Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme run by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances.


Dual narratives - Last year, two of my favourite romances were Lobsters by Tom Ellen & Lucy Ivison, a UKYA romance, and The Best Thing that Never Happened to Me by Laura Tait & Jimmy Rice, an adult romance. Both books had dual narratives, and I loved getting to see both sides of the story, what each character thought about certain situations, the crossed wires, the different voices. It's really awesome.

Humour - You can't beat a good romcom. If they can make you laugh out loud, then it's a winner. I haven't read any in a good long while, and I'm behind on her new books, but Freya North is brilliant at the romcom. Pip is still one of those books I feel I could pick up and happily dive right back into.

Love Triangles - I know a lot of people don't, but I love the dilemma of a protagonist having to choose between two people! I find the chemistry between somone and two other people exciting, and having someone I root for, hoping they'll end up together in the end. Just as long as it isn't over done.

Brilliant Dialogue - I love me some flirty banter, especially when there is so much chemistry that just gets dialled up more and more, and you just want to shout at them, "Oh my god, will you just act on it already!" I love it!

Books that don't always end Happily Ever After - Because life isn't like that. So I like it when sometimes things just don't work out. I like the heartache and the sadness. Sweet and lovely isn't always best. Heartbreak can be beautiful too.


Dodgy covers - Really not into really girly, pink, looking chicklit covers. They are not good by any stretch of the imagination.

Clichés - I know there's only so much you can write about a romance story. You roughly know how things are going to end, and there are some things that will be a little predictable. However, overused, cheesy clichés just make me cringe. So unnecessary.

Erotica - Not my bag. Tried it, don't like it, find it pretty boring. One of the reasons I've stopped reading too much NA, because they're getting far too sexy, and I'm just not enjoying it.

Instalove - I just don't buy it. So unbelievable, and I can't get emotionally invested in the story.

Stories ending when they finally get together - Noooo! The story only really just starts then! Give me more! Write a second book at least! Show me them together! Don't end it there!

What do you think of my list? Anything you agree or disagree with?


  1. I too am a fan of dual narratives. I like it when we get both the guy and girl's perspective (or two guys or two girls or who ever is in the relationship) :)

    Cliche's usually drive me crazy as well, unless the book itself is making fun of them.

    Kay @ It's a Book Life

    1. Oh yesss! I've yet to read a dual narrative LGBTQ YA from the perspectives of the two in a relationship. That would be pretty awesome!