This is weird, I received an email that someone had posted something about admitting to reading trashy romances and I wanted to see the full message to respond properly and can't find it here. Soo, doing my best to respond bearing that in mind.
Trashy romance--don't know how different people define that term but guesing it involves poor writing, predictable/boring/outdated story--take your pick, characters you couldn'tcare less about and gratuitious sex with a cover that screams sex.
A romance novel in the most classic definition is about a relationship and novel implies confict, whatever is underlying the relationship. A romance novel is basically a courtship story and a lot of books could be classified as romance. Some are straight romance--conflict solved, end of story. Others could be labeled romance, historical, military, etc. Outlander and Gone With The Wind are examples.
That being said, I have had a pretty good education and willing to read almost anything in fiction and non-fiction and I read quickly. And yet, when my students are really worn out, can't face much more, let alone heavy reading, I tell them pick up a light novel that you don't have to analyze or agonize over. Just enjoy the story. Invariably, they choose a romance novel, relax, and feel better. That doesn't have to be trash, just a good story that they can enjoy and there's nothing wrong with that.
I do admit there are some within the genre that I absolutely hated and could never see how anyone would want to publish, but, it seems there is a market for all sorts of things. Just because I hated it, didn't mean other people felt the same way and I could see other novels by the same author in the same style on the publisher's catalogue.
Elle