Guide to the evolving genres of women's fiction: as the lines blur between romance and "chick lit," how does a reader tell the difference?(the love scene) From: Black Issues Book Review | Date: January 1, 2005| Author: Harris, Monica | COPYRIGHT 2005 Cox, Matthews & Associates. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

Since the release of Terry McMillan's Waiting to Exhale (Viking Press) in 1992 and the launch of Arabesque's line of black romances in 1994, readers have been enjoying both women's fiction, now frequently dubbed "chick lit," as well as romance fiction. As romance novelists become mainstream best-sellers and mainstream bookcovers look more like titillating romance titles, many readers could be confused as to what genre is what. How's a reader to know the difference?

When...