Reading romance novels is one of the leisure activities among female readers across the globe. However, studies on female readers of Hausa romance novels remain unexplored. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand how the female readers in Nigeria conceptualise romance novels in shaping their identities. This study was guided by Transactional Reader- Response Theory. This qualitative research approach used face-to- face interviews to collect the data. A total of eight female readers were interviewed and their responses were recorded and then transcribed. Four themes emerged from the data: Aesthetics Reading Stances, Associating Oneself with the Events From the Story, Personal Understanding of the Story, and Happily Ever After. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on romance novels and Transactional Reader-Response Theory.
Here's the abstract: