As a reader, what do you get from reading romance novels?

[Janeiowa]

Reading is a wonderful escape from the constant news in papers and TV about the wars around the world, the cruelty of dictators to their people, the killing of people by their rivals, etc.

[Gargi]

1)All the things those are written in romance books are not always realistic even sometimes quite opposite of so. So sometimes we just read it to experience what is normally hard to get.

2)The other aspects is that it helps us to relive the sweet nature of falling in love period. Once you get married or get into a relationship after sometime the initial craving just fades away and often we can't provide good time to our spouses or partners because of our other involvement in our daily life, So a good romance book helps us to forget the bitterness and mental tiredness we experience in our personal life.

3)Last but not the least we could imagine(as no risk is involved in imagination) ourselves in a situation(specially in romantic suspense)where we could get to play the smart,witty and daring female protagonist(irrespective of our personal nature and appearance) to have the roller coaster thrilling experience of the novel with a handsome and protective hero to protect us.

[Donna]

Agree with Gargi. Most of time I read to escape the daily routine. After my husband and daughter go to bed, that is my "me" time.

[Gargi]

Donna wrote: "Agree with Gargi. Most of time I read to escape the daily routine. After my husband and daughter go to bed, that is my "me" time."

exactly, the same situation here :)

[S.K.]

There are many reasons why I read romance. One very important one, is to remember. To remind myself that romance (like it exists in books) needs work and dedication to continue to exist in current relationships. Romance novels remind me not to take love for granted, like it's so easy to do, especially with time and hardships of a day-to-day normal life. The magic of romance and found in reading romance can exist - and does exist - if you work for it, and never stop appreciating it and how you have it.

[Mauaqui]

I read to escape the stress.

[Janet]

I read romance novels because I know they will make me feel good. I won't feel let down or sad at the end - I will have enjoyed a story with a guaranteed happy ending. I can totally relax and trust the author to give me a great time. Nora Roberts is one of the very best because of the relationships between her women characters as well as the love story between the man and woman. Her dialogue is impeccable and never hits a false note. I want to read a book with a smile on my face and to wake up in the morning eager to pick up where I left off the night before. Thank heavens for romance writers!

[Tina]

I have read romance stories, novellas, novels, etc. since I was a young teen. As a young teen it was to escape and have that young hope that I would find my prince charming. As an adult it is to relax from the day's stress, ringing phones... can you say "Calgon take me away!?" It is is the best form of relaxation that I can find that doesn't involve having to get dressed & leave my home.

[Latoya]

I love romance novels because there is no disappointment with them. In spite of everything that they go through in the story, the HEA is there.
We don't get that in real life. Couples fall in love. Couples get married. Some fall out of love. There are infidelities, break ups. Divorce. And all of that is just what can happen in a relationship. There are the other issues in the wider world to deal with as well. In other words, the HEA is not guaranteed.
So I take it where I can get it.
I have to admit, I do get annoyed when the love is not realistic (the dialogue is chessy, the romance over the top) but still give me a love story over anything else any day.

[Cindy]

I read to escape stress and I love a good romance story.

[Kathleen]

I read so that I could escape in a world different from mine. It's what keep me sane. Romance stories are one of the things which gives me hope. Love has always warmed my ever romantic heart

[Lorena]

Okay, escapism can happen in any genre, so why bother picking up a romance novel? When there are so many other ways to escape...why that particular brand of book?

I can't answer for everyone...but I can answer for myself.

I don't read a wide range of romance novels. In truth my knowledge of the romance genre is fairly limited to Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb and a few supernatural romance stories that I fall back on whenever I get the need for something with magic.

So why Nora? Why do I find myself reading her work more than many others? Because she doesn't just write about romance.

I could pick up any purply-prose Harlequin book with a half naked couple intimately embracing on the cover. I could escape for a 110 pages of heaving bosoms and getting rescued from disinterested husbands. So why Nora?

Because calling Nora Roberts work 'romance' is about as accurate as calling kobe a steak. Technically accurate but still vaguely undermining.

The average N.R. series revolves around a group of women bound be friendship or by blood who go through a situation together and often overcome. The women aren't pitted against each other nor do they undermine one another's differences. Which is a really wonderful change of pace from the average book out there. This shows sororital love.

Often these same women have careers and homes they are, or grow to be, proud of. They are happy and fulfilled people who go through a few obstacles to achieve their dreams. This shows the value of personal or self-love.

During the course of this, of course, the women find romantic love.

So I read Ms. Roberts for the comfort that her prose offers. Not just the message 'love matters' but that 'all kinds of love matter'.

[Lina]

Love her books! I am thoroughly entertained by them. I read them to feel good.

[Raisa]

Hi do you know any romantic novels pls ?

[Samantha]

Simply, I enjoy them.

[Nikki]

It's the fantasy of a happily ever after, the sheer romance and if you are the writer- its the chance to have a new love every time you create a new storyline.

[Kelbie]

It gives me faith that I'll find my true love one day! Sounds cheesy but it's true!