Romance Novels Paperback

A romance novel is a genre fiction book that focuses on the relationship and romantic love between two characters and has an “emotionally satisfying and optimistic” ending. It has several subgenres.

A feisty stewardess and her rough-and-ready handyman spar over work and play in this romance from Vermont-based Rochelle Bilow.

Origins

Romance novels are a type of genre fiction that centers on romantic love. The term is derived from the Latin romanz, or “romantic”, and the genre has been popular among women since ancient Greece. Despite being one of the most popular and best-selling genres, romance literature receives little respect from larger society. In fact, critics tend to characterize it as trashy or fluffy.

For years, romance books were primarily read in the boudoir and confined to women’s preoccupations with love and marriage. However, in the 20th century, Mills & Boon established a formulaic approach to the genre and created a loyal readership. Today, women still dominate the romance market, purchasing and reading hundreds of books a year and fueling (according to Jezebel) a $1.4 billion industry. In the 1970s, Avon released The Flame and the Flower, considered the first modern bodice ripper. Its success ushered in a new era of quick-turnover paperback romances that were aimed at a mainstream mass-market audience of female readers.

Formats

At their most basic level, romance novels are about a girl and guy who meet, fall in love, and get married. The details of their story can vary widely depending on the tropes the novel follows, but every romance novel must have a happy-ever-after ending.

Romance is a popular and profitable genre, but it has also been controversial. Some scholars have argued that the genre enslaves its readers, who are mostly women, by restricting them to stories that ignore social issues.

Despite their reputation as lowbrow books, romances have long been the top-selling genre in print. Many romances are published in paperback, because they have shorter lifespans than hardcovers and are cheaper to produce. The majority of traditional publishers’ romance titles are available in mass market or mass max, but most small presses publish their books in trade size. These editions are usually illustrated and feature eye-catching covers with swoon-worthy scenes of the heroes or heroines.

Covers

With a billion dollars in annual sales, romance novels have a tight grip on the industry. They have a wide variety of subgenres, and the genre’s readers are demanding. A great cover is essential, as it is the first thing to catch a potential reader’s eye.

Romance novel covers often feature scantily dressed heterosexual lovers caught in a “clinch” and other steamy images. This style was popularized by Harlequin’s era-defining series of sexy books, with long-haired model Fabio appearing on countless cover shots.

Now, romantic fiction publishers look for sexy imagery that will stand out from the competition. They use bright colors and plot-related illustrations that convey details without requiring readers to read the book’s jacket copy. They also strive to woo upmarket women’s fiction readers with contemporary and compelling love stories that might require a hanky or two at the end. They may incorporate creative font styles or scriptures into their designs, as well.

Sales

A quick glance at sales data from NPD BookScan (formerly Nielsen BookScan) reveals that romance novels are still going strong. In fact, they are selling better than ever. According to the company, unit sales for the genre reached a 2-year high in July 2022.

In a time of pandemic, uncertain world events, and a growing skepticism of the government and media, it makes sense that people are turning to romantic fiction for escapism and a guaranteed happy ending. And while the genre may be prone to tropes, it remains one of the most popular genres in publishing.

Romance can be written in any tone or style, and set in any place or time, which creates specific subgenres such as historical and erotic romance. And it can be read on a variety of devices including tablets, smartphones, and e-readers. Most often, readers find the genre through a recommendation by a friend or by browsing their local library.

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How to Write a Romance Novel Query Letter

A query letter has one job: to seduce an agent into reading your manuscript. It does this by painting your book into a pretty little box that they can instantly understand—but also makes it seem unique and like nothing else in their slush pile or on their shelves.

It begins by sharing any connection you have with the agent (such as a mutual friend, contact from a conference, or a previous publishing credit). Then, it moves on to your genre and word count.

Genre

Romance novels are one of the most popular genres of fiction. However, they’re often dismissed by critics as lowbrow. Despite this, romance novels still sell well and appear frequently on bestseller lists. To write a successful romance novel, you need to understand the genre and its elements.

The key element of a romance novel is the central love story. The romance novel also has to have a positive ending that leaves readers satisfied. There are many different subcategories of romance, including historical, paranormal, erotic and inspirational.

In a query letter, you need to specify the genre and subgenre of your book. This allows agents to quickly determine if your book fits in with their market. It also helps them decide whether your book is a twist on a classic trope or an original take on a common theme.

Plot

Romance is one of the most popular genres. It is a sub-genre of fiction that can include many different plot lines. Romance novels are mostly about romance between two people but also often have a third, fourth or more characters involved in the plot.

Romantic conflict is usually a major component of the story and should be highlighted in your query letter. Whether the main conflict is a case of mistaken identity, a forbidden love affair or a second chance at happiness, make sure to include it in your query.

Although the basics of outlining and structuring a novel are the same across all genres, romance has its own quirks and unwritten rules. Familiarize yourself with the conventions of romance and its sub-genres by reading a few books in your chosen category.

Characters

Developing well-rounded characters is vital to the success of any novel. They bring tried-and-true tropes to life and create an emotional investment for readers. This makes them more than just players in a romance plot, and can make your story stand out from the slush pile.

One common character element in romance is keeping secrets – likable rivals who drop hints that their love interest is interested, or reveal childhood traumas that could derail the protagonist’s romantic endgame. But these characters should be used sparingly, because they can detract from the overall arc of the narrative.

Other character traits include age-appropriate actions (a teenager cannot behave like a 20-something), and a distinct personality trait that differentiates them from other characters. A memorable name also helps.

Synopsis

Many agents request that you send your query letter in the body of an email, plus a one-to-two-page novel synopsis as a separate attachment. This allows them to see at a glance whether your book is right for their list, in particular.

It also gives them an idea of the plot, without giving away too much of the ending. This is why it is important to write a synopsis that will stand out from the rest of the submissions they get.

For fiction, this is especially challenging, as the genre is often more than just a love story, from historical to mystery to erotica. Still, it must be clear that the love story is central to the book and that it has an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.

Request

A query letter is a short one-page document that sells your novel to an agent or editor. It’s important to have a well-written, professional-looking query letter, which can be done by finding someone with editing and publishing experience who offers a query letter review service.

You should include a short bio at the beginning of your query letter, and let them know if you have any other publishing credits or accomplishments relevant to your genre (for example, if you’re an NYT-bestselling author with a large social media following, you can mention that). Some agents will ask for a full-length novel synopsis as an attachment with your query letter. If that’s the case, be sure to follow their instructions carefully. Never give away the ending of your book in a query letter!

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