Hello, readers and writers!

This week I’ve decided to talk about the importance of happily ever afters in romance novels. I did extensive research on romance novels when I first decided that was what I wanted to write, and I found out that having a happily ever after is essential.

How Essential?

Basically, most romance novels can’t even be categorized as so if the ending isn’t happy. After that, the book can become classified as chick lit or just women’s literature. There are many reasons for this that I’m about to get into, but the main reason they’ve decided to make it a requirement is how disappointed and upset romance readers can become when their story doesn’t end happily.

Here are a few reasons why.

Escape from reality

Most women who are reading romance novels are using it as an escape from the real world. I’m not saying they’re sad or have pathetic lives or anything (cause hey, I love romance too), but romance readers understand that what they are diving into is a fantasy.

Men, women, friends, and family don’t usually act the way they do in romance novels. Real life doesn’t always work out ideally in the end. And that’s for every single person’s life. Even if nothing is going wrong in a romance reader’s life, they still enjoy the escape to a world where everything ends up perfect.

Romantic by heart

Many romance readers are hopeless romantics. They enjoy watching romance bloom in all forms of their life, sometimes even playing cupid between friends or colleagues. Everyone else, especially cynical friends, find it very annoying, but we can’t help it! We believe in love and want it for everyone, especially these fictional characters who deserve it!

Don’t need to a lesson

Some readers avoid romances with happily ever after because they don’t believe it’s real. Many writers who don’t write romance feel the same way. They think all writing should be a reflection of real life and teach some lesson. Romance readers usually aren’t looking for that.

Yes, we still want relatable characters with realistic problems, but we don’t need to be taught a lesson about heartbreak and disappointments. We already know life is full of them. We want someone to win in the end and get what they want/deserve.

Butterflies in the stomach

You know that feeling when you have a crush, and you realize they like you back? It feels magical, and the butterflies in your stomach are amazing. Think of reliving that over and over again while reading different novels. Heroes are supposed to be lovable as well as the heroines, making you fall in love with them over and over again. Romance readers are addicted to that feeling, wanting to feel it again and again.

Gets out all the drama

When reading these stories, the characters go through all different kinds of events and emotions throughout, and the reader knows they’re going to turn out okay in the end. This reassurance gives the reader an outlet for drama. Many people look to entertainment as an outlet for all kinds of emotions, and romance readers get out their hopeless romantic side and their dramatic side all in one activity.

Obviously, all of this is just my opinion. From research and my experience, it seems that HEAs are essential for romance readers. Some enjoy the thrill of not knowing, but many want to know before they even start the novel that it will end HEA which is why I add that tag to the end of my synopsis as do many other romance authors.

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Thank you so much for reading!!

My next novel comes out next week on the 20th, and here is a link to find out more details. Pre-order starts on the 16th, and I might be making a post that day to get the word out! Any support would be much appreciated, and obviously reciprocated in the future! I love supporting other authors!

Until next time 🙂