Can reading romance novels affect your view of relationships?

Well i would never say you shouldnt read them cause if it gives you pleasure at any level its great. I mean for men to watch sports all the time and not spend time with their ladies wouldnt be good either ....right? But on the other hand just as films have an effect on your thinking or on society as a whole i think novels can too but again thats only if you not realisitic about it realizing that its a fictional piece. Your husband needs to chill .. smilin ..

Too bad your husband does not support that hobby of yours. tell him that he might benifit from it because it would make you romantic and sweet. Like you I am a sucker of romantic novels and other type of books, but my husband is so happy and glad of these hobby of mine. He buy books for me a lot, and encourages our daughter to love books as well. But I would dissagre with your husband because these books, broaden your minds, your thinking, your vocabulary and most of all IT MAKE YOU FEEL SO GOOD ! After a days work being a wife and a mother, reading a good book always bring you to a different world for a while. That gives you new energy, a smile and new perspective. It gives you a minute to forget where you are, how tired you are. But I guess a lot of guys are not into reading, just like my husband, he would rather watch History Channel rather than reading it in a book. Goodluck 1

Only till a certain age. In our growing years, we read lot of mushy romance and wish for similar things to happen in real life. But of course that rarely happens and in practical life, we cant afford to get influenced by novels.

I believe that in a way it can, because women get in to romantic moods when they read them. They feel all flushed and romantic and can bring that home to thier husbands. Of course it can also hurt the relationship too, because their husband or boyfriend or what ever is not likely to behave like the romantic male lead in the book, and it could set the poor guy up badly by comparison. As the woman in the relationship can get annoyed by him not behaving like the hero in the story.

I came across this old discussion of yours and after reading it I had to laugh. Your husband is like mine but add on that he thinks it's just junk literature and only females can be suckers enough to read it, lol. Anyhow, I'm like you, it's a pick me up, easy to read, but we know it's not reality kind of deal. However, your husband is partially right, too, as some people tend to think that romance really has to be like that. But TV does the same job. There is movies that can give people the very same perception of a perfect happily thereafter etc. Just have to remain realistic;)