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The 'Bridgerton' era -

As 'Bridgerton' dominated the "most watched" lists in December 2020, a concurrent trend was happening with books: the resurgence of romance novels.

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A billion-dollar niche -

However, the popularity of romance novels in and of itself is nothing new. The genre is known as a billion-dollar powerhouse amongst publishers.

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A billion-dollar niche -

In fact, the genre is what subsidizes a lot more prestigious, less profitable kinds of publishing. Romance fans consume multiple books per week. 

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The bestselling book genre in the US -

The bestselling genre in the US and the fastest growing, around 32 million copies of romance novels were sold in 2023. In the UK, sales of romance novels are up 11% year on year.

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Ingredients of a great romance novel -

Every great romance novel has something in common: the necessary ingredients that keep readers reading, and coming back for more.

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1. The meet cute -

Regardless of the romantic trope, there can be no story without the meet-cute. It's when the two protagonists first encounter each other.

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2. The attraction -

Attraction doesn't necessarily need to be immediate (and sometimes the trope necessitates that it's not), but it appears quite early in the romance novel.

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3. The best friend -

The main character will always have a best friend, someone they talk to so we can discover what the main character is thinking.

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4. The complications -

A romance novel is nothing without a host of complications. Insurmountable and desperate circumstances keep romance readers turning pages.

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5. The doubt -

Does the main character even like the love interest? Can they trust them? Are they really what they seem? This back-and-forth keeps readers guessing.

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6. The electricity -

One of the most important aspects of the romance novel is the electricity between the characters, which jumps off the page.

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7. Fight or flight -

Conflict, complications, cold shoulders, skipping town - things will build up so that the main characters are at odds with each other.

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8. The great reveal -

This could be a declaration of love, one that tells us what the other character is thinking or feeling. The great reveal will usually cause an upset, not going to plan.

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9. The humour -

Readers read romance for escapism, and a dash of humor goes a long way. It's not all angst and desperation, there are usually lots of funny moments on the path to romance.

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10. Happily ever after -

One of the main reasons readers will pick up a romance novel to begin with? A guaranteed happily ever after. Regardless of the trope, the characters must ride off into the sunset together (at least metaphorically).

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The tropes people love -

Besides all of the must-have ingredients, there is always a central theme in place in each romance novel, known as the trope. Some tropes overlap within the same novel. 

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Friends to lovers -

In the storyline between two friends who eventually become a couple there will be many "will they or won't they" moments to keep readers hooked. 

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Second chances -

The second chance trope taps into the idea that no matter how much time has passed, and regardless of what happened between them, these two people will get a second chance at love.

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Opposites attract -

Two people who have opposing attributes, each one compensating for the other's weaknesses and strengths, will end up falling for each other in this trope.

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Love at first sight -

An instant and extreme, long-lasting attraction is central to the love at first sight trope. This theme has existed in creative work since the time of ancient Greece! 

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Stuck together -

In this trope, two people are forced to spend time together whether they want to or not. Maybe a car breaks down, someone is on the same hiking trail, or they're stuck in an elevator. Regardless, sparks will fly.

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Office romance -

Two characters who work together at the same office or on the same project develop feelings for each other in the popular office romance trope.

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Damsel in distress -

A man must come to the rescue of a woman who has been kidnapped or placed in a dangerous situation, and who is facing imminent harm, in this classic trope.

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Hidden identity -

Often in hidden identity tropes the reader is in on the secret, but the main character is not. This makes for much conflict and misunderstanding on the path to happily ever after.

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Holiday romance -

What feeds into the escapism of romance novels more than a literal escape by the main character? Of course, while away, they will unexpectedly experience a thrilling and intense holiday romance.

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Forbidden love -

In forbidden love tropes, there is usually a big obstacle facing the would-be lovers, in the form of a person, institution, or moral code. But somehow, it all works out!

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Sunshine vs. grumpy -

At first, the sunshine and the grump will misunderstand each other, but as they are exposed to each other in different situations, a strong attraction will develop.

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Royal romance -

At least one of the characters in a royal romance will have a blue bloodline. The main character's transformation will happen on a grand scale, as they attain a crown and the world stage.

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Runaway bride -

The bride abandons her groom at the altar in this trope, to follow her heart—which usually leads her into the arms of the right man. Simple.

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Battle to be taken seriously -

Despite being staggeringly popular, the genre still struggles to be taken seriously by traditional tastemakers. Around 80% of romance readers are women—could misogyny be at play?

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Switch off and enjoy -

If you need a break from reality, romance novels are a great way to relax. So switch off, make a cup of tea, crack open a new novel, and indulge in a little feel-good fiction! 

Sources: (Financial Times) (Writers Write) (The Sydney Morning Herald)

See also: Books everyone lies about having read

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