You’re ready to grab something new off the TBR or a gorgeous cover snagged your attention, but you’re in the mood for a certain kind of tale. It might be a tearjerker, or maybe that’s what you want to avoid. Or perhaps you want a little romance, but would prefer it takes a backseat to the rest of the story. How can you know ahead of time whether what you’re in the mood for is actually romantic women’s fiction or romance?
After doing quite a bit of research for an upcoming re-release, I have a few pointers to help you narrow the search. Of course, this post may or may not be entirely helpful considering not all booksellers make much distinction. I know Amazon does, because in the ads console they allow publishers to choose which categories to target for a particular title, but that’s not always the case with brick-and-mortar stores or other online booksellers. Plus, some publishers and indie authors place their books in both genre categories, so…
Let’s first talk about the basic characteristics of romance, since that’s what we focus on here at InspyRomance (specifically CCR):
Boy meets girl. Sparks fly. They’ve each got something that keeps them from leaping in with both feet for a while, but you know they’ll have to work through it eventually. There’s the dance, the push and pull, chemistry, whatever you want to call it, but that troublesome thing keeps cropping up until they’re forced to deal with it. It might break them apart for a bit, but after some soul searching comes that decision to fight for the relationship, likely some swoony kisses, and BAM, happily ever after. The end. Authors can fancy it up with different tropes, varying levels of faith and drama, but we know without a doubt our hero and heroine are going to get through it together and we’ll all have that happy ending we’ve been turning pages for. Essentially, romance = happy ending.
What about women’s fiction—specifically romantic women’s fiction?
There’s often quite a bit of overlap, but there are a few key points that differ, and as readers we want to be prepared for them (yet another reason why reviews can be so helpful in knowing what we’re getting into!). They are NOT the same thing!
- Women’s fiction is issue driven, meaning the characters’ emotional journeys take priority.
- Relationships are often the focus—familial relationships, friendships, and yes, romantic relationships—especially how they help or hinder the heroine’s emotional growth throughout the book.
- Though the story is often told from only the heroine’s POV, this isn’t always the case. Women’s fiction can be dual-POV too, so long as the hero either has a deeply emotional issue of his own to work through OR his emotional growth revolves around the female protagonist’s emotional journey (i.e. how he’s supporting her, trying to understand so he can better support her, or how her issues impact his).
- Women’s fiction can still have romantic threads with kissing (and in mainstream books, bedroom scenes), but it always takes a backseat to what else the story is really about.
- Romances can be highly emotional. YES! We love all the feels. But in romance the feels come from the romantic tension. If the feels are mostly coming from what they are going through within themselves, apart from the relationship, it’s not romance. It’s women’s fiction.
- Happy endings are not guaranteed in women’s fiction. Sometimes they’re reflective. Sometimes they’re bittersweet. Sometimes they’re happy. Sometimes they’re downright tragic.
I hope that helps clear up a bit of the confusion if you’re like me and knew there was a difference, but couldn’t quite pinpoint it. To boil it down really simple, if the romance is a thread in the fabric of the story, it’s women’s fiction. If romance is the whole fabric and everything would unravel without it, it’s romance.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Now that you’re considering things, perhaps there are a few titles you’ve loved recently that weren’t romances but women’s fiction? (Think Carolyn Brown, a popular mainstream author whose books often get miscategorized under romance but are actually Southern women’s fiction.) Do you find you’re more drawn to one or the other?
Due to my own research, I recently realized that several of my own books are miscategorized and I now need to go update their genre categories so they will reach their appropriate audience. My novella Braver With You, for example, which appeared in October 2021’s Save the Date anthology is being re-released on its own next month. I ended up rewriting the blurb for women’s fiction because Ashlyn and Conrad’s relationship isn’t the central theme of the story, it’s Ashlyn’s need to stand up to her mother and their need to work through the trauma of the past so that she and Conrad can move away and begin their lives together without her mother’s influence. So while there is romance, and they’re planning a wedding, it’s not A romance. I had no idea. LOL!
To celebrate us all learning something new together plus the re-release, I’ll choose a winner at random from the comments to receive a signed paperback of Braver With You. Open to US residents only, should an international winner be selected, winner will receive an eBook edition instead. Thank you!
Lover of Jesus, family, books, coffee, music, and crafting (in that order), Jaycee Weaver is perpetually pursuing at least one of her passions. She writes contemporary Christian romance stories featuring realistic characters in everyday situations where God is at work in big ways. She appreciates books where the characters face shortcomings, temptations, and adversity but always get their happy ending, so that’s what she writes.
Thanks for the clear explanation! I read a lot of romance, but I definitely prefer women’s fiction, now that you have clarified the difference!
Well, very interesting post. Most of the time I have no idea what different genres/categories/tropes often are. I finally learned or is it learnt (clearly being a writer isn’t my forte) what “women’s fiction” is. I always wondered what it meant and why there was no category for “men’s fiction”, thank you for enlightening me. :)
Yes, such a fine line! I wrote my debut as women’s fiction, but my publisher for that one categorized it as a romance. Reading this, I think I’d slip it back into the women’s fiction section, but at least there is a lot of overlap between the genres.
Thanks for clearing that up. I always wondered what the difference was. And sometimes it’s not on the description by the bar code on the back cover.
Happy reading!
I read mostly romance and romantic suspense; however, I also have read and enjoyed women’s fiction. One of my favorites in that category (from how you described them) would be Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor series, because the romance is NOT the main theme in them, though it is there. I have to say, I much prefer any genre to end with a happily ever after, even if it is just implied.
Hi, Thank you so much for clearing this up, I wasn’t quite sure what the difference was or if there was even a difference. Have a great weekend and stay safe.
That’s one of thr best explanations/breakdowns I’ve heard, thank you! I enjoy romance books but women’s fiction can be really good too. I prefer my books to either have a happy ending or at least some resolution.
Thanks for this post. I got those two genres mixed up as well early on. I like my romance to have strong elements of women’s fiction, because people’s wider emotional journey interests me. It also makes for a much deeper, resonant romance.
When I first learned about romantic “women’s fiction”, I had no idea what it was or how it differed from straight romance. I think I first discovered it with Beth Vogt’s Thatcher Sisters series and I also I read a book or two of Varina Denman’s Mended Hearts series years ago. A couple of more examples are Courtney Walsh’s “Things Left Unsaid” and Katie Ganshert’s “Life After” (at least I THINK it’s women’s fiction)…all these books were very good.
More recently, I read Nancy Niagles “The Shell Collector” and really want to read the next one “What Remains True”. She has impactful, emotionally charged stories that really touched me. I love the female friendships that develop & change over the course of the story. They always leave me wanting more!
I’m so glad you explained the difference, because I’m still not real sure with some books what they are. They kind of combine both aspects that make for a great story! :-)
That’s what I’ beginning to discover for myself as well!
Happy to help! I always wondered that myself. One blog I read suggested we call it “emotional fiction” so it’s not gender biased. That makes sense to me as well because I know there are plenty of men who enjoy emotional reads from time to time.
Absolutely! I think I may need to reclassify some of my books, but there’s enough overlap it’s not a priority lol
Right?! It’s hard to know. Sometimes I wish there were more obvious industry standards for things like genre and content ratings.
Truth! I need my HEA. Life is too short to waste emotions on a bad ending. 😆
Happy to help!
Me too. I love deep issues, but I need them well resolved with some happiness!
I completely agree!
That’s what matters in the long run anyway, right? Give me a good story (so long as it has a hopeful ending)!
Hi, Jaycee! A very insightful post. My reading has been mostly romance (HEAs rule!) and romantic suspense (my intro to the romance genre). It makes sense to me that the distinctions which you list for Women’s Fiction reflect the psychological elements that are more important to women as a whole. Relationships of all kinds, not just romantic ones, are highly valued. Problems with non-romantic relationships are just as real as those in romantic ones and just as valuable to authors for generating the conflicts which drive the plot of the story. It makes sense to me that *romances* are driven primarily if not uniquely by the conflicts in the romantic relationship at the center of the story.
As a male reader, this brings into focus all the topics (and books no end) about how men and women view the world differently and are wired differently. “Women are from Venus, Men are from Mars”, “Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti”, “Women are like Crock Pots, Men are like Microwaves” and so on. Again, as a man, I most appreciate romances where the heroes *and* the heroines are being authentically themselves and dealing honestly with those differences. It’s not about the plumbing, it’s about the wiring :).
As for “Men’s Fiction”, I would say that it very definitely exists, it just gets different labels, like “Action and Adventure”, “War Stories”, “Buddy Movies”, etc. The things that I see driving these stories are the desires to accomplish (provide) and combat evil (protect). Why are superhero movies so popular with men? They show the main characters succeeding in their battles and challenges despite weakness and extraordinary odds. As a man, I *want* to be that capable and valuable to the people in my life, to have and fulfill a purpose that makes their lives better, safer and more joyful.
Well, as is usual for me, I have gone on and on. I am one guy who uses his words more than the average. Maybe it’s a teacher thing.
Anyway, thanks for a great post!
What an interesting blog post, and very helpful in determining how to pick the book I may want to read next.
Thank YOU for your insightful commentary (as usual). I always appreciate your perspective. 😊 And you’re right, it’s important we recognize the wiring differences if we want truly authentic stories, regardless of genre!
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much, Jaycee. I have struggled to see the difference many times. I agree that there is an overlap as well as confusion. I have been reading a lot of Christian suspense right now so I am not thinking of any books that would fit into these categories. God bless you.
Great explanation! I’ve always wondered how they’re different, but wasn’t sure.
Thank you for this easy to understand explanation of the difference between romance and women’s fiction. I enjoy reading both so haven’t thought too much about it.
Welcome today. Wow this is a wonderful post. I have to be honest, I have not thought of it like this I think I am a romance gal. I love it when the romance has a happy ending. Every once in a while I will read one of the others.
I do love a good Christian suspense!! I’ve been loving Lisa Phillips’ books—I devoured the Last Chance County, and am on the last Chevalier Protection before u move onto the new spinoff.
Thanks! I hope it helps in the future. 😊
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Me too! I need a happy ending, so even if I read or write a women’s fiction, I have to know that it ends well first. 😆
This is one of the best explanations I’ve read. Some people say that if you take out a romantic thread in women’s fiction, the story will still stand. BUT, I don’t think that’s always true. Sometimes the two are very tightly strung together, as per the 2nd point under your “women’s fiction issue driven” section above.
I feel like I tend much more toward women’s fiction, but as there is usually a strong romantic component to the story, it’s been confusing. I have a couple of books to enter into contests at the end of ’22, and your post has helped clear up my thoughts on their categories.
Wonderful! Thank you, and I’m glad that helps!
I’ve read both romance & women’s fiction. I like both types of books.
I enjoy romance mostly
Thank you for this clarification. I am writing a book and it would be considered women’s fiction.
either are interesting
I appreciate the clarification, too. I am working on a manuscript and had a call with a writing coach recently and she categorized my work at women’s fiction with a hint of romance. 😊 This helps me understand more of the why and to realize that I do lean more towards women’s fiction rather than straight romance.
I had a fair idea but I love the explanations in your article. This makes it much clearer for me. Thank you and have a wonderful Sunday!
It’s nice to read multiple genres. It’s also nice to know what you’re getting into with a new book. Haha!
Usually I do too!
Excellent! I’m glad I could help. 😊
For sure!
Awesome! So glad I was able to help.
My pleasure! Glad to help.
After reading your description, I realized that I prefer romantic women’s fiction. Thanks for helping to clarify the difference.
This was so helpful to read, I have always wondered about the difference
I think another important difference is that in the romance you know which the hero is from the beginning, the story is about their relationship, it would not make sense that after making it grow for half of the book the hero changes.
In fiction for women the boy can change, the heroine is in love with a guy at the beginning, their relationship develops but the author is free to make them break up and the heroine ends up with another man she meets later or break up with her boyfriend in the same book and start falling in love with someone else even well past the middle of the book.