Romance novels are sometimes accused of showing an unrealistic view of love and relationships, but I disagree.
Here's what I know about relationships:
They're not easy.
Every relationship goes through rough patches, when it takes hard work and commitment to get to the good parts again.
They're worth it.
A good relationship brings joy, companionship, intimacy and support.
No two relationships are alike.
Every relationship travels its own path. Some are a slow burn that work up to intensity, others are intense from the first time the couple meet. Some have big highs and lows, others are more stable. Every person is an individual (cue scene from Life of Brian, "Yes, we're all individuals,") so every relationship will unfold in its own way.
This I've learned from my own experience and from watching the experience of others close to me.
And it's what the couples in a romance novel also experience. They don't have plain sailing - they have to work hard for their happy ending. Face challenges, make mistakes, keep going, prove they deserve the love and commitment of the other person.
I think there are worse life lessons one could learn.
(I've seen a few wise words about relationships on Facebook recently, so I'm pasting a few here for you.)
So tell me, what do have you learned about relationships? Together we could expand out my list of 3 above.
