Why Romance Novels?

So after reading 4 chapters of Honey, Baby, Sweetheart I think one reason why we go to romance novels above any other genres is that the romances have the ability to cause us to reminisce about our past relationships and first loves if you will. No matter where one is in life, the romances allow us to feel and maybe go back to the first kiss, the first time your heart beats quickly over the thought of someone, and that first love and first time. It reminds us of the intensity love can take on; after meeting someone for the first time and feeling a strong attraction to the endless waiting for a second and third encounter to the first date and kiss and so forth. This can be said about Ruby McQueen and Travis Becker. Their attraction and love story is full of intensity. From the first meeting as Ruby trespasses on his property out of curiosity to her “waiting [all day] until it was time to walk home (Caletti, 26) to perhaps seeing Travis in his yard again like the way she dreamed and imagines all day (Caletti, 29) and first unexpected kiss, their love is something different compared to other first loves like Forever… by Judy Blume. (This novel and love story is different because the characters together give a different kind of love. It’s an intensified connection based on thrill and being out of one’s own comfort zone for Ruby and Travis. Travis is a rebellious kind of character who likes motorcycles and dangerous fast speeds while Ruby’s the Quiet Girl who always does what she’s supposed to. Their love story surfaces and is created when Ruby is curious and trespasses on the Becker’s property. Being discovered by Travis she stays put and an initial connection is built on curiosity. Following an initial connection, their attraction and connection is strengthened when Travis tests Ruby multiple times and pushes her to her limit and out of her comfort zone. Ruby pushes herself out of her comfort zone to essentially not lose him so she acts dangerous and brave and tries things she’d never do if it wasn’t for Travis. With Forever…by Judy Blume, you get Kathy and Michael, two characters that have fun together in a safe way and understand each other in a way most people today think of understanding a partner. They have a love and connection based on understanding one another and their similarities and differences, what love today is usually based upon. With Travis and Ruby, their love and connection is based on curiosity and no really about who the other person is.) Moreover, (as I get back on track to what I was saying…) the romance novels allow us to feel something maybe we haven’t felt in a long time and perhaps in that sense it also gives up hope for the future to feel that love and connection with someone. (Or perhaps it gives us hope to reconnect with someone like that again. In Honey, Baby, Sweetheart this can definitely be said about Ruby’s mother and father. ) Romance novels also can give insight on those feelings for those who have never experienced it yet. These days the younger generations seem to do everything faster, and falling in love may or may not be one of them. Girls these days may be Googling how love feels as I’m writing this blog. On the web and in magazines there’s always some test or quiz along the lines of “Is it Love” test or “Is He the One.” It gives those hopeful romantics something to look forward to and analyze. It gives them something to think about besides their everyday routines and schedules. (Just like Ruby’s mother in the novel. Her husband is a hopeful signer on the road who left his family to pursue his dream. Although her husband treats her with little to no respect, and has gotten his new girlfriend pregnant (Caletti, 65) without telling her until he’s used her home and money for his own needs, she still goes above and beyond for him and waits for him, believing that no matter what he did or where he went he’d always return to her. Seven years after her husband left, she still held the same hope. (Caletti, 25) and she still does everything she can to impress him and show him her love. (She bought expensive wine from Renaud’s (Caletti, 47) something she can’t afford to make a night special. She cleans and dresses nicer and even spends hours researching recipes just to seem phenomenal in his eyes. (Caletti 46)