Real Curves and the Romance Heroines Who Have'em in Contemporary Romance
When I started researching for this series on Plus Sized Heroines in Romance, as I think I noted in the first post, I noticed that this subjected engaged readers deeply and sometime revealingly. The Smart Bitches, Trashy Books article from 2008 was the most riveting I am not sure all that much has changed. What do you think?
Some people thought BBW went against the fantasy based reading appeal of Romance. While other readers thought it fed into the fantasy instead.
Many readers agreed that a heroine with low self esteem because of her weight can be okay but most preferred that the character have a positive body image.
The make over/weight loss scenario or a hero who only becomes sexaully interested in her after her transformation was largely found to be unpleasuerable.
The question of where are the Big Beautiful Men was raised followed by heated rants on who would read that. (I would and am making a list now.)
And then as the posts in reply to the article went on the conversation changed and got a little ugly in fact, much more declarative and much less thoughtful.
The debate around this kind of heroine really turned into one about women's bodies.
Do BBW as heroines encourage unhealthful lifestyles? What is too fat?
What size makes you plus sized?
My personal weight loss or gain or both and all my feeling projected on the books. (Not that there is anything wrong with that.)
Beauty norms around the world and throughout history.
The article "Does This Book Make Me Look Fat?" by Sonia Brown does an excellent job of capturing all the nuances.
Here are some great Contemporary Romance Novels with Plus Sized Heroines, you can enjoy and think about all those questions as well if you like!
1. Perfection by R.L. Mathewson
2. Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise
3. Defying the Odds by Kele Moon
4. BEAST and CRASH by Pepper Pace
5. Love Kinection by Jennifer James
6. Too Much Temptation by Lori Foster
7. Wild Orchids by Karen Robards
8. Tall Tales and Wedding Veils by Jane Graves
9. Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley
10. Dangerous Curves Ahead by Sugar Jamison
Did I miss a favorite? (I tend to really dislike Chick Lit so those books are not likely here.) Please let me know what you would recommend?
If you would like to vote for the best of the best, go to my Goodreads list: Real Curves: The Best Contemporary Romance Heroines Who Have'em.
If you want to gaze at some lovely heroines who fall into this category across all the subgenres of Romance and get more recommendations as well, check out my Pinterest Board: Real Curves: Best Romance Novel Heroines Who Have'em.
2
