The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an “emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending”.

So, let us now let you about some myths and facts associated with romance fiction.

1. Romance readers love scandals
While it is very much true that many romance novels have clear descriptions of love scenes, many novels don’t. Romance fiction comes in many different varieties, from the ‘celestial blue’, chaste representations of spiritual love in inspiration romance fiction, to the gritty indigo of erotica, with every shade in between.

Readers who do read novels with explicit love scenes do not  just buy them for that reason; however, sexual contact is as much a part of real life as working and conversing, so it is represented within the pages of a romance novel.

2. Romance readers are read by only frustrated  lady spinsters
Most female romance readers are married, the most recent readership survey on the RWA (Romance Writers of America) website indicates that 50% are married, 8% widowed, 4% divorced and 1% separated. Also, 75% are under the age of 54. And 22% of romance readers are men. This is not to imply that male readership is necessary to garner respect for any genre, it is just another fact that goes against the stereotype.

3. Romance readers are brainless
A very famous myth goes against the romance fictions readers that, a large number of these readers are stupid and the lack creative imagination. But this is not at all true because 23% of readers responding to the RWA survey reported having ‘only’ a high school diploma, while 42% have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

4. Romance readers need a life of their own
Romance readers have lives of their own, which is why they read romance novels. The average woman’s life is full of problems; she often has a job outside the home, and has to juggle that against responsibilities to her children, spouse, parents, in-laws and friends, and has to fit in time for cooking, cleaning, and keeping herself in some kind of adequate repair.

Those who do not have a job outside of the home manage additional responsibilities, such as caring for other people’s children, caring for elder parents and volunteer positions. Romance novels allow the reader an ‘escape’, but it is not an escape from an empty life, rather it is a break from a life too full, and devastating, at times. Reading romance fiction relieves many women and men from stress and other related problems.

These are some common myths and facts related with romance fiction novels.

Tags: myths and facts about romance fiction readers, myths and facts associated with romance fiction, omance fiction novels