The Riot Against Romance: Why We All Need Love Stories

My sister is an avid fan of murder mysteries, yet nobody suggests that she’ll become axe-wielding psychopath. However, when I mention my love for the romance genre, I’m usually pigeonholed and subjected to harsh judgement. Why are romance enthusiasts so readily reduced to simpering day-dreamers?

Stereotypically characterised as a genre for housewives discontented with their passionless lives, romance novels have become synonymous with “bodice-ripping” male protagonists, unrealistic, overused tropes, and helpless damsels-in-distress. Although this may have been true when the genre first took off commercially, romance, like many other genres, has adapted to suit a modern-day context.

It’s surprising that the highest-selling genre, grossing over $1.44 billion in annual revenue, isn’t often seen as “real literature”. Many believe that “real books” encompass fearless protagonists who embark on dangerous quests or fight wicked villains. These plot-driven narratives make for engaging novels, but who’s to say that character-driven plots can’t be inspirational? As expected for a genre centred around the protagonist’s emotions, romance heroines often undergo a self-growth story arc that runs parallel to their progressing relationships. Whether it’s a timid PhD student or a thrill-seeking vacationer, the realistic, human element to my favourite romance characters makes them relatable role models. The average romance heroine may not possess the same set of talents as a swashbuckling pirate or magic-wielding faerie, but their unbridled character development and imperfect nature offer another asset that’s far undervalued: the innate strength of human character.

Romance is well-known as a genre saturated with female talent and written for a primarily female readership, and plays a key role in empowering authors from diverse backgrounds. From Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice selling over 120 million copies to Romance being the second most popular fiction genre, female authors, especially those from marginalised communities, have achieved great success in this literary field. Now, contemporary romance is becoming one of the most diversified genres, a trailblazer in literary representation. In the New York Times’ interview with Laynie Rose Rizer, the assistant store manager at East City Bookshop, she explained that “people want to see themselves,'' in the books they read. This explains why many readers turn to romance novels for escapism, finding solace in seeing themselves reflected in the protagonists. For those from demographics not often portrayed in modern media, seeing characters like themselves getting well-deserved happy endings is a magical thing.

Whether it’s politics, climate change or the epidemic, it’s a rough world out there. Instead of mocking others’ reading preferences, unnecessarily harsh critics perhaps should take a page out of their book, and find their own source of joy. Maybe it’s knitting, or rock-climbing. Who knows, it may even be within the pages of a bestselling romance novel.