Romance fiction (Topical Term)

The encyclopedia of literary and cultural theory, 2011, via Credo Reference, July 14, 2020: Romance ("Romance" refers to the mass-market popular fiction written primarily by and for women that constitutes 50 percent of the American paperback fiction market. It typically revolves around a central romantic relationship, usually between a hero and a heroine, and requires an emotionally uplifting and optimistic ending.)

Here are entered works of fiction that revolve around a central romantic relationship. Works of fiction that depict love, but do not revolve around a central romantic relationship, are entered under Love--Fiction. Works of fiction belonging to the Romance languages group are entered under Romance-language fiction. Collections of medieval metrical romances (general and French) and their prose versions are entered under Romances. Collections of medieval metrical romances in one language other than French are qualified by language, e.g., Romances, English.

Notes under Romance-language fiction; Romances; Love--Fiction; Love--Juvenile fiction