Pros and Cons of Being a Romance Reader?

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

For you, what are the advantages and disadvantages of being a romance novel reader? It's your personal opinion here, so no wrong or right answer.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

one advantage is you are rarely bored if you are reading.

one disadvantage is your favorite authors cannot write fast enough to satisfy your cravings for more.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Those are good ones, Pamela.

I do have to say that I think having started out reading such really good writers early on, I have kind of high standards, and I look for the romance novel high. That's a disadvantage, because I don't get that high as much as I used to.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

I find I am harder to please now than I was 20 years ago.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "I find I am harder to please now than I was 20 years ago."

Yes. Me too.

[Mochaspresso]

Great Question!

Advantage: I think it helps me to maintain an optimistic viewpoint about life and love and about the world in general. I always feel sorry for people who are cynical and jaded about love.

Disadvantage(s):

1) People judge and label romance novels and romance novel readers.

2) When a male hero is completely amazing, if you are not careful, you might find yourself secretly giving your significant other the stinkeye for not always measuring up to the fictional ridiculously unattainable romantic ideal.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Disadvantage--Romance novels make love at first sight and happy ever after look easier and more destined than it really is. I think that's okay in theory because I don't look to romance novels for my reality. But I imagine it can be hard at times if you started out reading them very young and it doesn't reflect your situation with your own love life/spouse.

Advantage--Romance novels rekindle my belief in true love and that there is someone for everyone.

Advantage--I don't date, so I get my love fix from reading romance novels. It's a risk free enterprise, other than the cost of time/money on a book.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

Advantage - escapism that takes you away from grim reality occasionally.

Disadvantage - if your to read shelf is huge like mine, you have a hard time deciding what to read next.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Yeah, there is definitely a stigma against romance that you have to deal with.

Disadvantage--How prone to trends the romance genre is and how it makes it hard to find books with themes you like if they aren't in vogue at the time. For example: Fifty Shades of Grey (Billionaire/BDSM).

[Debbie]

I TOTALLY agree with everything Pamela said.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

lol

[Jennifer]

I agree with most everyone here.

I do hate how other people in my life consider my reading of romance books as silly, and not real "literature"

Advantage: Like Pamela said, escapism!

[Paganalexandria]

Pro of being a romance reader -People have been fooled into thinking I am much smarter about world history just because of massive amounts of time spent reading historical bodice rippers. I have passed tests not studied for too.


Con of being a romance reader - Other readers discount your choice or reading material as being crap. Like their alien adventure series is so much better than the Dark Hunters...Whatevs

[Ren Puspita]

I agree about other reader see romance reader with stink eye. Like Paganalexandria said, whatev. I never mock their taste, why they mock me? People sometimes need to respect another, especially about their reading taste.

Advantage : Yes, escapism. No matter what how silly the plot, how predictable the story, if I enjoy it, then it's still a good book.

[Carolyn F.]

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "I find I am harder to please now than I was 20 years ago."

Me too Pamela - when something I read has never happened before it's great - after 50 more books doing it, it's same-old-same-old.

[Komal]

Pro: You have a front seat view of two people falling in love and often times, building a life together.

Cons: Sometimes, when you finish a really good book, it can leave you feeling a bit sad and melancholy.

[Paganalexandria]

Pro: You have an endless supply of unbelievably hot book boyfriends.

Con: You have an endless supply of TSTL chicks you want to strangle.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

lol @ paganalexandria hehe