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This is a discussion topic for Deceptive Calm by Patricia Skipper

Did "Deceptive Calm" by Patricia Skipper have any depth beyond being a romance novel?

There was no real romance, just sex and work.

I don't think there was any romantic depth. It seemed like just a woman going from one man, to the next (that man being the worse decision of her life), and then her going back to the significantly better but still awful man she dated in the beginning of the book.

This book was so much more than a romance book. It was barely a romance book even.

I think romance was the least covered topic in this book. It had elements of romance but really covered life in the 20th century, racism, sexism, and perseverance more!

In my opinion, the book talked much about relationships in their nature and less about romance.

I don't know if I would even classify this as a romance! I wish the author spent more time diving into the feelings of Vanessa/Barry. I thought the sex scenes between them were too dry and straightforward, like reading a textbook about what sex is. There was no romance or passion! I might classify it as historical fiction instead, although towards the end there were thriller vibes. But to answer your question, I think the plot provided much more depth than I would expect for a "romance" novel.

There was no depth beyond the romantic element because even the romantic element was non existence. There was no real feelings, emotions, or interconnectedness. So there was no depth.

No, I don't think. No real emotions or feelings. To me, there wasn't even romance. Just sex and the real story.

If I had to describe this novel, romance is not an element I would use. It did talk about relationships though, but in my opinion it still doesn't measure up.

I think in general it did not have much depth. It seemed to focus on the facts and did not dive too deep on any topic. It jumped around so much it was hard to keep up. It didn’t seem to have any feelings at all.

There is absolutely nothing romantic about this book, so I do not see how there can be a depth beyond romance. It should not be a reference to the book because it is an element that it doesn't have.

To call this book a romance novel alone cheapens the wide variety of topics covered. Skipper explores themes of racism, domestic violence, and sexism in the news industry all set in a time of extreme historical significance. The timeline and Skipper's characters' reactions to the monumental events in history place this book deeply outside of the romance category. I would classify the novel as a historical fiction novel. I believe the romance aspects of the book were the least interesting parts about Skipper's Deceptively Calm.

The book was more sexual than romantic on my own opinion.

Definitely, it was a book that showcased the deep rooted prejudice and racism in the American history. The suffering dealt people of color, and how they made it out.