Romance books can be "literary" af. They can be beautifully written. They can be insightful & explore complex issues. They can make important observations. They can change minds. They can save lives. If you only see them as smut, you've never read one. Either that or your misogyny is hanging out.
Comments
But don't tell them they are misogynistic to their face, they turn on the firehose of insults.
Oh, and the smut is fucking awesome.
And some are down and dirty, a few Harold Robbins books like that.
I don't scoff at romance books, though I'm usually sci fi and horror.