Contemporary romance
Contemporary romance is a subgenre of contemporary and romance novels. This era of romance novels that were published after 1945[1] and the Second World War.[2] Contemporary romance is generally set contemporaneously with the time of its writing.[3] The largest of the romance novel subgenres, contemporary romance novels usually reflect the mores of their time. Heroines in the contemporary romances written prior to 1970 usually quit working when they married or had children, while those novels written after 1970 usually have, and keep, a career.[4] As contemporary romance novels have grown to contain more complex plotting and more realistic characters, the line between this subgenre and the genre of women's fiction has blurred.[5]
Most contemporary romance novels contain elements that date the books, and the majority of them eventually become irrelevant to more modern readers and go out of print.[5] Those that survive the test of time, such as the works of Jane Austen are often reclassified as historical romances.[4] In a 2014 survey of romance readers, contemporary romance made up 41% of print and 44% of eBook sales compared to other romance subgenres.[6]
Subgenres
Contemporary romance novels may, in turn, be categorized into several subgenres, sometimes mixing with other main subgenres of romance novels.
Subgenres include:
- General contemporary romance
- Contemporary romantic suspense
- Christian romance
- Contemporary fantasy romance
- Contemporary paranormal romance
- Baby love
- Medical romance
- Cowboycontemporary romance
- Glamour and jet set
- Humorous contemporary romance
- International lovers
- Love in the workplace
- Vacation love
- Lesbian romance
- Male/Male romance
- Amnesia, that is memory loss, often includes some former relationship[7]
- "Bonkbusters", a subgenre of commercial romance novels from the 1970s and 1980s.
Contemporary romantic suspense
The subgenre of contemporary romantic suspense consists of literary works that features both elements of romance and suspense.[8]
Christian romance
This subgenre is also referred to as inspirational romance, often including themes and characters dealing with the Christian faith.[9]
Contemporary paranormal romance
The subgenre of contemporary paranormal romance consists of literary works that feature both elements of romance and the supernatural.[10]
Baby love
This subgenre includes
Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is an example of this subgenre.[citation needed]
Medical romance
Medical romance novels may generally be regarded as a subcategory of contemporary romance, as well as of
Regarding characters, the central male protagonists (heroes) are almost always
Patients bring a lot of potential for subplots. They mostly get completely recovered, regardless of the severity of their injury or disease. Almost no plot, however, includes a doctor-patient or nurse-patient relationship,[
The plot often includes pregnancy[11] and children.
Lesbian romance
This subgenre[12] is an important part of literature and has been prevalent since the mid 1700s [citation needed]. The lesbian romance genre is often a subgenre of broader genres such as BDSM romance, paranormal romance, coming-of-age romance, fantasy romance, and inspirational romance.
Critical reception
Contemporary romance novels have twice been chosen by Kelly Ripa to be featured in her Reading with Ripa book club.[13]
See also
References
- ^ a b The Seductive Patient American Family Physician, Sept 1, 2000 by Cheryl Winchell
- ISBN 978-0-230-36555-1.
- ^ "Romance Novels--Subgenres". Romance Writers of America. Archived from the original on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
- ^ a b Ramsdell (1999), p. 43.
- ^ a b Ramsdell (1999), p. 44.
- ^ "Romance Reader Statistics". Romance Writers of America. 2014. Archived from the original on 2013-08-06. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
- ^ Dig, We Really. "Contemporary Romance Books at We Really Dig Romance Novels". www.wereallydig.com.
- ^ "Romantic Suspense Books". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ "Christian Romance Books". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ "Paranormal Romance Books". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
- ^ a b The Unexplained Popularity Of Pregnant Protagonists - via internet archive by Lynne Marshall
- ISBN 9780786454389– via Google Books.
- ^ "The Year in Books 2003: Mass Market". Publishers Weekly via internet archive. November 17, 2003. Archived from the original on November 13, 2007. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
- Ramsdell, Kristin (1999). Romance Fiction: A Guide to the Genre. ISBN 1-56308-335-3.