Sign in with Facebook
Lisa Kleypas Talks Changing Trends in Romance
In romance, a lot can happen in just one year, much less ten or 20! With multiple award-winning series since the late 1980s, author Lisa Kleypas has been writing long enough to see trends come and go...and sometimes come around again. In this essay, she takes us behind the scenes of her years in romance and shares her thoughts on how the genre has evolved alongside changing social roles for women, how romance can nurture real-life relationships, and what makes today's heroines so fun to read.
Kleypas is a two-time Goodreads Choice Award nominee. Her newest book, Chasing Cassandra, continues her popular Ravenels series and releases in the U.S. on February 18.
Kleypas is a two-time Goodreads Choice Award nominee. Her newest book, Chasing Cassandra, continues her popular Ravenels series and releases in the U.S. on February 18.
When I was a teenager, I cleaned houses after school and made about $12 a week. On Saturdays, I took every cent to the bookstore at the local mall and spent it on romance novels. It cost $1.25 for a category romance, and $2.50 for a big historical. At the time, I couldn’t have explained why I felt so compelled to devour them.
But then there were romance novels, satisfying our expectations when the world so often thwarted and disappointed them. The reassurance they gave me was addictive. Everything’s going to be OK, they seemed to be telling me. Someday you’ll have your own happy ending. Even then, with the romance genre in its beginning stages, critics complained that romance novels gave us unrealistic expectations about men and relationships. That complaint has resonated through the four decades of my life in romance.
I wrote my first novel when I was 16, attending summer camp with three hours of free time every day. Longhand, on stationery paper you could buy by the pound. I knew nothing about plotting, characterization, or point of view, but from the moment I started, I was obsessed. Back in those days, the typical romance heroine’s journey often led her to submit and conform to traditional ideals. If she started out as a spirited vixen, she needed to be tamed, and the hero was the man for the job, and then she was rewarded with love, commitment, and security.
In my Wallflowers series, a homage to the power of female friendship, four young women who are considered misfits decide to band together to find husbands.
Now with the Ravenels series, I’ve been creating heroines who struggle for fulfillment beyond marriage, such as a young woman who dreams of creating her own board game company or another who’s the only licensed female physician in England. She rescues the hero and saves his life through her skill and determination. Nowadays, a romance heroine wins in the end not by submitting but by becoming wholly herself. Braver and bolder, with bigger dreams and fully equal to her romantic partner.
And excitingly, many writers in all subgenres of our profession are expanding the conventional boundaries of romance as well as redefining what a happy ending can be. Diversity has finally made some hard-won progress in the romance genre, with more to come, so that readers have access to a vast and rich array of stories they deserve, created by new voices who will shape the future.
The romance genre is bigger than one person, group, or organization. To me, writing romance is a calling. Nothing else comes close to accomplishing what it does at its best. It encourages us to reflect on how to nurture a relationship and grow separately as individuals while also growing together as a couple. How to work through problems, forgive each other, and learn from mistakes. And yes, there are sex scenes that lead us to consider what we might be interested in trying or what fantasies might be shared by others. Would you believe in this day and age, many women are still conflicted about enjoying sex? It has to do with things like lack of self-esteem, trust, body image, fear of judgment, and that centuries-old message that maybe we’re not entitled to physical pleasure. Romance novels explore these issues in detail, which empowers and enriches our readers.
As for all those unrealistic expectations...my husband, Greg, is my hero, and thanks in large part to my lifelong love of romance novels, our marriage is full of mutual respect, warmth, and sexiness. And he’s not even a duke or a Navy SEAL! Romance novels don’t lead us to expect we could only be happy with a fantasy man we’ve read about. The message of romance novels is that you are the heroine or hero of your own life. You, regardless of your gender identification, culture, appearance, belief system, disabilities, or age, deserve to love and be loved. Wholeheartedly, passionately, and entirely.
That’s not an unrealistic expectation. Don’t settle for less.
Lisa shared four of her favorite modern romances with us:
Are you a longtime romance reader? What trends have you seen come and go? Let's talk books in the comments!
Check out the complete coverage of Romance Week, including:
Meet Today's Rising Stars of Romance
A Starter Kit of Reads for Romance Newbies
The Ultimate Romance Pen Name Generator
Check out the complete coverage of Romance Week, including:
Meet Today's Rising Stars of Romance
A Starter Kit of Reads for Romance Newbies
The Ultimate Romance Pen Name Generator
Comments Showing 51-80 of 80 (80 new)
date
newest »
newest »
A reflection to consider and that summarizes the last years of change in romance novel. I agree with the evolution of the romantic novel that Lisa has commented. I have read many novels of the 80s and 90s, and although some of my favorite authors are from that era, we can now read more independent heroines, without fear of facing the world for their ideals and not just for their love.In addition to being strong women, they have a goal beyond finding the love of their life. Of course, that is the pillar of history, but now there is something else, their struggle to be independent, create a company, study for the mere pleasure of doing so, have their own economic independence. Romance novel changes just like the world we live in and that doesn't mean it is something bad.
Lisa is spot on in her essay! She put into words exactly what I had not even consciously realized! I remember the recipe of one of my favorite authors...she has it all; she looses it all; man jumps in and gives it all to her again. I am writing my first novel and without realizing it, my heroine is a strong willed woman who is challenged by a head strong cowboy. He offers her nothing to "save" her, yet they meet in the middle.
Addie wrote: "Westysis wrote: "What I would like to see more of now are romances for people in their 50's or 60's or beyond. The tropes will be different and the covers won't have "chesty men" but there should b..."I'm in my thirties - and I too appreciate mature heroes and heroines. As a life long romance junkie, I read 100+ romances a year. I want to see something new in my romantic leads. Maybe that looks like a different setting, a different plot, but it also looks like characters at different times in their lives. It's fun and interesting to read about characters with pasts. There are only so many deflowering stories one desires to read, before they blend together and fall into the vagaries of memory.
That being said - I'd still pick up a book with the chest of a silver fox on the cover, we don't need to remove all of the eye candy just because it's past some social expiry date.
Holly wrote: "In the '70's and '80's a woman in the US could buy a house without a man to co-sign; that is a complete lie. People with no credit or poor credit needed a co-signer; but that was based on credit hi..."I just looked this up - the law mentioned was Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and it looks like it was passed in 1974. Granted, it's a stretch to include 80's; but I'd like to think the intent was to mark those decades as her formative years, and in those years there was significant social change.
I have been reading Lisa Kleypas's books for a very long time. Historical romance has been my genre of choice since I started reading it in college. Lisa is one of my favorites along with Darcy Burke. I enjoy reading about wallflowers and spinster's. Looking forward to reading Chasing Cassandra.
Love you Lisa. I've been a fan for years. So happy the Ravenels continues with Chasing Cassandra.
Treece wrote: "Another trend I have noticed are characters who have "disabilities" and other so-called "flaws" but find love and self-acceptance if they don't already have it. I enjoy this trend because these cha..."TRUE.....I much prefer books that are not, trying to think of a word w/o insulting anyone's writing. sacarine (spelling?). I like 'some meat' in my reading material....no fairy tales
I am ninety now and have read all of my long life. Walked to the library often...many blocks in Brooklyn, NY. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't hold a book in my hands and READ. I have read so many authors....books that you have to 'sink your teeth into', if you know what I mean. Sometimes I reread a book that I had read while a teenager (adult books, that is), long time ago. oft times you get a different perspective.....ANYWHO....HARRAY FOR READING....
Shaundra wrote: "First of all, LK, you're one of my favorite authors. In fact, two years ago I used the yearly B&N gift card my MIL gives me to purchase the complete Wallflowers series AGAIN LOL. I had already had ..."AS YOU AGE, you'll find that those books are fluff...read all of Steinbecks (I know, spelling wrong but pls. consider my age..90 and frankly, too lazy to get up and look up. Won't list all my favorite authors..no fluffs...like to 'dig in'...
If folks are willing to read science fiction, there are several great romances between middle aged people in Multiple award winner Lois McMaster Bujold's work. A favorite is her first book,
, featuring an unexpected romance between two ship captains from different planetary cultures-I particularly like that he is attracted because she is utterly competent without being an "imitation man". (Yea, he's from a mysogynistic culture.) There is also a great sequel who's blurb could be "just getting married doesn't guarentee a HEA".
I see a bunch of people wanting to see stories featuring women over 40. I do too, that's why I decided to write them! I would love feedback about what people would like to see and what they see as challenges particular to being older. Reading Royal Wedding really made me think about how I wouldn't uproot myself for romance the way I would have in my 30s. Are there any other things?
I LOVE ALL LISA KLEYPAS' Books I just received CHASING CASSANDRA tonight. Thank here for me. Thanks.
OH, SO MANY THINGS,MESSAGE 62, WE WOULD HAVE DONE WHEN YOUNG.....AND MUCH TO OUR REGRET...WELL, ME ANYWAY. AM 90 NOW AND LOOK BACK AND WISH I'D DONE DIFFERENTLY IN SO MANY WAYS....WELL, TOOOO LATE NOW. MY LIFE DIDN'T TURN OUT BAD AT ALL BUT COULD HAVE DONE W/O ALL THE STUPID ANGST AND DECISIONS. AND SO IT GOES.....CAN'T TELL OUR OWN KIDS EITHER..........THAT'S LIFE, THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY" . HAVE TO LAUGH AS WHEN I 'SANG THAT' MY DAUGHTER USED TO HATE IT......NOW SHE IS A GRANDMOTHER AND I MUST REMEMBER TO ASK HER IF SHE SAYS IT TO HER DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER...
Many of romance writers I used to read several years ago, who still write, I no longer read. Mostly because they've shifted in the genre. Lisa Kleypas is an automatic purchase for me year after year. Her characters may have different personalities now, but the tension and the wordplay is always fun.
I can't imagine reading the books I read back int he 80's, now. I'm glad the genre continues to grow and change along with its readership. There are so many wonderful and interesting voices writing now. I love this book and author!
Lisa Kleypas is awesome. I love her historical romance series. She is great at storytelling and develops her characters so well that you are in love with them by book end. I love her Travis series as well. It is a great contemporary series with some men that are to die for! I always preorder because I can't wait to see what Lisa comes up with next. I like that the women have gotten stronger and are having interests and business ventures. I love that the men are supportive and open to that. Keep the romance alive!
Holly wrote: "In the '70's and '80's a woman in the US could buy a house without a man to co-sign; Correct bought a house as a single women in the late 70's. Never was asked for a co-sign. Remember I was surprised when some older men questioned why I needed or wanted my own house.
The one issue of romance novels that really gets to me is that the heroine and hero are always beautiful, or the heroine is beautiful and the hero is a beast. Can a handsome man fall in love with a woman whose skin is not peaches and cream? Could a beautiful man fall in love with a girl beast?The only book that comes to mind where the leads are described as plain is Jane Eyre. The only movie, Penelope.
Can there be romance books with happy endings for us ordinary folks with pimples and big feet?
Lisa Kleypas, the first book I read that was written by you is titled Midnight Angel and I adore your heroine. Blue-eyed Devil is also a definite favorite of mine. It is interesting how different authors can impact your beliefs in various ways. I disagree that women in romance novels have always been weak, from the perspective of someone who has been single most of my life, I have viewed them as heroines because they overcame domineering parents, siblings or circumstances into which they were unintentionally thrust because they saw no other direction in which to turn, to turn their lives around, maybe it was with the help of a man but they did find their happy ending, did they not?
Priscilla wrote: "Now the question about romance writing. I recently wrote a short romance testing a theory a successful writer has promoted in the last few years--that readers prefer to imagine characters for thems..."I don't agree, I very much prefer that the writer describes the characters in as much details as are necessary. The mastery is to know how much is necessary and don't tire out the readers.
I love all of Lisa Kleypas' books-and my very favorites are the Wallflower series and now the Ravenels which give us a glimpse of some of the Wallflower characters 20 some years later. I hope Lisa will write some more books with these beloved families intertwined again!
Mili wrote: "The one issue of romance novels that really gets to me is that the heroine and hero are always beautiful, or the heroine is beautiful and the hero is a beast. Can a handsome man fall in love with a..."I think that the answere to your second question is obviously yes, and to your first question is not necessarily but preferably yes as well. Why I say so, because I think that romance novels are written to speak to our imagination and fantasy, so as such, when we fantasize, we are carried away by them.
So it doesn't matter how you look but how you think of you. When you think of you as a heroine, even a romance noevel heroine, your partner see you as one too, but when you think of you as "well, what you said that I won't repeat", your partner will see you like that as well.
I've personally admired men far from perfect just because they acted as if they didn't matter their aspect: what you see is what there is, and so what!
While waiting for Susan Elizabeth Phillip's latest to publish, I decided to reread some of her earlier works I've enjoyed. This time around I'm finding that I've a much greater urge to slap these "Alpha" men upside the head to readjust their attitudes, rather than finding them attractive. I guess as I approach my 65th birthday, I'm becoming one of those little old ladies that have just "had it" with men! LOL.There's a real challenge. Write a believable sunset romance for one of those gals!
I have read a book about a sunset romance that moved me a few years ago -
. It was my uncle's first novel, and although I wound up rolling my eyes at some of the plot contrivances (and outright deus et machina - sorry Uncle Mark, but it's true) My review - Mark is my uncle, so.........
I was impressed by the level of pain that came through from his experience with his own father. I found it particularly poignant as I read my mother's copy as I was "babysitting" her in my sister's home, as her own developing Alzheimer's made it unsafe for her to be left alone. Although there are some too convenient plot contrivances, I found it hopeful that sufferers can still enjoy life, found the relationship between Honey and Leonard sweet and I like that in the end, Mark didn't have the main "villain" of the plot be a stereotype, but gave her some depth too. I thought for a freshman novel, it was superior.
I look forward to his next book, and I'm not just saying that, Uncle Mark.
Just great, because the reason i read romance especially of the regency time is because i do not have enough of the liberal agenda in real life ... There is a reason "Hello stranger" had such a dramatic ratings drop unlike the first 3 books in the series ,and that Mrs Kleypas is because some women (a considerable part of your fanbase )DO want to read about how women are pampered and live a life of luxury offered by their man.
I discovered Lisa Kleypas about 10 years ago when I started reading a lot of historical romance. She quickly became one of my favorite authors, and I have read her entire body of work. She creates fabulous characters, strong plots, and fantastic series to keep readers engaged. Thanks to Lisa for many hours of enjoyable reading!
Treece wrote: "Another trend I have noticed are characters who have "disabilities" and other so-called "flaws" but find love and self-acceptance if they don't already have it. I enjoy this trend because these cha..."Concordo, e acho isso maravilhoso, pois a mocinha sempre é linda de morrer e a primeira coisa que chama a atenção do mocinho é isso, precisamos de mocinhas mais próximas do realismo, que não seja "padrão de beleza" da sociedade.
GingerOrange wrote: "The very first adult romance novel I ever read was by Lisa Kleypas and I don't think I say it lightly that that decision changed my life. Now, I haven't read a historical romance in awhile. But a..."
Have you read "The Bachelor Earl" by Darcy Burke? It features hero and heroine in their early 40s I believe. I loved the different perspective on life goals etc.
My husband had to sign my applications for credit cards in the '70's and '80's.