goodreads user wrote in a review of the novel. Readers have criticized subgenres, such as dark romance, for romanticizing abuse and other controversial themes. On the other hand, some argue that dark fantasy can be a way to express and explore one’s desires without causing any harm.
“I love the heat Maas’ romances convey in me,” another Goodreads user wrote. Not every BookTok book is controversial and many people love the novels that rose to fame through social media. Social media can be a way for readers to discover new reads.
“[The] ‘Shatter Me’ series, or maybe ‘Lightlark.’ I’m still reading them, but they’re really good so far,” Meza said. Whether it be romantasy, paranormal or romantic suspense, romance novels cover a wide range of worlds and diverse characters.
“I love John Green books,” LaFerriere said, “I loved ‘The Fault in Our Stars.’ He’s also published more books recently, like ‘Turtles All the Way Down,’ I think is a really good depiction of OCD.”
Romance books have branched out to cover mental illness, personal struggles and complex relationships, all while featuring the magic of falling in love. In an ever evolving variety of books, the stories are limitless and romance has become an incredibly beloved genre.
