Named for Harlequin’s UK arm. Via the Daily Mail:
...But the ‘rose-tinted’ novels are damaging modern relationships, a leading psychologist claims.
The genre may still account for almost half the novels bought, but its idealised love and sex give readers false expectations, insists relationships expert Susan Quilliam.
And although the stories can be enjoyable and fun, they encourage unreal expectations of a life of unbridled passion and trouble-free pregnancies, she added...
(So true! The last one I read made me believe I’d grow longer, stronger nails in just 7 days. ) Further, according to a TV agony aunt, “A huge number of the issues we see in clinics and therapy rooms are influenced by romantic fiction.” Yes, indeedy, and a huge amount of the stupidity I confront on a daily basis radiates from people who’d mistake advice columns for questions from real people, not sock puppets (interns) writing as Fergus from Ferngully. Quick, there’s a house fire, I’ve swallowed poison, my Aunt Fanny has a giant pain—write the advice columnist and twiddle! Also mentioned, most usefully, is how condom-hostile romance readers are. Um.... it’s only implied, however, that their/your/our sex ed is pretty lacking. Nevertheless, you will be relieved to know:
“I’m not arguing all romantic fiction is misguided, wrong or evil,” said Miss Quilliam.
Whew! Read it all, and feel free to do a spit take and snort with your coffee, because this article stinks to me like pernicious linkbait. What do you think?
