Do you live in a 30-room mansion, regularly fly to exotic locations on a whim and mingle with A-list celebrities? Neither do most romance novel readers. Although pampered heiresses with nearly perfect lives were once a staple in romantic fiction, today’s readers prefer much more relatable characters and realistic situations. In fact, don’t be surprised if you see these trends in many romance novels in the near future.
Look for Torn-from-the-Headlines Issues
The best romance novels take their inspiration from life. They’re full of the little difficulties we all face, such as difficult bosses, unfulfilling love lives or cars that break down at the worst possible moments. It’s those touches that make romance novels seem so real and help us empathize with the characters.
This past year, the #MeToo movement exposed the shameful history of sexual assault, verbal intimidation and sexual harassment in the workplace. As more and more women shared their stories in the news media and through social media posts, the enormity of the problem became evident. In addition to non-fiction books about the issue, you can look forward to romance novels that depict strong, empowered women speaking up and triumphing in toxic workplaces in the next year.
Other timely issues and trends you may see in romance fiction soon include cyber technology snafus and threats, hurricanes and natural disasters, and the inclusion of more diverse heroines, heroes and supporting characters.
Romantic Suspense Will Continue to Be Popular
Dangerous situations have a way of uniting people, particularly if those in question are a man and woman in a romance novel. After all, it’s only natural to develop an attraction for someone when you spend hours together solving a mystery or running from the bad guys.
Romantic suspense is the preferred genre for the majority of romance readers, with 53 percent listing suspense books as their favorite type of romantic fiction, according to the Nielsen Romance Buyer Survey. The best romantic suspense authors are happy to give readers what they crave and are expected to continue to offer novels that combine intrigue with satisfying romances this year.
Military romance new releases offer a twist on the typical romantic suspense novel. Featuring strapping, sexy men who are active or former military and strong female characters, the novels up the intrigue level of the traditional romantic suspense novel. If you enjoy books with innovative plots, likable characters and sizzling romances, you may want to add a military romance to your must-read list.
Romantic Comedies Offer an Escape from Everyday Life
Romantic comedies offer a welcome diversion from discussions about politics or the economy. While you’re enjoying the antics of a plucky heroine, your stress level may decrease by as much as 68 percent, according to a study conducted by MindLab International at the University of Sussex. Researchers determined that as few as six minutes of reading time can lower your stress level significantly.
Whether you prefer flat-out romantic comedies or a few humorous touches in a military suspense novel, you’ll find plenty to laugh about in today’s romance novels.
This year promises to be a particularly entertaining time for romance novel readers. With the best romantic suspense novels and contemporary romance novels featuring current events, comedy and military themes, you’re sure to find more than a few books that will quickly become treasured classics in your library.
This post was submitted by a guest blogger.
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