Romance is the most popular genre and a billion-dollar industry. Yet it suffers from stigma and patrons are shamed for this reading choice. Confront this problem, examine how to run a successful romance book club and learn why you should embrace this genre that is both feminist and diverse. Survey the changing landscape of romance and the rise of Romancelandia. What does it mean to "read romance, fight the patriarchy"? Obtain collection development tips for YA and adult romance.
Learning Objectives:
successfully articulate why and how the romance genre has exploded in popularity in recent years.
correctly identify the terminology that is unique to the genre as well as romance tropes and romance subgenres and effectively identify the components of a romance.
accurately recommend romance titles that feature diverse (NOT white, heterosexual, cisgender) characters.