Love to laugh? Humorous romances are one of the few
sub-genres in romance that have never been out of favor.
Georgette Heyer specialized in wit, Dell's Candlelight
Ecstasy line started the series humor books and the Loveswept
line kept us laughing for over a decade. Now there is
Harlequin's Love & Laughter line and Avon's excellent new
single title releases (with the cute cartoony covers). We
also are looking forward to a line of "funny" books that
Leisure will launch in June '99. We've noticed a new trend on
covers lately too...readers, pay attention when you see a cover
model "smiling".
Q. What does a woman look for in the "perfect" mate?
A. Well, if Lucky the "Diet Coke" model isn't available, then
most girls look for a guy with a great sense of humor. And
since most of you believe that laughter is the music of the
gods, we have provided a list of romances guaranteed to
provoke giggling, gasping, rasping, panting, and guffawing.
If all that doesn't sound very funny, then we do guarantee
quite a few moments where you laugh so hard you may weep!
(And all this, no matter what is going on around you!)
What's The Appeal?
Have you ever noticed that when anyone talks about humor
they suddenly get very serious? Love and laughter aren't two
words you automatically combine to make the perfect
prescription for happiness. But can you imagine one without
the other? An interesting thing about humor is that it is
often derived from situations that aren't so funny. At its
most basic level, humor provides a necessary way for people
to release tension when times are tough. Perhaps that's why
they say laughter is the best medicine. Humor takes many
forms. Ever wonder why your mate finds things funny that you
don't? Author Jennifer Crusie considers the different types
of humor to be gender-specific. "Male" humor involves
slapstick ("The Three Stooges," "There's Something About
Mary") and making someone the butt of a joke. "Female" humor,
("Mad About You," "Friends") is more situation-based.
"Female" humor is more likely to make fun of particular
circumstances than of people. Irony is a great vehicle for
humor. Often the fascination for readers lies in the study of
contrasts. Our favorite stories often feature the two people
least likely to find one another and fall in love, or a
situation so embarrassing that laughter is the only way to
get through it. Love can be a serious business, and in order
to appreciate it we need to lighten up a bit. (Imagine sex
without laughter...) Laughter prevents us taking ourselves
and our problems-insurmountable as they seem-too seriously.
Sharing a laugh with the one you love is a wonderful way to
reinforce the bond you share. And books that combine love and
humor tap into two of our best sources of contentment, joy
and well-being.
-Kate Ryan
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