noun
dime novel; cheap novel; pulp fiction
Refers to a cheap, sensational, or low-quality novel, often sold for a small amount of money. The term is somewhat dated but still understood.
彼は若い頃、三文小説ばかり読んでいた。
When he was young, he read nothing but dime novels.
大衆小説 is a broader term for popular fiction, while 三文小説 specifically implies cheap, low-quality, or sensational content.
三文 (three mon, a small amount of money) + 小説 (novel). The term originated in the Edo period when cheap books were sold for a few mon.