Three Reasons Why You Will Secretly Love Reading Romance Novels

As a teenager, I used to read a magazine called My Story. When the publication originated, its goal was to encourage young writers to share their life stories with like-minded readers of the same generation. Quickly, the magazine turned into a collection of love stories - some tragically romantic, some just tragic. My first experience with love, therefore, was consumed with expectations of angst, happiness, and loss (and sadly, it worked according to that formula). My love of the romance genre also resulted in my love for all Meg Ryan movies (minus the boxing one). And to complete my trifecta - enter grown-up romance novels. The romance novels have every element of the first two items; there is always drama, unfulfilled desires, and heart-breaking obstacles to love. But they have one element that the first two don't - sex. Do I have your attention now?

In no particular order, here are three reasons why you will love romance novels.

1. Strong female characters. I can see how you can be skeptical, given the covers of some of the novels in question. The truth is, this genre promotes a great deal of female power (minus the obviously needed weakness for that one man). The female characters usually have a great deal of control over situations they find themselves in, and are typically intellectual, professional, strong-minded characters. You may be surprised just how much you can find in common with these leading ladies. Don't buy into the stereotype of weak females in this genre; these women are strong, beautiful, and often independent, and their presence is worth celebrating.

3. Grand gestures. To play up every female fantasy, writers of romance novels have created male characters that are willing to do whatever it takes to get their girls. Please don't argue how this is unrealistic; if you want reality, watch the news. This genre offers us men who are willing to arrange secret meetings, hire detectives to find their long-lost loves, betray their families for the one woman that they desire more than anything in the world. Its chivalry, ladies. Some of it is cheesy, I'll give you that. But most of it is romantic and appealing, even hopeful if you will. Enjoy it, even if it is only in a novel.

4. Did I mention the sex? Oh, the sex in these things is great. And it's not raunchy and cheesy as you may suspect (again, given the cover of some of these novels, I can see how you can be persuaded to think otherwise). The authors are descriptive, but they keep the writing focused on the connection between the characters in order to demonstrate their need for one another. When our two main characters get together, it is all about mind-blowing passion and unfulfilled longing. And there just isn't enough of that these days.

So next time you are at the grocery store walking by the romance novel section, just snag one. I promise you, you will enjoy it.