Black/Afam Romance vs. Urban Romance

[u/Insecure_Egomaniac]

For quite some time, I’ve labeled two of my books as Black/Afam Romance, because they feature Black FMCs and they’re written by a Black woman. Now I’m wondering whether Black/Afam Romance is just another way to say Urban Romance (e.g., Quan Millz, Zane).

So which is it? Is Black Romance another term for Urban Romance, or is it a descriptor for the characters/author?

[u/coconutmillk]

there’s a difference for me.

urban romance features the stuggle of urban life for black people in america (drugs, gangs, prison bids, single mothers, men with multiple children by different women, etc.). the titles may be explicit in some way with lots of profanity in the dialogue, including casual use of nigga. the authors use more street-friendly pen names, too: B. Love, Mz. Lady P, Ladii Nesha.

black romance typically features MCs with more socially acceptable careers or white collar jobs at least. they’re also usually set in more affluent suburbs of the bigger cities (with the exception of NYC). our struggles are still shown, but they’re more subtly woven into the narrative. authors use their real names more often here, probably because their content is more palatable for mainstream publishing avenues: Kennedy Ryan, Tia Williams, Regina Black.

i think it really comes down to the themes in your book and where they’re set.

[u/Glutton4Glitter]

Black romance is like an umbrella term, IMO. For me, a black romance must at least include a black FMC AND MMC but can be about any topic, trope, setting, etc. If one of the main characters is non-black then it’s an interracial romance.

An urban romance is a black romance that focuses on “urban” or “hood” culture/setting/language/themes for lack of a better term.

An example of a more general black romance would be “Before I Let Go” by Kennedy Ryan or “Neighbor Favor” by Kristina Forest, whereas an Urban romance would be “Demon’s Dream” by Elle Kayson or “10,000 Hours with a Rich Menace” by Jahquel J.

Basically all urban romance is black romance but not all black romance is urban.

[u/Insecure_Egomaniac → u/Glutton4Glitter]

Oh, that’s interesting. I like the idea of an umbrella term.

By your definition, it must be Black Love, so interracial would be excluded?

[u/KeishaFreedmen → u/Insecure_Egomaniac]

Yes. I think that’s universal. If you market an interracial romance as black romance, you’ll have a horde of angry readers

[u/Insecure_Egomaniac → u/KeishaFreedmen]

Thank you for enlightening me! I honestly had no idea about this stipulation.

[u/AshKash313]

Quan Millz makes my skin crawl with anger the way he’s allowed to play in our faces. 🤬

Black romance to me is a black author writing about black characters. It’s the same as saying African American Fiction in the sense that any subgenre can fall under this title.

Urban romance will be Ashley Antoinette, Jaquel J, Keisha Ervin, Meesha Minx, Joy Deja King. Usually set in the “hood” with topics of street life , drugs, guns, or similar topics but they focus on the romance.

I recently learned that Urban Fiction and Urban Romance has been added to all authors not just Black authors that feature settings in Inner city areas ( if you ask me, it’s just another way to push black authors out of the literary space).

Urban Erotica would be Noire, Zane.

Street literature/ street lit Would be Ashley & JaQuavis Coleman, Wahida Clark, K’Wan, Joy Deja King were you get to see the drug dealing and guns blazing.

A lot of authors write under a variety of these genres and sub genres.

Street lit is rarely used as a way to describe urban books for some reason because it definitely has its own lane.

[u/Insecure_Egomaniac → u/AshKash313]

The biggest eye opener for me is finding out interracial isn’t included, even if both the author and one MC are Black. That explains why my books lag in that category, LOL.

[u/AffectionateBat2697 → u/AshKash313]

🎯

[u/-Vamped-]

We can just go ahead and put Quan Millz ass in the trash 'cause that's some bull and I refuse

[u/littleblackbook06 → u/-Vamped-]

I definitely don’t think he’s writing for Black people.

[u/Insecure_Egomaniac → u/-Vamped-]

😂😂😂

[u/lilithskies]

Idk I don't consider them the same.

Black romance = Beverly Jenkins, Maureen Smith

Urban Romance .... I am going nowhere near that if that's what Quan Millz has going on

[u/Syren_007 → u/lilithskies]

Don’t consider Quan Millz as anything. Urban romance is fire, and Quan ain’t it.

[u/Mae021897 → u/lilithskies]

Absolutely love Beverly Jenkins. My first book was indigo and I’ve read about 8 others after it this year.

[u/mssoutherndelite → u/Mae021897]

I have read every single one. I could never get into the Blessings series. I love her books.

[u/lilithskies → u/mssoutherndelite]

What was that about?

[u/Grand-Disk6750]

I consider urban romance our “dark” romance genre. It’s just mob but in the hood. Then there’s many many sub categories of black romance.

[u/Grand-Disk6750]

Also is quan millz romance? And I would consider Zane to be erotica not romance

[u/Insecure_Egomaniac → u/Grand-Disk6750]

You know what, I assumed he was because he keeps showing up on my Booktok, but maybe not? 😅

Also, I’d agreed about Zane. Just showing my age.

[u/Moxi3Sauc3]

I hardly ever comment on Reddit but I refuse to pass up an opportunity to openly loathe Quan Millz. I wish the ground would swallow him whole.

[u/user37463928]

This is a real book?? 🤯

[u/Chocol8doll]

People actually buying this? 🙄

[u/AMnTheWindCityReads]

Yeah I’m definitely trying to say that black romance is the overall umbrella as someone mentioned earlier too but then you get into sub genres like contemporary romances, which is what Kennedi Ryan and Brenda Jackson, Christina C Jones write.. Beverly Jenkins does historical romances. For me Love Belvin is a great example of a writer who does contemporary but with urban elements.

[u/Alittlesnickerdoodle]

Omg not Quan Millz and Zane in the same sentence 😂 I am so sorry Ms Zane

[u/Independent-Cut-138]

What is this nonsensical book cover?

[u/Insecure_Egomaniac → u/Independent-Cut-138]

All of his covers are like that. I’m pretty sure they’re all AI, which is one of many reasons I steer clear.

[u/Independent-Cut-138 → u/Insecure_Egomaniac]

They are horrible.

[u/Typical-Diver3743]

Quan Millz has always given "troll". All their books seems like they're just trolling. 🫠🤣

[u/LevelSquash6796]

Yes totally different genres and I totally respect it. However ,isn’t Quan Mills satire? Totally different genre altogether right?

[u/Insecure_Egomaniac → u/LevelSquash6796]

I wish I knew for sure.

[u/tewmennyhobbies → u/LevelSquash6796]

I wouldn't say his work is satire because he's not writing anything with an underlying political message. There is an interview where Quan Millz stated outright that he got into writing because he was fired from his white collar job and saw his friend was making a living from writing books. He then tried to do the same, but it didn't go well until he started making the titles as outlandish as possible and that's when the big bucks started rolling in. Now he writes the most ridiculous and bizarre (and infuriating) books/titles because he knows what sells. His books are very cheap, and people are curious so if a thousand people buy a $1 E-book that's a quick $1000 grossed.

Tldr; not satire, just chaos

[u/DaniDove999]

I don’t take Quan Millz seriously. There are a lot of urban romance/urban fiction authors that have interesting stories that don’t demean black women. He gives off Tyler Perry energy for me.