Romance books are some of the most well-loved books out there. In fact, romance is the most popular genre in the United States, with Americans spending $1.08 billion on romance books in 2016 alone. But why are romance books so popular? In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the reasons why romance novels are so cherished by readers all over the world.
The Heroine’s Journey
One of the reasons why romance novels are so popular is because they often follow what’s known as the “heroine’s journey.” This is a version of the more widely-known “hero’s journey” first outlined by Joseph Campbell, and it describes a storytelling arc in which the main character (in this case, a heroine) goes on a journey, faces challenges and obstacles, and emerges changed (and usually in a relationship with a hero). This storyline is very satisfying for readers, who get to root for the heroine as she overcomes the challenges in her life and achieves her happy ending.
The Power of Fantasy
Another reason why romance novels are so well-loved is because they offer readers a chance to escape from their everyday lives and into a world of fantasy. In romances, anything is possible. The hero can be incredibly wealthy, impossibly handsome, and totally devoted to the heroine. The heroine can be strong and independent or sweet and shy—it all depends on what kind of story the reader is looking for. And while we might not all be able to experience these things in real life, it’s nice to read about them and imagine what it would be like to have our own fairy tale romance.
The Appeal of Happy Endings
Finally, one of the biggest attractions of romance novels is that they always end happily. No matter how Challenges and trials that the hero and heroine face throughout the story, you can be sure that by the end they’ll be together and living happily ever after. In a world that can often be harsh and unpredictable, it’s comforting to know that good things do happen to good people—and that happy endings are possible.
Romance novels are some of the most well-loved books out there because they offer readers an escape into a world of fantasy where anything is possible. They also follow storylines that are very satisfying for readers, with challenges and obstacles faced by the heroine culminating in a happy ending. If you’re looking for some light reading that will transport you to another world and make you believe in happy endings again, pick up a romance novel today!
