It’s not characters, a gripping plot, a story world, or even a theme, although all those things are as intrinsic to fiction as bricks are to a fireplace.
No, what I’m talking about is something else entirely.
Romance.
For better or worse, this is key to almost any story you’ll find nowadays. In romance fiction, it’s the engine of the story, but it plays a role in every other genre, even ones that traditionally appeal to a male audience.
From the grittiest thrillers to the most sweeping sci-fi and fantasy sagas, romance is as prevalent southern California sunshine.
Romance, Romance Everywhere
Fantasy and fairy tales are among the stories that include a romance subplot. Prince and princess, twue wuv, happily ever after—you know the drill. But romance pops up in unexpected places, too.
Lord of the Rings is about a quest and the freedom of the world, and it comes with epic battles and loads of death. Yet it still has romantic elements:
- Arwen and Aragorn—emphasized more in the movies
- Faramir and Éowyn
- To a small extent, Gimli and Galadriel
Going back through the books I’ve read, I tried to find the least likely story to have any romance in it. I came up with The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. Lo and behold, it had romance. Nothing huge or important, just a brief friendship between the main character and one of the Eloi, but it was there nonetheless.
Why Is Romance So Popular?
Not only is romance the most profitable genre in publishing, as I pointed out, you can hardly wave a stick at books without swatting one that contains romance. That goes for movies, too. I’m hard-pressed to think of a movie off the cuff that doesn’t have at least one kiss or some sort of romantic undertones.
I think the answer is obvious. A common writing mantra floating around is “sex sells,” which is unfortunately true. Beyond that, however, romance is popular because it’s a basic part of life. We’re naturally attracted to people so it’s no surprise characters follow suit.
Anything that adds tension and depth enhances a story, and romance has a knack for that. Thus, you find it in every type of story.
- What would the Hunger Games be without Katniss’s conundrum over choosing Gale or Peeta?
- Would Inheritance Cycle have the same appeal minus Eragon’s infatuation with Arya?
- Can you imagine Spiderman (the original movies with Tobey Maguire) without the complicated romance between Peter and M.J.?
Not only does romance add juicy conflicts, it also appeals to our emotional side. No matter the story, we end up projecting our own experiences, wishes, and fears onto the characters. That’s how we relate to them. In this way, romance in fiction is part of our wish fulfillment, one of the core reasons we read books and watch movies.
In defiance of the odds, the boy and girl end up together, giving us hope that the same can happen in our life.
Or, as was the case with Batman and Rachel Dawes (The Dark Knight), seeing that loss reflects our similar experiences and creates deeper empathy.
No matter which way you cut it, romance improves a story.
Is This a Kissing Story?
You curl up on the couch, tune out the world, open your new book, and jump into the story. You have a general idea of the content and focus, but somewhere along the way, a surprise springs out at you, one shaped like a red heart with Cupid’s arrow through it. “Wait,” you think, “I thought this was a dystopian novel, not a romance.”
Has that ever happened to you?
Fear not, you aren’t alone. Romance has become inevitable, and while that’s not a bad thing, it can be overdone or used for the wrong reasons.
I’m not into romance novels or shows, but I enjoy stories that incorporate romance in tasteful ways that add depth and meaning to the story. Where it falls apart for me:
- When a romance takes over the plot of a book that wasn’t intended to be primarily a romance
- When its thrown in without necessity because, as we know, sex sells
- When titillating parts are added to appeal to some preconceived expectation
Romance is like sugar—it helps flavor a story, but add too much or to a recipe that doesn’t call for it, and it becomes cloying and disgusting.
Do you prefer stories with romance in them? Have any stories added so much romance that it detracted from the actual plot? I would love to hear your thoughts.
