Not so much a romance trope but the opposite. I want more healthy platonic male/female friendships. I want more Harry/Hermoine where it was never romantic they’re just best friends and it’s healthy and that’s fine! I’m sick of the “they’re best friends but secretly ones in love with the other” etc. Let them be friends!
@Jessie yep! Like that’s something that really bugged me in Percy Jackson and The Mortal Instruments. Percy literally spent like 4 years being Annabeth’s friend all the while wanting to date her and it was this giant plot resolution when they started dating. Same with Simon and Clary in TMI, she thought they were just best friends he wanted to date her like come on. Men need friends too let them have friends who are women who aren’t “like a little sister”
I like when the troubles are internal and not external, at times. I feel like everyone has shit, and they struggle and it makes them feel like they might not be worthy. I think it’s more detrimental to their relationships, but it’s such a relief when they realize their value in the end.
@Kell@Amy..check out this new book A town called Nowhere by Maria Harland..I loved it..it’s very Amristead Maupin with a host of characters of all sexualities
Yeah — If they’re going to get together in the series (which it seems they always DO anyway, even if it take 4 or 5 books) DO it and get on with the story. Stop with the long-tease.
More what I would like to see LESS of. STOP with the long tease!! We know those people who hate each other are going end up together — so just DO it, and let the character (always the female) get-on with the story. And LATELY, they long-tease to get together & then BREAK-UP again! I KNOW the author’s doing that to give more options, but either get together & stay together — or skip that part..
@Crissy that’s not only romance, it’s kind of the one issue all literary conflict is based on, no one tells anyone anything they should. I never read romance but every single thriller i read i spend it yelling internally “talk to …!”, “Say something, you idiot!” ? ?
@Crissy yes!!! The girl and guy and in a tough spot and the guy decided he’ll just leave and do this thing without even telling her “to protect her” and then she goes rushing off to do the thing anyways and then they have a massive falling out because he left and yada yada
Id like a book or two where you have a plus-size character who isn’t tragic, and her partner loves her for reasons that have nothing to do with weight.
Protagonist chooses the good boy over the bad boy. (I don’t believe there is someone who’s wholly good or bad but i mean like a womanizer and an arrogant, popular guy).
A protagonist who knows she’s pretty (not in an arrogant way) and has no self esteem issues and feels 100% worthy of the love of the guy she likes. Maybe even a slightly insecure male love interest who wonders what she sees in him ??♀️
@Krystal I got hooked from the first page for that same reason. The main character is so self assured she’s borderline arrogant lol. You HAVE to read that series it’s amazing.
More romance after marriage! Marriage is not the endgame in real life! Stuff like in This Is Us: real life ups and downs and how to people in love handle them.
Not so much a romance trope but the opposite. I want more healthy platonic male/female friendships. I want more Harry/Hermoine where it was never romantic they’re just best friends and it’s healthy and that’s fine! I’m sick of the “they’re best friends but secretly ones in love with the other” etc. Let them be friends!
omg I agree soooo much. I wish the whole “men and women can’t be just friends” bullcrap would go away.
@Jessie yep! Like that’s something that really bugged me in Percy Jackson and The Mortal Instruments. Percy literally spent like 4 years being Annabeth’s friend all the while wanting to date her and it was this giant plot resolution when they started dating. Same with Simon and Clary in TMI, she thought they were just best friends he wanted to date her like come on. Men need friends too let them have friends who are women who aren’t “like a little sister”
I like when the troubles are internal and not external, at times. I feel like everyone has shit, and they struggle and it makes them feel like they might not be worthy. I think it’s more detrimental to their relationships, but it’s such a relief when they realize their value in the end.
Healthy relationships
happy healthy queer romance
@Kell I second thissss
Addendum: where neither party dies
yes that’s the happy part
that sounded more sarcastic than i meant it to
One where they don’t die
Couples where they have a disagreement then find a solution where they both meet each other in between.
@Valérie you should read Five Feet Apart
Couples never finding a solution to a problem.
Real life stuff, like them being wayyy too tired from work to want sex lol
Queer romances and bisexuality specifically. Less jealousy and more polyamory.
@Kell @Amy..check out this new book A town called Nowhere by Maria Harland..I loved it..it’s very Amristead Maupin with a host of characters of all sexualities
@Lisa oooo! I’ll look into that!
Armistead
Series where they are already together and their romance is not the main plot
Yeah — If they’re going to get together in the series (which it seems they always DO anyway, even if it take 4 or 5 books) DO it and get on with the story. Stop with the long-tease.
Yes. There is this long buildup before they get together. I want the healthy relationship and a great plot ?
More what I would like to see LESS of. STOP with the long tease!! We know those people who hate each other are going end up together — so just DO it, and let the character (always the female) get-on with the story. And LATELY, they long-tease to get together & then BREAK-UP again! I KNOW the author’s doing that to give more options, but either get together & stay together — or skip that part..
I’d like to see more COMMUNICATION. 99% of conflict in romance books is a lack of just talking to each other. It drives me batty.
@Crissy that’s not only romance, it’s kind of the one issue all literary conflict is based on, no one tells anyone anything they should. I never read romance but every single thriller i read i spend it yelling internally “talk to …!”, “Say something, you idiot!” ? ?
@Crissy yup! So many assumptions driving the plot. Could easily fix that if they talked about whatever was going on rather than assuming
Claudia Arámbula You’re right! I mostly read sci fi and fantasy and it’s definitely there too!
@Crissy yes!!! The girl and guy and in a tough spot and the guy decided he’ll just leave and do this thing without even telling her “to protect her” and then she goes rushing off to do the thing anyways and then they have a massive falling out because he left and yada yada
Id like a book or two where you have a plus-size character who isn’t tragic, and her partner loves her for reasons that have nothing to do with weight.
I’d like to read one where they don’t fall in bed together right after saying hi.
‘He was my best friend and I could just never tell him’
– 6 chapters later of his eyes dancing across the room
‘I released the breath I hadn’t realised I’d been holding for 356 years and kissed him’
FUCKING HELL.
Protagonist chooses the good boy over the bad boy. (I don’t believe there is someone who’s wholly good or bad but i mean like a womanizer and an arrogant, popular guy).
@Sara agree! I LOVE good guys
I just HATE the fact that bad boys/girls always win. Why be good then?
A protagonist who knows she’s pretty (not in an arrogant way) and has no self esteem issues and feels 100% worthy of the love of the guy she likes. Maybe even a slightly insecure male love interest who wonders what she sees in him ??♀️
@Krystal YASSS ❤️❤️. That’s what I loved about ToG from the first page ❤️
Ok, now I need to read that series!! You just hooked me ?
@Krystal I thought of Throne of Glass too.
@Krystal I got hooked from the first page for that same reason. The main character is so self assured she’s borderline arrogant lol. You HAVE to read that series it’s amazing.
More nerdy awkward romance
@Caroline where the guy is NOT a sex god!
@Rehana agreed!
@Caroline Have you read Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid?
@Kathryn not yet. It sounds good though
The protagonists main goal doesn’t get pushed to the side for a romance.
The girls goals are just as important as they guys.
More romance after marriage! Marriage is not the endgame in real life! Stuff like in This Is Us: real life ups and downs and how to people in love handle them.