Answers to Go
SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY
625 E. HOPKINS ST.
512-393-8200
Q. My aunt asked me to pick some Regency romance novels at the library for her. I’m not well-versed in the romance genre. Can you recommend some titles?
A. Romance is a vast and popular genre that can be classified into many sub-genres depending on plot and setting elements. However, according to the Romance Writers of America, every romance novel should have “a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.”
According to Romance Fiction: A Guide to the Genre by Kristin Ramsdell, “the Regency romance (set in London primarily during 1811-1820) is essentially a novel of manners and social custom. The emphasis is on the characters, their relationship, and their places within a highlystructured society in which social position and consequence are all important.” Traditional Regency romances are typically sweet, meaning the level of sensuality rarely goes much beyond kissing, but in the 1990s and 2000s many authors began to ramp up the steaminess.
A good introduction to the Regency romance subgenre is author Georgette Heyer, founder of this subgenre. Try her novels Venetia or The Nonesuch. Other popular titles are Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh, and Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare.
Another very popular subgenre is historical romance. These novels are set before 1950 and rely on an accurate portrayal of the period. While Regency romance could be seen as a variant of historical romance, most romance aficionados agree it is a subgenre unto itself. For historical romance, try Outlander by Diana
Gabaldon (set in 18thcentury Scotland), An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole (set during the American Civil War), and Golden Surrender by Heather Graham (set in the Viking Age).
Contemporary romance is another subgenre that refers to romance novels set in the time they’re written, encompassing the time after World War II all the way to the present. Some popular contemporary romance novels are The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory, The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez, The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren, and Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.
Some other common romance subgenres are romantic suspense (stories feature mystery elements), inspirational romance (stories feature religious themes), and speculative romance (stories feature paranormal, fantasy, or futuristic elements). For more book recommendations, call or email the library at 512-393-8200 or smpl@sanmarcostx.gov.
