Romance Resurgence
Love is like the snow. Just as no two snowflakes are identical, no two kinds of love are the same. Love can be as simple as an elderly couple holding hands in a diner or as complex as a passionate fight and kiss in the rain. With the surging popularity of romance novels, readers can lose themselves in an array of love stories as varied as the sentiment itself. Bookseller Roxanne Baker, of Bookstore1Sarasota, identifies six romance subgenres that fulfill readers' desires. These subgenres include Suspense and Fantasy Romance, Fleeting Love, Mid-Life Romance, Realistic Romance, Romantic Comedy and LGBTQIA+ Romance. For Baker, the romance novel is rooted in its ability to appeal to the basic human need for connection. "There's a lot of problems in the world that we can't fix," she says "but romance is something we can grasp. We know that it happens in real life. After the pandemic, we're trying to get back to connecting as humans, so the genre has seen a resurgence."
Roxanne’s Romance Recommendations Take a peek at Baker’s picks for upcoming romance releases.
Suspense and Fantasy Romance In The Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros. Release date August 1. A romantic suspense novel about a woman who goes on a survivalist course and falls for her instructor. “These books are popular among women who want to feel self-empowered and in charge of their relationships. Yarros has an established presence, and her work can be compared to that of Colleen Hoover.” Fleeting Love Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score. Release date September 5. A second chance romance about two people who meet again after years apart. “Many people have regrets about potential romances that never got off the ground. This genre fills the gap for people longing for someone from their past and remembering missed opportunities.” Mid-Life Romance The Pole: A Novel by J.M. Coetzee. Release date September 19. A middle-aged woman and a Polish piano aficionado strike up a romance.“Middle-aged women who are still single want to feel hope that they can find love, which these books illustrate. The older we get, the more we become set in our ways and the harder it is to connect with others, and these novels show that conflict.” Romantic Comedy The Wake Up Call by Beth O’Leary. Release date September 26. About a failing hotel whose two front desk receptionists must put aside their differences in order to save the business. A feel-good sunshine-filled frolic for fans of Emily Henry. “Even readers who love suspense need a break and cleansing of the palette. The subgenre is especially popular with people who have problems in their real lives and don’t want to be dragged through the mud, but want a fun read.” — R. Baker.
LGBTQIA+ Romance Family Meal by Bryan Washington. Release date October 10.Reeling from the shocking death of his partner, Cam returns home to Houston and reconnects with his high school friend TJ and TJ’s family bakery. The novel intersects the past and present from Los Angeles, Osaka and Houston. “Diverse reads are important for everyone, regardless of their sexual preference.” —R.Baker Bookstore1Sarasota, 117 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, sarasotabooks.com.
