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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ANECDOTE

Fell In Love With Romance Reading

  • Danielle Flores discovered romance novels in college and quickly became obsessed.
  • She now reads about 250 romances a year and tracks them on a spreadsheet.
INSIGHT

Harlequin Built A Mass Romance Market

  • Harlequin turned category romance into a mass-market business in the 1950s and dominated by buying rivals.
  • Its 'category romance' model now produces about 800 new titles annually.
INSIGHT

Covers Signal Genre And Sell Fast

  • Romance covers give instant cues so readers know the subgenre in seconds.
  • Publishers design covers to grab attention during brief bookstore encounters.
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