Why Do You Read Romance?

[Bekah, Fellow Kleypasaholic]

Congrats Laura, I'm happy for you!!!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

Me too, Laura!

[Linds]

I've been a fan of romance since I was a little kid and I liked Disney movies and fairy tales. When I was a young teenager I found my older sister's Beatrice Small novels. I was into those for about a year but got bored because those were all about the steam but not so much on character development/romance. I assumed most romance books were like that and kept being a heavy reader, but never read romances.

Two years ago, I was on here and I saw Outlander, Devil in Winter, and JR Ward's brotherhood series on the top of several lists as favorite reads. I had never heard of them before and checked them out. I loved them!!

At the time it was an awful year, I was grieving the death of my friend Tim (cancer), my sister had been in a very serious accident and was left incapacitated. My little cousin addicted herself to heroin and was "missing", and one of my best friends/ex roomate got himself sent to prison for being an idiot by his third offense drunk driving and resisting arrest.

I loved those recommended books and dove into romance. I needed an escape and it gave me one. I read romances almost exclusively for a year at a breakneck pace. I loved the romance and craved the escape of my own head.

Now two years later everything has calmed down (as life always does.) My sister has recovered (though she will always have a limp.) My cousin and friend had rehab and for their substance abuse problems and are as now still sober.

So I don't "need" my romances now, but I still love them. I usually have one going even though I read a lot of other genres too.

I think I actually enjoy them more now because I don't "need" them like I used to. I love them as lovely pick me ups. Who doesn't love stories where people are transformed by love and get a HEA. I love my romances and hope to keep finding quality writers and new stories! If I knew there were so many out there with good character development I would've been into hem since I was a teen instead of my late twenties! I missed a lot of time :)

[Bekah, Fellow Kleypasaholic]

Wow, Linds...I really love your story about how you came to romance. I was reading it and thinking how interesting it is how we all come from different places. I'm so glad to hear that things are better for those you love in your life (and thus you as well)! My heart goes out to you for the pain you must have endured. I'm so glad you're here! Hopefully we'll both be introduced to some mutually satisfying reads and experience them together!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

That is a very inspiring story, Linds.

I know the power of a good book to take you away from your troubles. I lived in books through my teen years!

[Autumn]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Lori, I think there is someone for everyone. It just takes a while to find that person. I also believe that sometimes we can learn the most about ourselves in solitude. I spent a lot of lonely tim..."

ohh now, thats a punch line hun!! and my answer is " what Danielle says" !!

I have been reading all my life, BUT NEVER EVER romance books.. i didnt think i had the attention span to dedicate to a fictional story.What a fool!!

I started reading romance when in was 23? 2 yrs ago? and it was totally by accident. its a funny story actually.

i was on my local library holding a meeting/discussion about local recycling methods,the pleasure of organic food, and the importance of knowledge in chemicals around one`s house blah blah (im quite obsessed with that stuff). Anyhow, i happened to go to the check out counter and i see the library book club was going to discuss . Since it was recycling month theme, i thought it was a fitting book. so i check out this book thinking it was going to be some to-do ur self garden, or some cutesy stuff.

when i started reading it.. ohh boy!! it was fiction! LOL i have never read fiction i dont think... up to that pt.. and then it was romance in the story (not steamy tho. the most it got was getting thru the underwear and love scene was done) LOL I adored that book!! and will forever have a special place in my heart, but it opened pandora`s box because i was itching for steamy/romantic couples. in other words: romance books!! I felt like an alien when i saw the big section with all those sexy covers looking at me!!


a month or 2 later i struggled with ovarian cancer and depression. I went thru it alone (by choice).So i lived vicariously thru this books.. because i couldnt let emotions of the real life get the better at this stage. so yeah, it was and still is a beautiful sweet denial i say.

they have tough me so many things.. because is the writer behind the story that has a pt to make.. sometimes is their own experiences that come across.. and that side of the story is perhaps the most fascinating to me. i dared to dream, to feel, and let my emotional guards down because after all books are a safe bet. its not a life mantra, but is what got me by in the rough times.

so there is how i got hooked to romance...LOl in the name of Science amen!

[Bekah, Fellow Kleypasaholic]

Thats a really good story, sorta like mine..when I discovered romance I felt like I had been given the key to a virtual/mental paradise!!!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

Atumn, I glad you got past your battle with ovarian cancer and depression okay.

[Autumn]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Atumn, I glad you got past your battle with ovarian cancer and depression okay."

(((((((huuggs)))) oh thanks Danielle.!! im still in remission but i have hopes it will stay away from me :) . As per Depression.. im still not recovered from it completely, but i do try my best to fight and heal the emotional scars of my life.Thats why i work with Autistic kids and the hospital. they give me loads of pure love. i will say they are the reason i was able to get thru it!


Bekah wrote: "Thats a really good story, sorta like mine..when I discovered romance I felt like I had been given the key to a virtual/mental paradise!!!"

Yep!!! i felt so wicked LOL!!! my first words when i read a steamy scene " omg, written porn" lol!!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

Atumn, Hugs back at you. I don't have clinical depression, but I sometimes battle against very low spirits. My faith is my rock that keeps me going, and books are a big help for me. Also family and friends. You have to find the things that make your life worthwhile and keep those things close to your heart.

[Autumn]

i couldnt phrase it better Danielle!!! thank you so much for those kind words!! i can feel they come straight from the heart.

(((((((((((warm hugs my sweet))))))))))))))

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

Hugs back at you again!

[Desiree M ~*~*~]

I almost always read romance as an escape from my own life for a couple hours or even a couple minutes a day. I'm a single gal and I quite often fantasize about a hero, similar to the hero I'm reading about at the moment, coming and rescuing/taking care of me. Even though I consider myself a fairly independent person and able to take care, protect, and rescue myself, I still want a guy who is strong and can/will protect me and take care of me and possibly rescue me if I need it.

I love that in the majority of romances there is a HEA and in real life that's, unfortunately, not always going to happen. I need that assurance that there will be a happy ending in what I'm reading because there is enough pain and angst in the world and I just don't like to read a story that has a sad ending.

I'm not a closeted romance reader at all. I don't care if people know I'm reading a romance novel. Sometimes it bugs me when I get an odd look from people when they know what kind of book I'm reading but I just roll my eyes and continue reading whatever love tale I'm engrossed in. Now sometimes I, admittedly, get a little embarrassed with the covers on romance books. Usually only when they're mostly nude or in a very sexual pose. But that's the only time where I do get a bit embarrassed with what I'm reading.

Now before I got into romance novels I was one of those people who looked down on the genre. I had never read one and I wrongly assumed they were just wordier smut. However when I was 13 or 14, one of my friends at the time was a big romance reader and she said just give them a try and maybe you'll like them. So she gave me 3 contemporary and 1 historical romance to read and I've been hooked ever since.

[Laura]

Desiree wrote: "I almost always read romance as an escape from my own life for a couple hours or even a couple minutes a day. I'm a single gal and I quite often fantasize about a hero, similar to the hero I'm read..."

I concur!

[Autumn]

Laura wrote: "Desiree wrote: "I almost always read romance as an escape from my own life for a couple hours or even a couple minutes a day. I'm a single gal and I quite often fantasize about a hero, similar to t..."

Ohhhhh yeah!!! Books don't judge u, ask you questions...they are my addictive source of bliss!! Great company! ;)

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

Desiree, I have to say we read romance for similar reasons. I admit I will fall in love with romance novel heroes regularly, but I tend to think of them with the heroine instead of me. There are a couple I'd probably steal away from the heroine though.

I don't understand why people feel the need to judge us romance readers. My friend was over, and she was very impressed with my book collection and decided to borrow some books. I was fine with it, but I tried not to get annoyed at her dismissive view of romance novels. She said she vowed never to buy romance novels because they were brain candy and bad for people, but she would read those that came her way for free. I try not to take it personally, because it's other people's loss if they are judgmental like that. All that matters is that each individual is happy with her reading choices.

[Autumn]

ohh Danielle! thats so double standard of your friend!! i mean she would read for free?? how would the content change?? i understand about not spending the $$ .. but still.. You do have an amazing collection!! (from the books u have listed here ^_^)

Its a shame what they are missing.. its all i say.. My family and peers roll their eyes and never fail to make the joke about "my imaginary crash on Fabio and the shirtless covers, and hair" at this point i just laugh about it.. a girl`s gotta have a sense of humor.

REMEMBER FABIO?? lol!!


[image error]

[Melanie]

LOL Autumn! What on earth is he reading? A branch? A whip? A metal detector?

I actually got into romance when I was 13 or so.. We were driving from Geneva to Normandy (about 9 hrs) with my dad, and since I was already an avid reader, he picked up the first book he saw (without looking at the cover) at a gas station and handed it to me so I'd shut up about having already finished my "travel books". Well... I read it, and I shut up, and I got hooked: It was a (French) Harlequin by Margaret Moore, and wasn't actually all that great, in retrospect, lol.. But it got me hooked on those cheap Harlequins I'd find at the flea market in town:-D

Unfortunately, Europeans tend to look down on romance, and don't have that great of a selection.. Top that off with the fact that my mother viewed them as "trash", and you had a closet romance reader who'd sneak them home in my book bag.

Then, when I got my learner's permit at 15 in NM, I finally headed to B&N after having saved 6 months worth of allowance and bday money, and splurged on my first "real" english romance novels... Thus, an addict was born:-D

Nowadays I frankly don't give a hoot about what my mother or friends think of my reading choices (I read about 500 more books than they do in a year anyway), and when strangers comment on my books, I just tell them that my boyfriend enjoys the inspiration and after-effects from my reading:-p

[Fiona]

I read them to escape. I am so glad I got my nook so that I can read whatever I want, whenever I want. A lot of people like to check out what you're reading and can be really judgmental(You can see it in their faces). Although since I've gotten older I seem to care less. That is unless it is particularly smutty!

[[deleted user]]

Fiona wrote: "I read them to escape. I am so glad I got my nook
LOL I love my nook because it is harder to see what I am reading!!

Melanie wrote: "LOL Autumn! What on earth is he reading? A branch? A whip? A metal detector?
LOL .... Is he the one that has a really high voice?

[Heidi]

hahaha, I too could care less if people know I read romance.....!&*#$@ 'um I say! I come right out and say, ya gotta try some book porn or a good trashy novel is best! I love the looks I get!

[Fiona]

Heidi wrote:

hahaha, I too could care less if people know I read romance.....

You could also cite the study I read about that said women who read romance novels have better relationships and sex lives!

[Fiona]

I loved how the old romance novels would change Fabio's hair color depending on the color of the hero!

[[deleted user]]

I'm not worries so much about "people" I worry about my grandchildren!!!!!!! Oh Grandma... whatcha readin? LOL AHHHHHH
Oh Nothin honey..... whats that picture on the cover there LOLOLOL
So I got the nook!

[Fiona]

That's so funny Faithmarie! I must say I am in love with my nook!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

Yeah, the older I get the less I care what people think of me. I wish I was like that fifteen years ago. It would have save me a lot of anguish!

Autumn, that's quite a picture!

[[deleted user]]

It is Amazing isn't it!!!! I just got the color nook.... and am giving my daughters friend my old nook. She loves to read. and we share the same books. My younger daughter hates to read except text books and my older daughter who loves to read has 6 children and won't have time to read for years to come! LOL
Do be offended but my younger daughter always says ... as a joke "people who read have no life" She loves to tease us.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

I have been teased about having my head in a book my whole life. I don't think I'm missing out on anything. Books make me happy. Now if I hated reading, and I read books all the time, then people would have cause for worry. I think my time is valuable, so I spend it on things that have value, and books are definitely high on my list.

[Autumn]

@ Melanie and Faithmatrie. Fabio is this model from the 80`s that was soo popular it seems.. im an 80`s baby,but i have seen enough of book covers with fibio-ish looking .. AND! lets not forget he was the spokesperson for "i cant believe its butter" hahaahah

here is the diff adaptations of fabio ...

[image error] [image error]

and the infamous commercial LOL!

[image error]


PS: I LOVEEEEEEE the Nook color!! is the best e-readers hands down!!

[[deleted user]]

LOL butter too.......

[Autumn]

Faithmarie wrote: "LOL butter too......."

HAHAAH yep!!! believe me, this guy was quite the thing!!and now, im stuck with him as my romance novel hottie according to my family...!!pff! as if!!LOL

[[deleted user]]

Maybe I didn't read romances way back then because of him???? That is why I don't let anyone see my book covers. In fact I prefer when the covers don't have faces on them then I can imagine the faces I want.

[Fiona]

I have this one! It's from Johanna Lindsey's 'Man of My Dreams'! I just reread it recently.

[Autumn]

LOL!! Faithmarie!! maybe u have the reprints ^_^. and ur riht, i love when i can put all my imagination skills into a visual of hero.. mmmm. in my fantasy head all is valid! hehe..

Fiona: Ah! so u have one of Fabio`s covers!! jesus! in this one he has purple hair! go figure!! Was the book good??

[Fiona]

Actually I really like it. The characters are really strong willed. It's kind of sassy in a 'Gentle Rogue' kinda way which is one of my favorites by her.

It's one of those "hidden covers" so it's red and has a mask on the front.

[E]

I started reading romance by accident...in that I didn’t realize I was reading a romance until I was hooked by it.

I was in college and eager to read something other than a textbook. I had just come back from fall break in NYC and saw Phantom of the Opera for the first time. I joined some fan clubs, started engaging in their community message boards, and found a thread about a fanfic. It was one of the busiest threads on the message boards, but I was skeptical. I was a literary snob (Journalism major, English Lit minor). I caved eventually and read it not knowing it was a more modern-styled romance, rather than classic gothic romance like Leroux’s original work. I was hooked nonetheless.

After that I started to try mainstream published romance authors and found Lisa Kleypas to be my favorite. So I read most of her books and started branching out after I ran out of all the Lisa I was interested in.

I certainly haven’t been enthralled with everything I’ve read. But many of my reads have provided solid entertainment. I’m a romantic at heart. I like rom coms. I enjoy seeing people happy and in love.

My mom was an avid reader, but would never pick up one of “those” books. So I always hid my romance novel reading. Still do out of habit.