With jobs steadily evaporating left and right, and frivolous spending on a decline swifter than the number of roles offered to Joaquin Phoenix, it makes practical sense that superfluous shopping for retail non-necessities is on the down and down, too. The three major bookseller chains – Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Books-A-Million - have not been immune to this trend. Their total revenue fell 5.4% in 2008, marking the first time that their combined annual sales have seen a decline since they collectively gained domination of the bookselling market. However, there is one literary arena that has actually seen an increase in sales: romance novels. That’s right. Those paperback grocery store check-out line books with the lusty covers that helped launch Fabio’s topless career are thriving.

Nielson Bookscan found that from January-March of 2009 there was a 2.4% increase in romance novel sales while general fiction sales inversely saw a decline. Harlequin Novels, whose tagline is “We ARE Romance,” is a leader in the industry, churning out 100 titles a month in 25 languages to 94 markets worldwide. While the economy devolves from parading about as a confident spend-thrifty party to skulking in the corner like a penny-pinching prude, it’s only natural that people crave an escape from the disappointing daily grind of layoffs, unemployment, and (Gasp!) coupon clipping. The $8-a-pop sexually charged titles like Nauti Intentions, Disrobed and Dishonored; Bedded by Blackmail; and Virgin Mistress, Scandalous Love-Child seem to be just what the doctor ordered to forget about pink slips and depleting stocks.

Ranging from African-American, erotic fiction, Spanish, thriller, mystery, historical fiction to science fiction (aliens need loving too), the multitude of subgenres is an edge that likely adds to the paperbacks’ popularity. According to the Romance Writers of America, the two basic elements within each romance novel are a central love story (in case that wasn’t obvious by the rippling muscles and unbuttoned, transparent blouses on the juicy covers) and an “emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending.” But it isn’t all problem-free, breathless bustiers and strapping, shirtless seduction.

The two main individuals falling in love must honestly struggle to make their relationship work in the face of plot-thickening adversity. As a rule, the genre routinely rewards characters who represent good, while punishing those who symbolize the evil aspects of humanity. The unconditional love that is rewarded to the two main characters by the turn of the last page isn’t exactly handed to them on a silver platter, though. There are moments when the heroine likely finds herself in the distressing situation of not knowing if she can actually trust her newfound amour and is, at times, on the verge of giving up her quest for a Happily Ever After with him. Yet, she carries forth, unceasing in her search for sublime happiness and emphatically hoping for the best. Eventually the couple are united - a highly anticipated compensation for their dedication, goodwill and determination.

With grim realities breathing down our necks, romance novels offer inexpensive, simplistic escapism to a world where the life lessons are both simplistic and profound: be true to your heart, commit to the goal of unadulterated satisfaction and happiness, infuse goodwill into everything that you do, and your pages will flourish with paragraphs describing happy endings rather than endless chapters of downtrodden despair. Other than job security, good health, financial stability, and a custom made Birkin bag, what else is there to want? Maybe Harlequin should really take advantage of the current economy, though, and publish Recession Rapture or Lusty Lay-offs. Just a thought.