Love bytes welcome Nora Phoenix with her first monthly author post (which will normally be posted on the 29th of the month)

While most people agree that reading is an admirable habit, discussions about what you should read can get quite heated. Admitting to not only reading romances, but devouring them, loving them, can result in quite the derision from folks who feel everyone should read more…literary works.

Well, I beg to differ.

I don’t particularly like most literary fiction. That’s a bit of an understatement, actually. I simply prefer commercial fiction over more literary works, with few exceptions. I read them in high school and why I recognize their literary value, or their deeper messages, I don’t usually like reading them. They’re often too “heavy” and depressing for me, too much effort to read. And why the hell should I feel guilty about that?

All Tastes Are Equal

Here’s the thing. Tastes differ, but while everyone knows this to be true, there’s still stubborn attempt to still label some tastes as less. Less intelligent. Less cultured. Less whatever, but less somehow. And nine out of ten times, the genre that gets most derision is romance, whether it’s straight or queer. Actually, queer romance may rank even lower than straight romance.

The attacks of some well-known reviewers on the romance genre, for instance, have been plenty. Hell, some authors in other genres have even joined in in denouncing the romance genre as silly, frivolous, antiquated, and a few more not-so-nice adjectives.

In response, romance authors and readers have defended the genre with equal fervor, listing all kinds of arguments why romance is anything but antiquated. It’s the bestselling genre, for example, and it’s often at the frontlines of political, economical, and social movements. While these arguments are all true, it misses the bigger point.

Don’t ever defend yourself for reading romances.

The simple reason is that you don’t have to. Sure, you can explain to people why you love reading them—in my case because I primarily read fiction to escape and feel happy. That’s also why I generally prefer low-angst MM romances and why a happy end is a must for me, if not at the end of the book, then at least at the end of the series. I’m a fast reader, so I like books that I can fly through, rather than books that require you to slow down to let all the subtext and meanings sink in. Not my thing.

Explaining or Defending?

But explaining is not the same as defending. If people want to know why I read romances, I’ll explain gladly. I love romances. I’ve read them since I was a teen, and throughout my life, they’ve been my constant companion. I’ve read thousands of them over the years, and they’ve brought me such happiness and relaxation. Even as a writer, I still read a book a day on average (though I also do read non-fiction for other reasons than pure entertainment) and the far majority of what I read are (gay) romances. Simply put, they bring me joy.

But if people criticize me for reading romances, I’m done. It’s like attacking someone for liking broccoli rather than kale (I dislike both, by the way). It’s how you’re wired. And you should never, ever have to defend yourself for who you are…or for what you like.

My name is Nora and I love gay romances. And I damn well own it.

(Photo Credit: Picjumbo, creative commons license)