Somehow I doubt that many guys would: I hesitate to use the term romance novel

I have always been fascinated by the attraction that lettered women friends of mine have for bad literature: e.g., King, Kuntz, or Harlequin Romances. I read one of the latter as an experiment once a couple of decades ago, and that was sufficient. Actually, nothing that a few explosions (in the printing plant) couldn't fix. [NB: cum grano humungissimo salis]

I used the term 'main character'; is the word 'protagonist' appropriate only when you're talking about a play?

Originally it was used in reference to drama, but now can be applied to other literary works. No doubt purists shall object.