Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes to Romance in Books

Top Ten Tuesday this week focuses on things we like or dislike when it comes to romance in books. I decided to blend both topics!


5 Things I Like:


1.  Friends First - I love when authors have friends fall in love like When Harry Met Sally style.  I love when romance is based on a strong friendship first. To me, there's nothing better. My faves: Jamie and Claire in Outlander, Anne and Gilbert in Anne of Green Gables and Macallan and Levi in Better Off Friends.  *Swoon!*




2.  It's Not Just About Looks - I like when a heroine is strong, outgoing, and uses her brain. She doesn't simply rely on tossing her hair and batting her eyelids to get what she wants. I'm looking at you Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice, Katniss from The Hunger GamesCelaena from Throne of Glass and Elisa from Fire and Thorns series….love these strong heroines!




3.  Incredible Settings - Of course the romance is always better when it's set in places like France, Scotland, the beach, etc. One of my favorites: Paris in Anna and the French Kiss.




4.  Summer - I am a true summertime girl through and through. I love everything about summer and when authors combine summer, the beach and romance, I am sold. Nobody does a summertime romance better than Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han in her Summer series.




5.  Love Triangles….Done Well - Sometimes love triangles make me cringe and seem like the easy way out, but when they are done well, I am a sucker for them. Seriously. It's bad. I will admit it. I love a love triangle, but like I said, only if they are done well. (Gone with the Wind or Jenny Han's Summer series comes to mind as two books with love triangles that work.)


5 Things I Dislike:


1.  Insta-love - I mean obviously, right? I hate those books where the girl or guy has met her new obsession for a hot second and is already planning their wedding. It's not even love at first sight. It's straight up infatuation, but just done poorly. (Like how the contestants on The Bachelor cry after they aren't given a rose and it's only week two. Seriously? You don't even know him. Don't get me started on this!)




2.  Disrespect - I am not a fan when the male love interest is disrespectful to the female. Whether it be straight up rudeness, sexist behavior, or perhaps him belittling her in a more passive way, I am not a fan.  



3.  Bella Swan Syndrome - Ok, so I know it worked for Bella, but I am over it. Girl, you have got to save yourself. Don't wait for Edward to come around or some white knight. I hate to get all Abby from Scandal on you, but she's right.




4.  Cheating - Ok, so I do enjoy some drama in my "romance" from time to time, but the whole cheating part really leaves me uncomfortable.  I try to avoid a book if that is the its only focus or if authors glorify the situation.


5.  Changing - Just like in real life, I hate when characters will morph into someone they aren't just to please a moronic guy. Or when they drop their college plans and pull a Felicity by moving across the country for a boy they barely know. I hate when I see that in young adult literature, because I really don't want girls to think that is something they should do.  I sort of want to grab them through the book and yell, "Make your own path in life! Don't follow this guy around like a little puppy!"

Oops. I just had to add one more. Sorry. I couldn't resist!



6.  Baby Talk - Oh, man! This is a deal breaker when the male love interest just met the protagonist and he is already gushing things like baby or sweetie or ridiculous pet names like angel or doll or something even more cringeworthy. It's a no for me. At least not until they know each other better and if the author incorporates it too much, I close the book for good.

So, now that Valentine's Day is almost upon us, let me know what you like/or dislike when it comes to romance in books. Which books do it well and which books are guilty of some of your no-nos when it comes to romance. Let me know! This meme is hosted by The Broke and the BookishHappy Valentine's Day!

19 comments:

  1. Great list Christina, I never thought about the whole "its not just about looks" that's a great one and I couldn't agree more :)

    If you would like to check out my TTT that would be great :) http://emmasbookery.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/top-ten-things-i-likedislike-when-it.html

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    1. Thanks, Emma. I'm glad you agree and thanks for visiting!

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  2. You know what I dislike? When a girl gets dumped and then proceeds to plot how SHE can get him back. Seriously? Move. On.

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    1. YES! They have focused whole books on that very topic. I'm over that as well. Thanks for visiting, Joy!

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  3. Disrespect is a definite no no. I have to admit that I do still like a good love triangle. I did forget to add jealousy to my list of things I don't like. I kind of cheated this week and modified the topic, though (I was having a little trouble thinking of things). Here's my TTT

    Michelle @ Michelle's Minions

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    1. I'm glad you agree, Michelle. I don't mind a love triangle as long as it is done well. Lately, I have been reading some love triangles that are just so uninspired and tiresome. Thanks for visiting!

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  4. This is such a great list! I totally agree on the friends first front - When Harry Met Sally and Anne of Green Gables are two of my favorite love stories! Before I got married, I had a dream that I wrote my own vows, and when I woke up and told them to my soon-to-be-husband, he was like, "That's Harry's speech from the end of When Harry Met Sally." :)

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    1. Thanks, Allison! OH! Harry's speech would be perfect vows. I love it! I'm glad you agree with me. Thanks for visiting.

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  5. Once again I want to use the hallelujah praise hands emoji because this (and your gifs :) ) are on point. I've followed you via GFC and bloglovin and twitter (I'm @ThatAloraGirl). I'm really glad someone included cheating as a dislike and disrespect as well. I had so much trouble trying to write the list that I forgot the most basic like those.

    Rebecca @ Vicariously! & my TTT

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    1. Thank you!! I'm glad you agree and thanks for the follow! I appreciate it. The cheating and disrespect are something I am so over in books. If it's not done right, then I just give up on the book entirely. Thanks for visiting, Rebecca!

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  6. I'm with you on EVERYTHING. I especially love friends first (so sweet to watch those relationships evolve) and genuinely hate disrespect. I'll never understand why people (real or fictional) would put up with that.

    Excellent top ten!

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    1. Thanks, Lea! I agree. Disrespect is a no-go for me. Thanks for visiting!

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  7. I love all the references and when I read this I was like "Amen!":) A Harry Met Sally romance is one of my favourites because when they meet they have no idea they're going to fall in love but then over time they can't help it- and they know all the quirky, cute things about eachother! It's annoying when the author focuses too much on how attractive the characters are and not on their interaction-.- Abby knows exactly what to say;) Insta-love is a completely frustrating thing- and when I did watch some of the Bachelor that was exactly how I felt!
    Amazing list!
    Here's mine:) : http://anotheronceuponatime.blogspot.sg/2015/02/top-ten-tuesday-romance.html

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    1. Haha. Thanks, Maya! I love Harry Met Sally..one of my favorites for sure! I'm glad you agree about The Bachelor. It drives me nuts! Thanks for visiting!

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  8. The Baby Talk is definitely annoying. Like can he not remember her name??? That's true love. *cue sarcasm*

    Love your list!

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    1. I know, right?! I'm glad you agree, Brandy. Thanks for visiting!

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  9. I agree with almost everything on your list (I hate love triangles). :)

    I really like when the characters develop a friendship that turns into love and when there is more to a book than the romance. I also like it when girls have their own lives and interests and don't just become what the guy wants them to be.

    Cheating is usually something I hate in romances except in the very rare instance that the guy the girl is originally with turns out to be a jerk/abuser and she falls for someone better and then breaks up with/divorces the bad guy (like in The Secret Life of Violet Grant). It is better if the character can leave the bad guy first but sometimes circumstances or situations don't allow it.

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    1. YES! Completely agree with you. I am looking forward to Secret Life of Violet Grant, so I am glad to hear that it was done well. If the author can make the cheating work (like done for a really good reason), as well as a love triangle, then I am all for it. I'm glad you agree, Christina! Thanks for visiting.

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  10. Thanks, Elizabeth and thanks for visiting!

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I really appreciate your comments. Thank you!

 
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