Hope is something that we talk about a lot but it is what I most love about reading romance novels. Reading about characters’ happily ever after and their hope for the future. Hope is all about potential, possibility. The whole world is open to us and all we have to do is reach out and take what we want. Hope is that ever present dream that keeps us moving forward because if we didn’t have hope, then why take a risk and put ourselves out there?
Even though we can’t see something doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. Romance novels give us that optimism that we can find our soul mate. Our happily ever after. We are reminded by reading romance that we can change our lives, just as our characters do. We can take a step, or many, in the direction we want to go and find our happiness.
Romance novels are about so much more than love, though love is the central focus. Romance is about transformation, about facing the dark and unattractive qualities we all possess as humans and triumphing over them. Romance is about finally giving up resistance to things that feel scary, or hard and fully committing ourselves to the moment we are in.
When life is hard, romance lifts us up. When we are worn down by our circumstances, we can look to romance to remind us of ourselves. We are one decision away from a completely different life. So, when we are feeling down or discouraged, romance is there to provide hope.
I read my first romance in the 5th grade—a Sunfire Romance called Amanda. I fell in love with romance thanks to that book. As I read about Amanda and her adventures on the Oregon Trail, I fell in love with the characters and the genre. As I grew older, I found more mature romance, but Amanda started my love affair with romance. Reading has gotten me through many hard times in my life and has helped me find hope. As a writer, I aspire to give hope to others as my characters find their happily ever afters.