Over 50 million people read romance books each year. Romance novels have been around since the 18th century in England, as we know them today. Romance books like Jane Austen's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice and Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre are classic examples of this genre. Both classic and modern romance books are popular in the U.S. and Canada. They rake in over a billion dollars a year in revenue for publishers and comprise nearly 35 percent of all new fiction on the market!

The genre consists of works that are characterized by a romantic love relationship between two people. Also, the ending must be a happy one, or at least positive. In general, the protagonist must win in the end. If a novel doesn't fit these parameters, it is not considered romance by definition. Having noted that, the genre is evolving to include a wider range of characters, plots, and themes.

Category Vs. Single Title Romances
Romance books are separated into two sub-genres: category or series romances and single title romances. Category romances get their name from publishers who produce a certain number of books each month in specific categories. These can include setting categories, time period categories, types of conflict or sensuality categories, and more. Single title romances are those that are not published as a part of a category or series.

Many romance fans tend to choose titles based on the author and setting. Some of the most popular romance novelists include Jude Deveraux, Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood, and Catherine Coulter. In terms of setting, many romance novels take place in the American West and medieval Europe, while modern-day thrillers are also highly popular. Fortunately, the market is so expansive that whatever your tastes are, there's likely to be a romance novel (or a dozen!) that fits your criteria to a T.