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While searching for beta readers for what I've believed to be a historical romance, I've been told that my WIP may not qualify as a romance at all. I'd greatly appreciate opinions on this point!

The book is set in 1870s Nebraska. The focus is on matchmaking and pairing up. Two characters spend much of the book trying to find matches for each other. (They do NOT end up together, for reasons I hope will be fairly obvious early on.) Several apparently-promising attempts end up not working out. The eventual pairings are revealed gradually. Both of these characters have their HEA.

Is this a romance, as I thought, or does a "romance" have to focus from the start on a particular hero/heroine pairing, as I've just been told?

All in perspective I guess. Traditionally, I prefer my couple to meet fairly early in the story and grow from there. Because the characters in your book do end up with someone in the end I guess you could call it a romance. But it sounds like that may not be the main point to the story. Romance readers like what they like.

I don't know whether everyone will so read it (that's why I need beta readers!), but to me, the eventual pairings, together with the personal journeys that made them possible and what they mean for the characters' future, are the main points of the story. . . .

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "All in perspective I guess. Traditionally, I prefer my couple to meet fairly early in the story and grow from there. Because the characters in your book do end up with someone in the end I guess yo..."

Readers of romance like to know who to root for. If the character is with different people (and it’s not a poly story), we can’t bond.

Part of it is also having the romance be central to the story. That’s hard to do if the characters don’t end up together.

But don’t change your story to fit the genre. It’s what you wrote. Call it fiction with strong romantic elements.

JMHO. YMMV. :)

This makes a lot of sense. I'm coming to a much clearer understanding of the romance genre through comments like yours.

The story is what it is -- historical fiction with strong romantic elements :-). I don't know whether I'll write a true romance in the future.

Abigail wrote: "Readers of romance like to know who to root for. If the character is with different people (and it’s not a poly story), we can’t bond.

Part of it is also having the romance be central to the story..."

For me a novel in the romance genre needs to have a strong central couple who eventually, after various problems, find love in some fashion, although they are not necessarily together. (Am thinking of Frenchman's Creek here which I would consider a romance.) Perhaps that is just an old-fashioned view.

Your view is quite close to that of the Romance Writers Association, although per the RWA, they do need to end up together in some way. I have now surrendered to the reality that my WIP is historical fiction with romantic elements.

Carol wrote: "For me a novel in the romance genre needs to have a strong central couple who eventually, after various problems, find love in some fashion, although they are not necessarily together. (Am thinking..."

Karen wrote: "Your view is quite close to that of the Romance Writers Association, although per the RWA, they do need to end up together in some way. I have now surrendered to the reality that my WIP is historic..."

Historical fiction with romantic elements sounds fine to me. A novel is a creative work. It does not have to confine itself within the straitjacket of a genre. Some novels have many different genres within them. Diana Gabaldon (Outlander) says her novel does although I would have said it is primarily a romance.

I would love to be able to promote the book to romance readers without being misleading. I've been thinking about phrases like "atypical romance," "keeps the reader guessing," and "not one but two HEAs."

Carol wrote: "Karen wrote: "Your view is quite close to that of the Romance Writers Association, although per the RWA, they do need to end up together in some way. I have now surrendered to the reality that my W..."

Nope.

Romance readers get mad when they’re tricked.

You can still market to romance readers with a book that has strong romantic elements. Romance readers don’t read romance exclusively. Call it what is it.

Thanks!
Can you suggest any ways to market such a book to romance readers (other than posting in groups like this, with clear labeling)?

Abigail wrote: "Nope.

Romance readers get mad when they’re tricked.

You can still market to romance readers with a book that has strong romantic elements. Romance readers don’t read romance exclusively. Call it..."

When I figure that out myself, I’ll let you know. 😃

Continuing to explore the outer boundaries of romance novels: has anyone here read Shades of Milk and Honey? This is a marvelous spin on Austen-type fiction, with fantasy elements (specifically the use of "glamour" to create sensory illusions, plus brief references to the fae) included. Without giving anything away, I'd love to know whether those who've read it consider it a romance, or no.

Karen wrote: "While searching for beta readers for what I've believed to be a historical romance, I've been told that my WIP may not qualify as a romance at all. I'd greatly appreciate opinions on this point!

T..."

Is this book out now, it sounds like an interesting read? From your description, if I picked this book up and read it I would not be put off by the fact that the main characters didn't end up together as long as they ended up with someone and the romance aspects were in the book with the people they interacted with.
But, for some readers, I think you would have to make it clear in the beginning that they were friends for them to enjoy.

I've revised both the book -- now titled What Heals the Heart -- and its description quite a bit since my original post. I believe it's now pretty clear that the main characters, Joshua and Clara, are the romantic pair and end up together, though the matchmaking thread, involving Joshua matchmaking for his elderly widow friend Freida and vice-versa, remains.

My tentative release target is early-to-middle October.

Melissa wrote: "Karen wrote: "While searching for beta readers for what I've believed to be a historical romance, I've been told that my WIP may not qualify as a romance at all. I'd greatly appreciate opinions on ..."

Hi everyone. It's summer here now and we rather surprisingly have sunshine. Am shortly off to a Center Parcs with grandchildren. A zip-wiring granny! Have a good summer everyone; hope it's not too hot for some of you.

Carol wrote: "Hi everyone. It's summer here now and we rather surprisingly have sunshine. Am shortly off to a Center Parcs with grandchildren. A zip-wiring granny! Have a good summer everyone; hope it's not too ..."

Enjoy!!

Ooh, have fun!