An interesting review and defense of romance novels. The book moves easily between topics, occasionally seeming disjointed and some elements (like the coloring pages and choose your own adventure) felt like padding.
Overall, it was a nice glance at books that I’ve experienced only tangentially. The writing didn’t convert me– I’m not eager to abandon SF&F for romance on the basis of this one book– but their realistic appraisal of the genre means that I won’t groan if a good looking book is labeled romance either. Like everything else, there are well done books and dross– and “even in romance”, well done books sound well done.
The financial and sales numbers were surprising– I wonder how they stack up to YA. It sounds like romance blows everything else out of the water.
One reply on “Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels”
Romance does blow everything else away – it’s a massive seller.
My wife doesn’t read much romance but she really, really likes Kate McAllister – sexy and humorous fantasy. The humor’s important to her; romances that take themselves too seriously end up being turgid, boring prose. Her books apparently are very much written for women – no pretense of being anything else – but my wife’s an avid bibliophile and I’ll take her word for it when she says something’s a great read.