17 Responses

  1. betsykline
    betsykline at |

    I completely agree! I’ve read a ton of “romance” novels and while there are a few that are fluff (which has its place), the vast majority have excellent plots and great character development. I’ve learned about all kinds of things in the novels and wouldn’t read anything else. Yes, there are the HEAs but that’s what I like. I want people to be happy in the end after their struggles. God know real life isn’t always happy so it’s nice to read about real life struggles that people overcome. and I personally can’t stand Nicholas Sparks books because he doesn’t write happy stories. I know a lot of people just
    Love his stuff but I haven’t seen a thing I like and bottom line he does write romance … Not HEA romance but romance none the less. I’m sure all the women reading and watching his stuff would agree.

    Reply
  2. janice
    janice at |

    I like squid, even sometimes if it’s rubbery, cos it makes you appreciate the properly cooked ones. And KJ, I have to say, your squid is cooked to perfection. 🙂

    Reply
    1. KJ Charles
      KJ Charles at |

      I recently had squid with honey. Inexplicably, it was fantastic. I don’t know where that takes the metaphor, but I like it.

      Reply
      1. lindsayb
        lindsayb at |

        Honey fried chicken is pretty much the best thing ever. I would definitely try honey calamari. Plus, I totally agree with everything you’ve said 🙂

        Reply
  3. Kira
    Kira at |

    For me, romance is like spice – without it books often come off as bland. But when the romantic plotline is secondary to the main one, it’s easy to overlook its flaws (I even have this formula: if you can’t write good romance, make it scarce; then starved for affection readers will be glad for any crumbs). But it’s significantly harder to ignore once the romantic storyline becomes the main plot or even the only plot. Writing good romance is hard, contrary to what many people believe.
    Add to it the abundance of tropes, formulaic stories and Fabio covers, and it’s not hard to see why romance novels, like knitting for men, have bad PR. I’m glad to see some good PR too.

    Reply
  4. LivRancourt
    LivRancourt at |

    I was out and about last night, celebrating my birthday, and one of the bartenders at our regular pub glanced over at my friend’s iPad and decided to make fun of her taste in reading, which skews heavily to the romance end of things. I’d had a couple beers by then. He probably shouldn’t have done that.

    Reply
    1. KJ Charles
      KJ Charles at |

      /cheers wildly/

      Reply
  5. Jenn Burke
    Jenn Burke at |

    Perfect commentary is perfect. Go KJ!

    Reply
  6. suecox2013
    suecox2013 at |

    I agree with you completely–and I’m glad I found your review site.

    Reply
  7. selinakray
    selinakray at |

    LOL, I don’t think Nicholas Sparks has read any of his own books. Or Diana Gabaldon’s, for that matter, another author who ‘doesn’t write romance’. Could have fooled me, Outlander.

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  8. Blaine D. Arden
    Blaine D. Arden at |

    AMEN!! Well said 🙂

    Reply
  9. Jude Knight
    Jude Knight at |

    What she said! Thanks. And the squid analogy is perfect.

    Reply
  10. mmjustus
    mmjustus at |

    Er, Nicholas Sparks? What you write is really crappy romance with unhappy endings. Just so you know.

    Go, squid!

    Reply
  11. Becky Black
    Becky Black at |

    F. Scott Fitzgerald says ‘Character is plot, plot is character.’ after all, and romance is very character focused, just as much literary fiction is.

    Reply
  12. Veronica Rundell
    Veronica Rundell at |

    Yup. Great stuff. I’ve loved all your well-plotted, amazing romance novels. Keep on doing what you’re doing and we’ll keep reading.

    Reply
  13. victoriakincaid
    victoriakincaid at |

    I couldn’t agree more! Do you think that the reason romance is so maligned as opposed to say, murder mysteries (which are just as — if not more so– “formulaic”) is because they are associated with women (even the M/M ones) and “girly” things like emotions? It’s hard to understand why such a popular genre is so maligned otherwise. And why it’s not embarrassing to say you read books where people are sometimes brutally murdered when it is to say you read books where people fall in love and have sex. I have nothing against murder mysteries, I just don’t get the disparity.

    Reply
  14. Charlotte Boyett-Compo
    Charlotte Boyett-Compo at |

    As a romance writer who just released her 100th published novel, I think I have a good grasp on how romance novels are viewed by men…and a lot of feminists. Calling it porn for females is an insult. Read any GOOD porn lately? You know the kind with a plot, fascinating characters, drama? I know there’s a ton of such books out there.

    Reply

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