What's The Point...of Romance Stories if they're for the rich?


 


Can only the rich afford to think about love? Probably. 

Let’s take a look at the recent romance TV shows and movies. Love happens in beach houses and mansions. Teens live in mansions and have expensive gadgets. Literally all of them have bright careers because they are so easily accepted into Ivy League schools. 

 

But because this is a romance, let’s add in a bit of drama. The love interest is always poor. Their parents can barely afford meals, but somehow manage to send their children to prestigious schools. Their houses may need constant repairs, but the kid, who is the love interest, has an exquisite wardrobe and updated gadgets. 


Just how?


How is this kid even accepting expensive gifts from their parents, who are struggling to make ends meet? 


That’s the first thing that comes to mind when you watch these far-from-reality stories. 


And what is with the mansions? 


There are romance stories out there that take place around vacation houses. If that huge mansion is a “vacation house,” imagine the actual house. 


Private beaches, expensive wardrobe, excellent education, there’s no way they can lose, right? There is no way they can fail at anything or have any issues in their perfect lives. 


But apparently they do. Turns out, it is usually the heroine who realizes she needs to find herself in order to be in love. And so off she goes on a European vacation, where she is granted an easy visa, gets an extended stay for free, and rents the perfect apartment that overlooks the landmarks so that every time they are on screen, we know exactly where they are. 


Paris. It is almost always Paris. 


Somehow, they manage to rent an apartment with money from…their trust fund? How are they paying for anything without an income, and if they are “finding themselves,” shouldn’t they be using their family’s money?


And while they are on their exploration trip, the heroine always gets a haircut. It’s supposed to be expensive, but it looks awful. Why can’t they find themselves with their normal hair length? Why does it have to be an awful bob?


Perhaps the most bizarre turn of events is their easy assimilation into a new city. New friends, new job, new apartment, and more expensive clothes. 


Granted, Romance stories are supposed to invoke fantasies, but can anyone who is in touch with reality even fathom such a scenario for themselves? 


Perhaps the most hilarious moment, that is unintentional, is when the actors talk about being able to afford basic things when they are sitting in a car that costs around six figures. 


A person with an average income and living a normal lifestyle can probably not find all of this relatable. 


Where are the stories that border on realism? Why can’t two people from normal backgrounds have a spectacular love story?


What’s with the billionaires who somehow manage to take long breaks from their business to go on exotic vacations to woo the love of their lives?


Or perhaps that is what today’s romance stories are all about: a stark reminder that love is a fantasy, unattainable, and if you want even a modicum of affection, you need to first increase your bank balance. 


THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY

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