There's more to romance than "happily ever after." The genre is constantly changing to keep up with the times, and to keep you updated on the latest, we've taken a look at the top swoony books of 2018 to identify the biggest trends.
A funny little thing called love.
Trend #1: The romantic comedy returns.
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It's official: Rom-coms are back on the bookshelves and better than ever.
Like their leads, these lighthearted love stories are funny, sexy, and smart. Our prime examples? Two of the top romances in this year's 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards: Helen Hoang's The Kiss Quotient, which was inspired by Hoang's desire to write a gender-swapped Pretty Woman, and Jasmine Guillory's The Wedding Date, where one fake date turns into a real relationship.
This new generation of rom-coms isn't just about laughs or lust; these books also shine a spotlight on some of the more complex realities of modern romance. The couple in The Wedding Date navigate the nuances of interracial dating, while the heroine's Asperger's syndrome in The Kiss Quotient makes intimacy difficult.
From pectorals to pastels.
Trend #2: Romance covers get a fresh new look.
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It's not just shirtless men anymore! We're now seeing a wave of brightly packaged romance books that are a little more (ahem) commute-friendly.
These designs often feature bright and bubbly colors, fun type treatment, and charming illustrations. A huge departure from smoldering vixens and alphas with eight-packs, these romance covers (and by virtue, their contents) are more apt to attract mainstream readers as well.
And they're not all rom-coms either. The heartbreak of missed chances lingers over every page in One Day in December, while the onset of a serious illness shadows the budding romance between a graduate student and a professor in My Oxford Year.
What's Next for Romance Fans in 2019?
Looks like rom-coms are here to stay! Among them are Helen Hoang's much anticipated sequel, The Bride Test, and the latest installments from The Wedding Date and Playbook series. Even more exciting: These new voices paved the way for other diverse debuts, including Soniah Kamal's Unmarriageable and Sonya Lalli's The Matchmaker’s List.
On that note, tying the knot seems to be the preoccupation of many upcoming romance releases. What are your predictions for 2019?
What trends do you think romance fans will fall in love with next year? Share them with us in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
The YA Trends of 2018
Mystery Solved: The Thriller Trends of 2018
Catch Up Now: These Big Series All Have Books Coming Out in 2019
posted by Marie on December, 11
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