The first chapter focuses on the defining traits of the romance genre and the contemporary romance heroine. It establishes a theoretical framework that integrates various scholarly perspectives, starting with Pamela Regis’s definition of the romance novel and incorporating insights from other critics to discuss how societal changes shape new expectations for both the genre and its heroines. Furthermore, the chapter explores how the series features endings that depart from traditional resolutions, as Riley both depicts lingering complexities and allows her heroines a range of possibilities at the conclusion of their journeys. A thematic analysis of the D’Aplièse sisters follows, demonstrating how they embody and interact with essential traits of the romance heroine, especially emphasizing personal development. Riley’s modern heroines reflect today’s relationship norms and find personal fulfillment beyond romantic relationships. Consequently, Chapter One establishes how modern genre traits and the concept of the empowered woman are portrayed in The Seven Sisters series, thereby laying the groundwork for a deeper exploration of themes that shape the heroines’ development throughout the novels.
Chapter Two examines how adoptee identity is portrayed in the series, arguing that the sisters’ experiences as adoptees are portrayed to play a crucial role in their emotional journeys and personal development. The exploration begins with the application of adoption theory frameworks – specifically, the concepts of feeling rejected or chosen – to analyze the sisters’ psychological perspectives. This is followed by a discussion of the “as-if” personality and its connection with anger and addiction as they relate to deeper emotional struggles among adoptees. The chapter continues with an analysis of Riley’s emphasis on learning the origin story and embarking on “root trips” as tools for self-understanding. It concludes by critiquing how Riley depicts adoption as a fairy-tale experience in the D’Aplièse sisters’ childhood, with a neatly resolved narrative through the discovery of biological family, arguing that this simplification serves the romance genre at the expense of addressing the complexities and emotional difficulties that are often involved in adoption.
The third and final chapter builds on the critique from the previous chapter by addressing the narrative structure and psychoanalytic dimension of the series. It begins with an analysis of the D’Aplièse family’s fairy-tale setting, focusing on how Pa Salt crafted an enchanted childhood for the sisters. The chapter then specifically investigates the character of Pa Salt, shifting away from his previous one-dimensional portrayal and uncovering ambiguous aspects of his role. Following this, the analysis examines psychoanalytic father-daughter dynamics, drawing parallels with traditional fairy-tale representations of these relationships. The chapter concludes with a critique of this dynamic from a predominantly feminist perspective, illustrating how Pa’s role as a “fairy-tale father” somewhat reinforces patriarchal structures, even as the novels aspire to empower women. Ultimately, the series presents an ambivalent perspective that celebrates women’s achievements and self-discovery while simultaneously relying on a paternal figure to advance the narrative. (5-6)