In opposition of the romance novel – Selma O’Malley ’26
Look, I’m not a cynic.
Any qualm I have with the romance novel has nothing to do with my thoughts on romance itself: I believe love exists, yada yada. I have grievances with the romance genre not limited to the literary (rom-coms are the worst).
So please, hear me out as more than a sour misanthrope.
Also, if you hate romance novels because you think it’s a woman’s genre, I’m not on your side.
Romance novels are predictable. You have two options on this deceptive adventure: our love interests are together at the end or they’re not. No matter what, they’re going to have a falling out two-thirds of the way in, which they may or may not recover from. How can I enjoy a story that I see all the way through from the first page?
Don’t even get me started on “romantasy” — I literally stopped reading fantasy because suddenly, every book was the same.
I know that I could just live in ignorant bliss of the plot. But in a world where the book market is increasingly oversaturated, how can I enjoy a book unless it stands out from the rest?
I understand the desire to escape and live vicariously through the trials and tribulations of a character’s serendipitous matchmaking scenario. But, please, someone give me a pill that suspends disbelief!
I’d like to make it clear that I’m not against romance as a part of novels. I read plenty of novels with romance in them. I just believe that it best serves literature as a side dish, rather than the main course.
But maybe I just think this way because the last romance novel I read was by Colleen Hoover.
In defense of the romance novel – Isabella Gaglione ’25
Hating romance books is like hating fun.
There is nothing better than curling up with an Emily Henry book, turning the page on two people with great chemistry who fall in love.
Yes, I know, romance books can be repetitive. It is true that there can only be two endings, but it would be an exaggeration to call these novels entirely predictable based solely on the events of the last few pages. Would we say the same about fantasy novels simply because we know the hero will either win or lose?
I believe that the need for every book to be revolutionary and profound keeps us from appreciating the little things that make reading enjoyable. Some stories can have big-town festivals, moments of forced proximity and miscommunication! It’s okay!
It is the journey that is important in this genre, which is less about plot points and more about the interpersonal relationships grown and changed.
I’ll admit that modern marketing of romance books emphasizes the classic tropes too much. Don’t get me wrong, I love enemies-to-lovers as much as the next girl, but focusing on buzzwords diminishes what makes romance books so special: the universal experience of falling in love. The best romance books are not a Frankenstein creation of tropes, but explore compatibility and the power of language in building connection.
Why must romance readers defend loving love?
Also: the third act breakup is a masterpiece concept. The messier the better, in my opinion.
