Pages full of love
“Every great love starts with a great story...”- Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook.
When you think of romance, the first thing that probably comes to mind are those grocery store paperbacks with the woman wearing a big gown leaning against a generic character know as Fabio. The books are steamy, and a happy ending always in sight. Now, in 2024, romance has become a more diverse genre of literature, splitting into many sub-genres and giving true representation to all its readers.
Romances have their enjoyable quirks and tropes. They are now used to address bigger and darker issues this traditionally fun genre hasn’t tackled before. Romance has also expanded its reach, being featured in sci-fis or mysteries reaching a new audience.
Romcoms will never go out of style. With the abundance of tropes to choose from, they are a delight for a variety of readers. Who doesn’t love a swoon-worthy love confession? These are the books that inspire dreams of happily ever after in a modern era. Romcoms have also been diversifying in recent years. Ali Hazelwood’s STEM romances have been a breath of fresh air, showing women working in those academic fields. Her newest one, Love, Theoretically, is a popular choice at the library. Another favourite is Talia Hibbert’s series featuring the Brown sisters. Not only are her books home to a diverse cast of characters, she has also written disabled and neurodivergent characters. Make sure to start at the first book, Get a Life, Chloe Brown, to begin your journey with these women.
Dark romance’s popularity is on the rise. These are for the readers who love twisted, taboo things—the more wicked the better. Their stories are full of antiheroes and/or irredeemable villains who are not supposed to be liked. Dark romances come with trigger warnings as a preface to show readers what line they are about cross reading these pages. Emily McIntire’s Never After series focuses on Disney villains while Penelope Douglas writes dark and taboo relationships.
Another type of romance story that has been getting more attention
in the romance community is queer romance. There has been a huge shift in books featuring diverse love interests released within the past few years. A wonderful thing about this shift is the fact that queer representation and romance stories can be found in all subgenres of romances. Chef’s Choice by TJ Alexander is a delightful addition to our collection this year. It’s a fun read with fake-dating along with delicious aspects of food and baking. Their books are ones to always add to your ‘To Be Read’ list. There is a growing presence of 2SLGBQTQ+ romance stories in science fiction and fantasy. TJ Klune has had a big role in this movement. He has written for both genres, creating beautiful worlds, memorable characters, and humour - which is not often seen in those genres. His book In The Lives of Puppets was one of the most popular check outs at Lethbridge Public Library in 2023 and is certainly worth the read if you haven’t tried it already.
Historical romances continue to be a tried-and-true favourite. The love of Bridgerton has certainly expanded the genre and introduce it to many new readers. From Regency to Westerns, World Wars to royal balls, historical romances continue to please. More historical romance set outside of Europe and the U.S means more diverse cast of characters coming into play. Adrianna Herrera’s A Caribbean Heiress in Paris centers a Black Latina heiress to a rum distillery while Alexis Hall’s recent historical novel, A Lady For A Duke, features a strong, beautiful trans heroine. Although the goal of securing a Duke remains strong, there are many new diverse storylines to explore!
There are also exciting new romance genres that are emerging onto the scene. Paranormal and monster romance allow imagination to take flight with the introduction of different creatures and worlds that change the normal template of a love story.
In the ever-changing world, new subgenres will be introduced into the romance genre as it continues to grow and evolve. All that matters is that what your reading is sparking joy for you while you chase whatever version of happily ever after you want. If you’re ever stuck for recommendations, visit the Lethbridge Public Library to help find your next romantic read that will set your heart aglow!
Jordan MacKinnon-Brown is Customer Assistant at the Lethbridge Public Library