A number of years ago I was talked into trying a romance novel by a number of people in a book forum I was in at the time. I read the one they suggested and, while the story wasn't bad, the writing was gimmicky and dishonest and I said so. Suddenly all those people who suggested that book said I read the wrong book and they picked another one for me, which I read. That experience was similar. Over the next couple of years they talked me into trying 4 of 5 more of them so I have tried romance novels and I don't like them.
I have no problem with love stories. They aren't what I look for usually but I've read many really good ones over the years. What I don't like is the tricks the romance writers play on the reader to get an emotional reaction.
That said, this is my own personal conclusion and no-one need be influenced by it. I think people should read what they like even if I don't like it. Even more important to all of us, I think, writers should write what they want to write even if I don't like it. That's where many of our best books come from.
I do wish there were fewer romance novels being written. I also wish we lived in a perfect world full of brotherly love and peace and harmony and had sharks and roaches for pets because we loved them. But that's not the real world and if it was the real world we'd run out of things for authors to write about and I'd probably end up miserable.
The large number of romance novels, fantasy novels, serial killer novels, etc. make it a bit more difficult for me to find new books at times but that's a small price to pay for having so many good books to read once I do find them.
I vote we keep valentines day.
Barry