The Economics of Everyday Things
27. Romance Novels
Dec 4, 2023
Exploring the history and popularity of romance novels, wide variety of sub-genres and their success, the plot structure, challenges, and gender disparity in romance novels, the lucrative world of self-published romance novels, and the transformative impact of e-readers on the reading experience.
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Quick takeaways
- Romance novels have a long history and have evolved into a mass-market commercial industry dominated by Harlequin.
- The rise of ebooks and self-publishing has allowed for greater diversity and representation in the romance genre.
Deep dives
The Rise of Romance Novels
Romance novels have become a popular and profitable genre, with sales of physical books increasing by 50% in the past year. The genre's history can be traced back to the 18th century, but it wasn't until the 1950s that romance books became a mass-market commercial industry, spearheaded by Harlequin. The company's success led to a fierce competition known as the Romance Wars, with Harlequin eventually establishing itself as a dominant player in the market. Today, Harlequin publishes around 800 new romance titles each year.
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