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Take a look through your current shelf, and tell me out of all the books you've read, how many had a romantic element somewhere? If you don't exclusively read non-fiction, chances are the ratio is high. Almost all of the books I've read have a romance hidden somewhere. As hidden as a Las Vegas neon sign.
Now I have a little confession to make, Fantasy is slowly becoming one of my favourite genres, and while I normally don't care about the romance, I can't read a fantasy book without a romantic element in it. I don't think I can handle a romanceless fantasy book. Thoughts like these come to mind:
But, but.. without romance it would be dull!
Who would I root for?
I need a guy to crush over.
And while they seem like shallow reasons to not consider a book, they are unfortunately true. Romance has become such a huge and almost mandatory part of YA books, that I can't imagine it not being there.
But what happens when the part you look for the most in a book becomes the most disappointing? In the last few books I've read, the romance slowed everything down and almost made me want to tear my hear out and feed it to the neighbor's dog. The thing with YA romances is that they're repetitive. Or maybe it's how the authors make them seem like. It's like they all have agreed on a certain plan as to how teen relationships go, and they all follow the steps systematically. Ok, I'm being harsh here. Not all authors write those, but one thing I noticed is that relationships are the no.1 reason a reviewer might hate a book. Take The 5th Wave for instance. Great book, one that I was almost sure would have me hula hoop dancing, but then the romance ruined everything for me. Carrie @ The Mad Reviewer brilliantly discussed the things she wants to see more often in YA, amongst which was no love subplots.
So why do authors insist on adding the luuhhve to their books?
Because it sells. I think. Some people avoid books with too much romance, but for the most part I think it's an attraction (hey, it works on me!). There might be bunch of other reasons... like this crazy one where there's romance because it is relevant to the plot, and actually is important to the overall story. Crazy, I know!
And then there's the I-make-no-sense-whatsoever-why-the-hell-am-I-even-here romance. And right at the bottom of the pyramid is the badly-contrived-love-triangle romance. That last one goes for the kill, and in severe cases might force you to throw the goddamn book out of the window. Don't feel bad, don't blame yourself either; for you have fallen prey to the big ole love triangle, my friend.
So if you ever debate whether you can handle a romanceless book, have a look at this list of annoying romances you came/will come across (From least to most annoying)
4. The No Chemistry Romance: If the reader can't understand why two characters fall in love, there must be something wrong.
3.The I'm Here Because I Said So Romance: This is the scenario where romance has no significance whatsoever in the story line, but is there because the author said so.
2. The Cheese Fest Romance: If two characters spend all their waking hours sweet talking one another, the reader might feel
... And for the number one most annoying romance in books ...
1. The Unhealthy Like A Big Mac Romance: This one wins all the trophies ever made for being a turn off. Unhealthy relationships are not something I want to read about, or recommend to other people. They creep me out.
Hmm, so after this list,I think I can handle a romanceless book. Can you?!
Ohhhh great post! I haven't actually gone back to my reading list to check if the majority of books I've read have romance or not. But I do think it's also probably an age thing too. When I was a teenager I think I would have looked at books with a hint of romance in it since it's the age where you're like "Oh my god why is my life not like One Tree Hill or The OC. Where is the drama?" so I think those influences kind of play a role in what kind of books you read. That being said now that I'm not a teenager anymore I can't stand to read more books with romance, probably because it's not something I want in my life right now and I have other things to worry about other than relationships. I do agree that romances in YA become incredibly repetitive to the point where you're like "I get that it's fiction, but really? how can that happen? Where is your brain? Do both of you have brains?". I have to say I've yet to come across a love triangle that has been properly done. I hate it when a character is included obviously just to cause drama between two people, instead of being properly developed into a person that a reader can choose to like or dislike. So yes I think I can definitely handle a romanceless book. I think you're right when you say they're probably included to sell books. But I think it's also because love is something that we all want to feel. It also makes me think "Have we become a society that is so deprived of love at the moment?".
Oh, I always wanted to have a life like the One Tree Hill characters. So much going on, and so much drama. But like you said, this is TV, not real life. I think the reason why the number of books with romance on my bookshelf is great is because I mostly read YA now. I have read adult books before, and they did not have any romance subplot, and some of them never held my attention. I guess that is why I always thought a book should have romance to keep things interesting. But there have been too much disappointments from those books that I think I might take a chance and read a romanceless book.
As to the whole society being deprived of love, I'd say yes. Books offer us a window to experience things that won't necessarily happen in real life, including those crazy-in-love relationships. I think in real life relationships are a little toned down, and perhaps that is what makes it more real.
Ha! I could handle a romanceless book even before reading this list! I'm one of those who try to stray away from it. It can be in a book, sure, (I mean, these days I don't really have a choice but to read it, right?), but I don't want it to be the focus or take up much space. Let it be in the background so I can focus on what's really going on. I feel like so often romances take center stage over everything else (worldbuilding, character development, etc.) that every book is the same in different settings. Enough of that! Give me some fantasy book in which everyone is celibate and asexual and there's no love. I could handle that any day. ;)
I would enjoy finding some YA books that don't have any romance in them! You're right, so many YA authors seem to follow some kind of (annoying) formula for how the romances should go. I get so tired of reading about a couple who's becoming attracted to one another, then they finally kiss, and then one of them abruptly stops the kiss, runs off, and starts ignoring / being a jerk to the other person. Like, WTF. Do teens actually act like this?
Well, I could, but I'm sure if I'd want to. One of the biggest reasons I read ya
in the first place is the romance. But I don't want any of the cliches you mentioned. I want the romance plot to be unique, realistic and utterly captivating. Some books deliver this, some don't. I just have to pick those that do :)
Unhealthy Like A Big Mac Romance - lol
You're right, in YA you pretty much expect to find romance regardless of the genre. One of the books I've read where the romance was handled very well was Unwind. If this book had focused on the romance instead of the actual plot, it would have been a crappy book. Instead, it portrayed the romance as what it is, a simple relationship between two teens. The types I HATE are the I-would-die-for-you relationships. Like, WTF? You're seventeen, you've known this guy for like a couple of months and all of a sudden you're ready to give up your life for him? It's not romantic, it's naive.
I really want to read Eon, it's a fantasy with little to no romance. Sounds awesome!
OMG, I must have read that scenario like a gazillion times. It's when things start getting angsty-romantic (and ridiculous). I'm not sure teengers act like that except if they're like in a reality show.
I agree, I like the romance in YA way more than in the adult books. I can relate to it more. The thing is, I only find those unique and captivating romances in books that are all about the romance. And I'm not always in the mood for those.
Ha! Thanks for stopping by, Cayce! :)
I know I grew up reading books that didn't have much romance (or none at all) in them, so it came as a bit if a shock when I started reading YA fiction. It's romance everywhere, and I think I've grown to love it as well. I won't go so far as to say that I won't enjoy a romanceless book, but you definitely asked a good question: who would I root for, then? For some reason, it's as though the MC isn't enough, though that's not the case for me most of the time. I think it really depends on the book and HOW the author wrote it. If there was sizzling chemistry between two characters and NOTHING happens between them, I MIGHT dock a star... *mumbles* But if the book is fine with just its MC, then I'm fine without romance, too.
Awesome list! I might try that out the next time I'm not enjoying a book because of the lack of romance. ;)
Romance has little significance to me in a book, but it's also one of the reason I would really hate a book. But I agree with everything you say - you love a book, you love the characters, but the romance is so horrendous you wish you had made a deal with the devil and you're hoping he'll be taking you downstairs as soon as possible so you can get as far away from this book as possible (Okay, maybe that how I feel... oops).
As for the "Unhealthy Like A Big Mac Romance"... I think that if I ate a Big Mac for every horrible and unhealthy romance I've read, fast metabolism or not, I'd be abnormally obese. And the no chemistry thing is true, too... the characters swear eternal love, volunteer to sacrifice themselves for one another, and yet the only thing that comes to mind is, "What?". As for the cheesy romances... when there is one, I feel dirty. It really repulses me for some reason... I'm not into the sappy stuff.
Even though I think romances can be fun to read, and as someone who likes to write they are a lot of fun to write, I can handle romanceless books for sure. What I don't like in a book is if I feel two characters would be so great together and nothing happens. But like in Ender's Game for instance, which I read a couple of months ago, a romance in there just wouldn't feel right. There is love there, between a brother and sister, and it brings that soft edge to a hard story, but it's not romance and I like it that way.
Wow, I've never actually read the sort of books where it doesn't have to be romantic love, but maybe familial or simply love between friends. If an author can engage me with such a relationship then kudos to them. They've nailed it!
I totally agree about the whole two characters who never come together though. Sometimes a relationship you created in your head makes more sense than the one the author chose to write.
That's actually interesting point, how the MC might make up for the love subplot. I have yet to read one of those, but I can imagine it would be awesome. I used to exclusively read adult books where there was no romance, or I didn't connect with the romance anyway. That's why I fell in love with YA. Imaginative plot, characters around my age, and the romance is one I can relate to! Of course, after a couple of books the romance plot becomes tiresome, and I need something new and original.
Actually, I enjoy the kind of stories where there's intense chemistry and tension but nothing really happens. Keeps things interesting, you know? Except when it turns angsty.
Maybe instead of a drinking game, we should do a Big Mac eating game for every unhealthy romance. But no.. the results would be horrendous. I wish I could just take out the bad romance from my mind, and trust me, if it's a good book, I will; but most of the time the book becomes all about the romance, and all the goodiness in the beginning disappears. WHYY Y DO THIS AUTHORS?
I'm not into the sappy stuff either, I HATE the over-affectionate cheese fest. Paragraphs of compliments just doesn't do it for me, at all.
Maybe I am just coldhearted, but yes, I think I can definitely handle a romanceless book. Thinking back my YA reading experiences, I don't crush over guys, nor do I root for them. If the couple has an happy ending, great. If they don't..well, they are just teens. They have a lot of life ahead!
The only YA books I've read recently that are romance-less I can think of on top of my head are: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and The Maze Runner by James Dashner.
Both books have many fans. And although I can't say I LOVE either of these books, the faults I found had nothing to do with whether or not they had romance or not.
Lilian @ A Novel Toybox