As fewer and fewer people pick up a book of any kind each year, I think it's great that anyone is reading—no matter the genre. Romance novels, in particular, are often criticized, despite the fact that many talented writers work in the genre. Because romance relies on tropes, some dismiss it as irrelevant or lacking depth. However, with more romance books being adapted into television shows and movies—and as more men begin to read them—that perception is shifting. Romantasy, in particular, benefits from its covers, which often resemble traditional fantasy novels rather than romance, leading some men to read them unintentionally. I believe this will help expand the genre's readership. Ultimately, you can't argue with sales—romance is a powerhouse in the publishing industry. I make no apologies for reading them, nor writing them. Enjoy!
Agree 100%! Your views on the cover art is so spot on, and I hadn't even thought about it despite the fact I am also an art historian. I hope you're right that these covers (usually dark and featuring the title rather than a couple) also helps expand the readership. I'm hopeful. Just yesterday my husband was listening to a video game podcast called the Besties (hosted by men). In the intro they suggested their audience read Fourth Wing as it was a great combo of "dragons and kissing". Loved hearing that!
I am not surprised a bit about Fourth Wing! HA! I believe romantasy has been one of the most significant developments in the romance genre in attracting more male readers. The percentage was around 18%, and if romantasy continues to thrive as a subgenre, that number is likely to grow. Similarly, Gothic romance covers have also shifted away from the bare-chested man aesthetic.
Thank you for this! As a fellow librarian (though I work in a school), I strongly feel that most of this backlash is A) internalized misogyny (even from other women, B) a deeply rooted cultural fear of sex and pleasure, and C) widespread hysteria about adolescent sexuality and fear that they may actually enjoy themselves. I am 100% on board with everything you said!
Thank you for reading! Bashing romantasy seems to be a past-time for trolls that don't have anything better to do with their time. I appreciate you mentioning the internalized misogyny as that seems to be at the heart of the article that I linked to that originally inspired this post. I didn't realize how the environment I grew up in fostered that belief in me for many years, and finally shaking it off has been so liberating for me. Doing so also benefitted my daughters, who I raised to be open about their bodies and feelings. There is no shame in the human experience, male or female. It makes me happy to know there are other librarians out there that also respect students enough to allow them their full expression.
Love this impassioned article! Yeah my unconventional opinion, is that we shouldn't expect writers to write moral exemplars. Instead, we should teach our kids to read books critically, not passively accept everything they read. Like you said, they can ask us adults and engage in discussions. If anything, if kids read ONLY moral exemplars, then they don't get exposure to problematic scenarios and have the chance to talk to trusted adults about what's happening. That leaves them unprepared for the real world, which is full of problematic relationships and situations.
It seemed a bit hypocritical to me, that society criticizes Twilight, while also letting English teachers assign teenagers books where all sorts of sketchy and problematic things happen, and I'm not just talking about unquestioned racism. :( I'm not saying Twilight doesn't have problems; of course it does! I'm just saying that it's not unique. Though sometimes the adults can have some controversial opinions.
LOL I remember my high school English teacher discussing Arthur Miller's "The Crucible." (Spoilers ahead.) When John Proctor cheats on his loving wife Elizabeth, she (my teacher) said that they were making such a big deal out of the adultery. "It's normal to fall in and out of love!" my teacher said. Rev Hale argues that nothing is more valuable than life (women were being accused of witchcraft and hanged), in his futile attempt to save the women. But my high school teacher said that he's wrong. It's better to die with dignity than to cling onto "life." 🤣 It's okay for someone to have controversial opinions. But I was shocked that she told us impressionable teenagers her honest opinions on this, LOL. I think it would be good for teenagers to learn to question adults' opinions, too. It's ok for us to agree with her, but it's also ok for us to disagree with her.
While I love Rochester from Jane Eyre, he does some really shady and troubling things too, as you know. :O Heathcliff is even worse! Even Mr Darcy isn't squeaky clean.
About the age difference thing, I spent so much of my adolescence reading these Chinese martial arts novels, all set in ancient China. It was seen as normal and no big deal for a man in his 20s, 30s, or even 40s to date a 17 year old girl...And even marry her. I didn't bat an eyelid at the time, since I didn't know any better, and even thought it was romantic (!!) We also know they had an iffy lack of consent, which I didn't know either until I learned about sexual consent when I came to Canada. For all the problems that people complain about in Twilight, these Chinese novels were 10 times worse. 🤣 So that's why I was unfazed by Twilight. Again, NOT because I condone what was happening, but because I've seen much, much worse, so I didn't think Twilight was that special, if that makes sense.
YES!!! I love all of this. Thank you for sharing. Its absolutely true that life is messy and art reflects life. An author's job is to write their story rather than preach whatever morality happens to be in vogue at the time.
I shouldn't have picked on Twilight soo much, because I had been in a several years long fiction drought when I read it, and it helped me get over the idea that I needed to read non-fiction exclusively to better my mind. I even had a #TeamEdward tee shirt. So yes, I can say I actually loved the books even though they are problematic. But as you said, this is perfect in that it opens up a space for discussion, and if part of that discussion is questioning the adults, all the better. I'm in my 40s but that doesn't mean I know everything. Far from it!!!
I'm more Team Jacob, haha. No, actually, I'm Team Alice and Jasper, haha, I love them. While there were problems in Twilight, I did like the Cullen family. Their family dynamic is a lot healthier than my own family's...
Yeah it's helpful to see both the good and bad (and in between) relationships, or else there's nothing to learn, and the kids believe that relationships are all healthy and functional irl, which is sadly not true.
Yep, I think the only thing that's special about Twilight is that it is mega popular. I bet that if it was obscure, nobody would care! Morally speaking, it doesn't stand out to me, lol. Even a lot of modern romances have plenty of problems, but most of them are nowhere near as famous as Twilight. Controversial to say, but I think even Fifty Shades is unremarkable, lol. Yes, there were consent issues, but most modern romances I've read also have consent issues... So that's nothing new to me. Readers should learn to think critically. Fiction books are NOT an instruction manual on how to do relationships. Please do not copy the fiction characters. 😂
Wow, that article riled me. Romantasy and SJM forever!! I went and commented that I disagree, lol. Your post made me think back to some of the adult books I read when I was pretty young. For some reason I picked up Memoirs of a Geisha because it was available in my parent's library. I was probably 12 or so? Maybe even younger. There are worse ways for a kid to learn about the life of a prostitute. My mom knew I was reading it and just shrugged and let me go for it. I'm a parent now, and I think I'd just be happy my kids are reading, regardless of what they want to read (unless its like a hate manifesto or something, then I'll get concerned lol).
That article also got under my skin, obviously! SJM is treasure and I am thrilled her books have launched romantasy books into the mainstream. She writes about love and hope and the world needs more of that IMO. As for your experience with Memoirs of a Geisha...I love that fact your mom let you go for it. I imagine this trust between you and your mom extended into other areas of your life as well. You showed an interest in something (like a book) and she gave you the space to explore. I can only assume that you are still reading today, in part because you were encouraged in your pursuits. #ParentingWin
As fewer and fewer people pick up a book of any kind each year, I think it's great that anyone is reading—no matter the genre. Romance novels, in particular, are often criticized, despite the fact that many talented writers work in the genre. Because romance relies on tropes, some dismiss it as irrelevant or lacking depth. However, with more romance books being adapted into television shows and movies—and as more men begin to read them—that perception is shifting. Romantasy, in particular, benefits from its covers, which often resemble traditional fantasy novels rather than romance, leading some men to read them unintentionally. I believe this will help expand the genre's readership. Ultimately, you can't argue with sales—romance is a powerhouse in the publishing industry. I make no apologies for reading them, nor writing them. Enjoy!
Agree 100%! Your views on the cover art is so spot on, and I hadn't even thought about it despite the fact I am also an art historian. I hope you're right that these covers (usually dark and featuring the title rather than a couple) also helps expand the readership. I'm hopeful. Just yesterday my husband was listening to a video game podcast called the Besties (hosted by men). In the intro they suggested their audience read Fourth Wing as it was a great combo of "dragons and kissing". Loved hearing that!
I am not surprised a bit about Fourth Wing! HA! I believe romantasy has been one of the most significant developments in the romance genre in attracting more male readers. The percentage was around 18%, and if romantasy continues to thrive as a subgenre, that number is likely to grow. Similarly, Gothic romance covers have also shifted away from the bare-chested man aesthetic.
Thank you for this! As a fellow librarian (though I work in a school), I strongly feel that most of this backlash is A) internalized misogyny (even from other women, B) a deeply rooted cultural fear of sex and pleasure, and C) widespread hysteria about adolescent sexuality and fear that they may actually enjoy themselves. I am 100% on board with everything you said!
Thank you for reading! Bashing romantasy seems to be a past-time for trolls that don't have anything better to do with their time. I appreciate you mentioning the internalized misogyny as that seems to be at the heart of the article that I linked to that originally inspired this post. I didn't realize how the environment I grew up in fostered that belief in me for many years, and finally shaking it off has been so liberating for me. Doing so also benefitted my daughters, who I raised to be open about their bodies and feelings. There is no shame in the human experience, male or female. It makes me happy to know there are other librarians out there that also respect students enough to allow them their full expression.
Love this impassioned article! Yeah my unconventional opinion, is that we shouldn't expect writers to write moral exemplars. Instead, we should teach our kids to read books critically, not passively accept everything they read. Like you said, they can ask us adults and engage in discussions. If anything, if kids read ONLY moral exemplars, then they don't get exposure to problematic scenarios and have the chance to talk to trusted adults about what's happening. That leaves them unprepared for the real world, which is full of problematic relationships and situations.
It seemed a bit hypocritical to me, that society criticizes Twilight, while also letting English teachers assign teenagers books where all sorts of sketchy and problematic things happen, and I'm not just talking about unquestioned racism. :( I'm not saying Twilight doesn't have problems; of course it does! I'm just saying that it's not unique. Though sometimes the adults can have some controversial opinions.
LOL I remember my high school English teacher discussing Arthur Miller's "The Crucible." (Spoilers ahead.) When John Proctor cheats on his loving wife Elizabeth, she (my teacher) said that they were making such a big deal out of the adultery. "It's normal to fall in and out of love!" my teacher said. Rev Hale argues that nothing is more valuable than life (women were being accused of witchcraft and hanged), in his futile attempt to save the women. But my high school teacher said that he's wrong. It's better to die with dignity than to cling onto "life." 🤣 It's okay for someone to have controversial opinions. But I was shocked that she told us impressionable teenagers her honest opinions on this, LOL. I think it would be good for teenagers to learn to question adults' opinions, too. It's ok for us to agree with her, but it's also ok for us to disagree with her.
While I love Rochester from Jane Eyre, he does some really shady and troubling things too, as you know. :O Heathcliff is even worse! Even Mr Darcy isn't squeaky clean.
About the age difference thing, I spent so much of my adolescence reading these Chinese martial arts novels, all set in ancient China. It was seen as normal and no big deal for a man in his 20s, 30s, or even 40s to date a 17 year old girl...And even marry her. I didn't bat an eyelid at the time, since I didn't know any better, and even thought it was romantic (!!) We also know they had an iffy lack of consent, which I didn't know either until I learned about sexual consent when I came to Canada. For all the problems that people complain about in Twilight, these Chinese novels were 10 times worse. 🤣 So that's why I was unfazed by Twilight. Again, NOT because I condone what was happening, but because I've seen much, much worse, so I didn't think Twilight was that special, if that makes sense.
YES!!! I love all of this. Thank you for sharing. Its absolutely true that life is messy and art reflects life. An author's job is to write their story rather than preach whatever morality happens to be in vogue at the time.
I shouldn't have picked on Twilight soo much, because I had been in a several years long fiction drought when I read it, and it helped me get over the idea that I needed to read non-fiction exclusively to better my mind. I even had a #TeamEdward tee shirt. So yes, I can say I actually loved the books even though they are problematic. But as you said, this is perfect in that it opens up a space for discussion, and if part of that discussion is questioning the adults, all the better. I'm in my 40s but that doesn't mean I know everything. Far from it!!!
I'm more Team Jacob, haha. No, actually, I'm Team Alice and Jasper, haha, I love them. While there were problems in Twilight, I did like the Cullen family. Their family dynamic is a lot healthier than my own family's...
Yeah it's helpful to see both the good and bad (and in between) relationships, or else there's nothing to learn, and the kids believe that relationships are all healthy and functional irl, which is sadly not true.
Yep, I think the only thing that's special about Twilight is that it is mega popular. I bet that if it was obscure, nobody would care! Morally speaking, it doesn't stand out to me, lol. Even a lot of modern romances have plenty of problems, but most of them are nowhere near as famous as Twilight. Controversial to say, but I think even Fifty Shades is unremarkable, lol. Yes, there were consent issues, but most modern romances I've read also have consent issues... So that's nothing new to me. Readers should learn to think critically. Fiction books are NOT an instruction manual on how to do relationships. Please do not copy the fiction characters. 😂
Wow, that article riled me. Romantasy and SJM forever!! I went and commented that I disagree, lol. Your post made me think back to some of the adult books I read when I was pretty young. For some reason I picked up Memoirs of a Geisha because it was available in my parent's library. I was probably 12 or so? Maybe even younger. There are worse ways for a kid to learn about the life of a prostitute. My mom knew I was reading it and just shrugged and let me go for it. I'm a parent now, and I think I'd just be happy my kids are reading, regardless of what they want to read (unless its like a hate manifesto or something, then I'll get concerned lol).
That article also got under my skin, obviously! SJM is treasure and I am thrilled her books have launched romantasy books into the mainstream. She writes about love and hope and the world needs more of that IMO. As for your experience with Memoirs of a Geisha...I love that fact your mom let you go for it. I imagine this trust between you and your mom extended into other areas of your life as well. You showed an interest in something (like a book) and she gave you the space to explore. I can only assume that you are still reading today, in part because you were encouraged in your pursuits. #ParentingWin