People often use the terms “romance” and “love story” interchangeably, but there are some key differences.
Let’s define these terms.
Romance is a genre of fiction that focuses on, you guessed it, romantic relationships. These novels center around the development of romance and explore themes of love, trust, personal growth – yada yada yada.
Romance can be the defining genre of a novel, or it can be a subplot across genres. It might also share center stage with another genre (such is the case with Fantasy Romance, or Romantasy, as I prefer to call it).
A love story, on the other hand, is a broader term that refers to any story that focuses on the theme of love or relationships, happy or not. Love stories can take many forms across genres, but here’s the kicker: it doesn’t have to end happily.
According to the Romance Writers of America, a rule of the romance genre is that the story must end optimistically, and in their words, it should be “emotionally satisfying.” That means a happily-ever-after, folks. Or a happy-for-now at the least.
Love stories don’t have to abide by this rule.
Another difference between a romance and a love story is the way they portray love.
Romance novels often have a more traditional and idealized portrayal of love, with the emphasis on the actual romance, naturally (sometimes with a little spice to boot – *wink wink*). Think Book Lovers or The Hating Game.
Side note: This idealism is also why we use the word “romanticizing” when we describe something that is cast in an overly rosy light.
Love stories, on the other hand, can be more realistic and nuanced in their portrayal of love, exploring the complexities and challenges of relationships. Sometimes love stories end with a break-up, or just have a pretty rocky trajectory overall. Think The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Let’s be clear though: a love story that ends with a sudden character death is not a love story. That’s a tragedy. You just can’t go around calling Romeo and Juliet a love story, people – it’s labelled a tragedy for a reason.
Why does this matter?
Readers have preferences – when a writer or reviewer labels a book incorrectly, it can feel like a bait-and-switch. A reader went into the book for one type of story, only to be unpleasantly thrust into an entirely different one.
Using correct genres ensures that a book reaches the correct audience.
In conclusion, love stories don’t always look at romance through rose-colored glasses.
While both romance and love stories explore similar themes, there are some key differences between the two genres. Whether you’re a fan of traditional romance novels or more nuanced love stories, there’s something for everyone when it comes to stories about love.
Check out some of my other recent blogs:
- Discovery: The best part of reading
- Hell Bent (Book 2): More fantasy than horror
- Thematically Rich Stories: AKA, what separates good from great
- Lessons in Chemistry: Thoughtful and entertaining
- Everything I read, watched, listened to, or played in May 2024
