This week on Underlined & Annotated, we're taking a deep dive into the history of the romance genre - where it began, how it evolved, and how it became the powerhouse it is today. We'll start with some of the earliest foundational love stories often credited as early influences, move through the rise of modern category romance, and explore the books and authors that helped define and reshape the genre over time. 

We'll talk about the explosive popularity of romance publishing in the 20th century, including the era of mass-market paperback and those iconic 80s and 90s covers that became legendary for their dramatic poses and famously shirtless heroes. From "bodice rippers" to the rise of more character driven, emotionally complex romance, we'll look at how the genre has constantly reinvented itself while staying rooted in one promise: the happily ever after.