Chick-lit

Chick-lit is a cousin of romance -- while the romance structure requires a happy ending, the more flexible chick-lit structure allows for ambiguity. Though these books often focus on young women entering the world for the first time, the subject matter can range from frothy to weighty.

Just as there are many sub-genres of romance, Chick-lit easily adapts to fit other genres. Chick-lit Mystery features heroines involved in crime-solving with attitude. An example of this is Meg Cabot's series featuring Heather Wells.