Romance novel: Fact or Fiction

Most of us steer clear of the isle marked “Romance” in Barnes & Noble lest we be infected with “housewife syndrome.”

It is widely believed that romance novels are trashy bits of fiction that don’t deserve to be printed. In actuality they are a big business industry that bring release to women of every type of intelligence. But how much of what we hear about these books is true? I decided that the only way to find out the truth was to experience a romance novel for myself, and this is what I learned:

Fact: Parts are a little trashy, but it’s tasteful.

Fiction: The female characters are airheads.

Fact: The leading men and women are beautiful beyond belief.

Fiction: Romance novels insult your intelligence…OK, maybe just a little.

Fact: The woman is often the heroine.

Fiction: The novel is purely sappy from cover to cover.

Fact: The number one reason why women read romance novels is to escape from the monotony of life.

Fiction: Once you read one, there is no going back.

Fact: You might temporarily think that your boyfriend is a jerk after reading about all the romantic things that romance novel men do for their beloved.

Fiction: Characters in romance novels are two-dimensional.

There you have it. Having given you these guidelines, I’d like to include a disclaimer. I did a little research about romance novels (a.k.a., I talked to my mom), and some publishing companies churn out the truly trashy books that give romance novels a bad name.

If you do decide to brave the wide world of romance novels, avoid books published by Zebra. Pocket Books and Historical Romance come highly recommended. Furthermore, Julie Garwood is an author that all true romance-novel connoisseurs tend to read.