Jennifer Dewey

Romance Novel Facts

Jennifer Dewey

Harlequin sells about four books a second..

IN 2005, A MARKET SURVEY FOUND THAT 42% OF ROMANCE NOVEL READERS HAVE A BACHELORS DEGREE.

ROMANCE NOVELS MAKE UP ABOUT 46% OF ALL MASS-MARKET PAPERBACK BOOKS SOLD IN THE AMERIC

Romance Novels make about $1 billion a year in the United States alone

Between 2002 and 2004, the number of paranormal romances published in the United States doubled to 170 per year.

The women admitted to reading romances as an antidote to stress, for mental escape, and to learn about history and new careers.

The first truly American popular love romance was published in 1972, with Avon's publication of American author Kathleen Woodiwiss's The Flame and the Flower

Romance novels appear in 90 languages.

Category romances are short, usually no more than 200 pages, or about 55,000 words.

A historical romance is set before World War II.

A survey of 600 regular romance readers the same year "found that they mirror the general population in age, education, and marital and socioeconomic status.":

  • Over half of the women had at least some college education.
  • 40% were employed full-time.
  • 60% of the women surveyed read at least one romance every two days.