Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

I know for me I noticed the "big thing" in romance/ teen romance is vampires. Is it from Twilight pop.? I dunno. What was the thing in romance before vampires, what is the big thing now? Do you have a theme you always look for regards of what's popular? I'll ask this in my other groups, so if you see the title disregard the repeated question =D.

I think the vampires might have been inspired a bit by Harry Potter. I know they aren't romance novels but the YA fantasy part of it rather took off because the HP books were so popular. After HP we saw stuff like Twilight, etc. HP proved, if nothing else, YA books sell.

I worked in a bookstore when Harry Potter mania first started, and I agree with Briansgirl. That's the last big thing I can remember in YA fiction. YA fiction existed before then, of course, but the genre really exploded after the popularity of HP.

Vampire books had always been around in the YA genre. L.J. Smith comes to mind when I think back because she's been writing paranormal YA romance for years, and she had vampires both in her "Vampire Diaries" series and her "Night World" series. Now with the popularity of "Twilight" her books are all being reissued, but they were actually around in the '90s when I was in junior high/high school. I'm not entirely sure why her stuff never got as popular as "Twilight." It possibly has to do with the fact that YA just sells better now than it did then.

Great answers guys =D. I never read HP, so while I know about it I didn't quite think about it being the jump off of YA fiction coming into the mainstream.

As a teen my favorites were the thrillers like Diane Hoh or Chris Pike and anyone that wrote those "I know what you did last summer" themes. I still read YA and its interesting to see SO many vampires on the covers on YA books. Thanks so much for your replies =D

Harper: Your probably right about L J Smith. That makes sense. Everything has a season.

I used to read Christopher Pike when I was younger, too. And R.L. Stine (not "Goosebumps," but his YA stuff). In the YA genre, I mainly read those two authors and LJ Smith and I even read the Sweet Valley High series and this other romantic series called "Love Stories," which featured books written different authors. My favorite from that series was this one called Sharing Sam. I actually have the entire collection stored away somewhere for any future daughters I might have. :)

I remember the babysitter's club being popular in the late 1980's/ early 1990's - I think I had almost a complete collection of them

That's a pretty even take on the romance trend Jeanine, thanks =D.

Harper wrote: "I used to read Christopher Pike when I was younger, too. And R.L. Stine (not "Goosebumps," but his YA stuff). In the YA genre, I mainly read those two authors and LJ Smith and I even read the Sweet..."

Me too! I started by reading Sweet Valley High, then R.L. Stine's Fear Street books, and finally Christopher Pike. There was also some YA mysteries by Eric Wilson that I loved. My favourite was The Lost Treasure of Casa Loma, having visited there several times growing up.
The one story that has always stuck in my head was by Pike, I can't remember which book though. The group of teens are sitting around telling stories and the one tells this story about someone who lived where there was a giant wall surrounding them. The person wanted to learn what was on the other side so climbed up on the wall to find thorn bushes as far as they could see. They walked along the wall thinking the bushes had to stop eventually, but instead there was thorn bushes on both sides and the wall started narrowing. They turned around, to go back the way they came but the wall continued to narrow until it was razor thin and...well you probably get the point. Anybody remember which one that was?

Kenjii ~*~Black Kat~**~ wrote: "I know for me I noticed the "big thing" in romance/ teen romance is vampires. Is it from Twilight pop.? I dunno. What was the thing in romance before vampires, what is the big thing now? Do you hav..."

You also had the popularity of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (movie and show) and Angel helping books like this along.
For me, I always read fantasy. You've got magic, mythical beings and creatures, and usually at least a little romance. I think I'd take an elf over a vampire anyday - especially the ones that can do magic! :)

Sara wrote: "For me, I always read fantasy. You've got magic, mythical beings and creatures, and usually at least a little romance. I think I'd take an elf over a vampire anyday - especially the ones that can do magic! :)"

I think I'd have a hard time choosing between a vamp and an elf. But the decision would be easier if the elf looked like Legolas from the LotR movies. LOL. I'm a fantasy fan, too.

Way back when I was a teenager in the early '80s I read Trixie Beldon mysteries. I never liked Nancy Drew. I didn't read The Hardy Boys but loved watching them on tv. I read the entire set of Trixie Beldon's. Half I checked out from the library and the other half... well, I still own them. lol I was thinking about rereading the first couple to see if I can figure out what I liked about them back then.

I read all the Trixie Belden series in my teens too. No idea where they all ended up, wish I knew as I'm sure my daughter would probably enjoy them now.

Mel W wrote: "I read all the Trixie Belden series in my teens too. No idea where they all ended up, wish I knew as I'm sure my daughter would probably enjoy them now."

My mom saved hers for me. I loved their old school covers and slightly musty smell! No clue where they are now though. She probably still has them. :)

Jeanine wrote: "Sara wrote: "Harper wrote: "I used to read Christopher Pike when I was younger, too. And R.L. Stine (not "Goosebumps," but his YA stuff). In the YA genre, I mainly read those two authors and LJ Smi..."

Thanks. I'll have to reread that.