Why I Hate Romance Novels, And Why a Romance Novelist Hates Me

I seem to make vendettas with the strangest of people. Latest on this list is Jill Sorenson, romance novelist featured in the June issue of Cosmo.

A Romance novel by a newby who just got a taste of the dark side, by Yours Truly.

Recently I wrote a post for the other blog I work on, Uptown Literati. It was for the monthly Front of Book feature, in which I look at each magazine's monthly book page and pick or pan their recs.

And seriously, what the hell is Cosmo and the Romance genre made for if not being a bit of a snarky-ass bitch?

Well, apparently Jill Sorenson took a bit of offense. She wrote a post on her blog in response to mine,  beginning with the remark "Coming out of lurk to share the latest wrong against Romance!" Jill, Jill, Jilly–I am by no means calling your book a wrong against Romance. I am complaining about any book that includes the words "pant," "gasp," "heave," "suck," "fondle," and "caress" on the same page. Page after page.

Sorenson writes "I believe this is just another case of the old “all romance is trash” mentality." Uh, yeah, you believed right.

(She also pointedly mentions that the title of the book, Crash Into Me, which I mock relentlessly, wasn't her idea, but she "thinks it's a great one." …?)

Believe me, I'm all for the elicit content in books. But IMHO (teehee), it's so much better when it's subtle and leaves something to the imagination, or when it's surrounded by an engaging story and beautiful writing before and after the clothes come off.

But back to my new friend Jill. One of the commentators wrote that "I think anyone who would read that who reads romance wouldn’t take it seriously," and Jill agreed. OK, I know that any Romance writer, and their readers, have to take themselves and their books somewhat seriously, or else the whole fantasy is moot. No one can  really buy in to a story that is acknowledged as being frivolous. But seriously, how the hell can you write something like that and not reasonably expect this kind of reaction??

Sorenson finishes by writing that "Fair or not, sometimes negative press comes with the territory. I’m kind of flattered by the attention! Another new author first." Gotta hand it to her. Her novel may be trashy, but it's been published in a national monthly magazine that gets read by millions. She will inevitably make bank with this one and a string of more like it–same basic plot, different paper-thin premise. Which is certainly more than I can say.

Lick you later,

Your Pretentious and Snarky Editrix, Allie