Each week, The Broke and Bookish host a Top Ten Tuesday based on a certain bookish topic. Other bloggers are able to participate and post their own top ten list based on the topic.
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is a Top Ten Things I Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books. I thought about doing the other topic, Top Ten Things I Like When It Comes To Romances In Books, but listing things that you like in romance seems harder than listing things you don’t like in romance.
So here’s my list in no particular order:
1. Insta-love
I automatically deduct one star off the rating if the book I’m reading has a case of insta-love. I personally feel that when authors write a romance with insta-love, they are taking the easy way out: With insta-love, authors don’t have to develop the relationship to make it feel believable. They could skip the “slowly developing feelings” part of the relationship straight to the “we are in a relationship” part.
2. Love triangles
I don’t automatically have a problem with a book when I see that it will have a love triangle, but let’s face it, 85% of love triangles are annoying. I don’t like the whole wait, no, I like him, never mind, I like him, flip-flop.
3. People going on and on about how their significant other looks so hot
Believe it or not, this happens in A LOT in books. All the talk about how beautiful that girl is or how green his eyes are just makes me want to puke. I got it the first time okay? I promise I’m fluent in English.
4. The romance is forced
I don’t know how to describe it, but you just know when the romance is forced. You just know. Forced romance is so awkward to read about and most of the time, it’s really cringe-worthy too.
5. The only reason they are a couple is because they are physically attracted to one another
I’ve read about romances that had absolutely no connection besides a physical attraction to one another. If there wasn’t any physical attraction, there would be no romance.
6. Romances that consist of break ups, getting back together, break ups, and so on
As annoying as it probably was for the author to write, reading about it is as annoying too. Plus, I don’t root for relationships that are like that.
7. ALL. THE. CHEESE.
STOP. NO. STOP. I do NOT like any kind of cheese when it comes to romance.
8. The couple says “I love you” too fast
This especially happens with books with insta-love. I don’t believe in people who say “I love you,” after knowing a person for three days or even a week. Nope, sorry, doesn’t work for me.
9. When the romance takes over the plot
I’m sorry, but when I pick up a book that’s labelled as a fantasy, I shouldn’t see nothing but romance. I don’t mind romance in books; in fact, I love it when there’s romance in my books, but I don’t like it when the romance completely overtakes the plot.
10. The age gap between the couple is four years or more if they are both teenagers.
I remember when I was a high school freshman, I freaked out when I heard that someone in my class was dating a college freshmen. I’m not a fan of age gaps when you’re a teenager.
And now, I want to know, what are the top ten things you dislike when it comes to romance in books?
Haha this post really made me laugh because it’s hits on the exact same points I don’t like I some romance novels either.
Read, scroll, agree, read scroll agree! Yep that’s me and this post right now. I can’t stand any of the ten things you just named, and they are just so wrong in every way imaginable!
Lakin recently posted…Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books
I hate it when the girl goes on describing the hotness of the guy.It’s really annoying.Worse is when she compares herself to him and continuously says how she doesn’t deserve a guy as hot as him.
I agree with the last one.Age gap doesn’t matter much when the characters are older-like in their twenties-but in their teens,its awkward.
Mishma @ Chasing Faerytales recently posted…Top Ten things I like when it comes to romances in books
I agree completely, especially with the one about saying “I love you” after only a short period of time knowing the person. I mean, seriously! You’ve known the person for a week, you don’t know where you’re going to be next week. Most of the time the intensity of the feelings seem to come from whatever situation they’re in, what happens when life goes back to normal? Ugh. Yeah, pet peeve of mine also.
Christina recently posted…Top 8.5 Things We Like/Dislike About Romances in Books
I definitely agree with number 9. I like romance, but I also like a good plot line that is focused on something else. With my contemporaries I care a little less if romance is the main focus, but even then I like some other plot line to be running through the story to make things a bit more interesting.
Jordin @ A Bottomless Book Bag recently posted…TTT (27): Top Ten Likes/Dislikes in Romance in a Book
This is exactly what my list would have been- great choices! I’m not a big fan of romance as a genre, because of #5, 7, and 9 in particular.
Beth W recently posted…Exfolimate Product Review
I agree with all of these! Except, for some odd reason, I love love triangles. I’m not sure why.. I’m pretty sure I’m the only one that likes them.
But #1, #3 and #5. Ughhhhh.
Romance is my favorite genre, and is usually the aspect I focus most on when I’m reading (as long as there is romance in the book I’m reading).
I hate love triangles! Ugh! For me 99% of the time they are annoying.
Quinn @ Quinn’s Book Nook recently posted…Top Five Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books
#9 is spot on! I feel like every time I pick a book up and it’s straight up romance, I get turned off. If I’m reading about Dystopia and instead of badass world building I get cheesy pickup lines – no, just no.
Oh wow! I can agree with all these as well! I don’t like HUGE age gaps either! Not even just with YA, but it’s more skeevy there for sure if the gap is too big! Great picks!
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Jessica @ a GREAT read recently posted…EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT–Salt & Stone
Gorgeous post Kelly. <3 And yesss. I agree with so much of this, probably all of it, lol :D I haaate love triangles. So damn much. They suck :( And ruin books for me. Hmph. And yess. That whole breaking up again and again thing. I haaaate it. So much. I want my couple to get together, and then STAY together. It is possible to write an AMAZING book without relationship drama. Hmph. Anyway. Thank you for sharing sweetie. <3
Carina Olsen recently posted…Cress Tuesday #68
Everything about this! YES! I don’t understand how if everyone agrees on what we dislike about romances, authors still put them in. This is such a relatable and funny post :)
Tracey @PrintedWordsAnd recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Likes/Dislikes of Romance in Books
Pretty much all of mine as well! Especially the saying I love You so quick! I’m always super surprised when this happens– especially in the first book.
Ellie recently posted…Cover Reveal and First 2 Chapters Launch for OF SMOKE AND STARDUST (On Wattpad)
Great list! The on-again-off-again is a total turn off! I also agree well…with most of your list! :)
Lola recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Things I Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books
The physical attraction is a huge one for me too, as well as insta-love. I hate when couples move along way too quickly for real life without really making any good decisions. And insta love is the absolute worst.
Katherine recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Things I Like When It Comes to Romances
Someone else said this perfectly (and now I can’t remember who it was!) about love triangles: I don’t like them when there is someone in the mix intentionally leading another on. I just can’t do that kind of love triangle.
I CANNOT DEAL WITH GROSS CHEESY ROMANCES. I am pretty lucky, it hasn’t really happened before, but I know it will eventually.
Also, I cannot deal with romance where the MC blows everything out of proportion and the guy refuses to put her in her place because “she’s the girl.” While I don’t want the girl to be a damsel in distress, I get so annoyed when no one will tell her off [when she’s being a raging B*] simply because “he loves her” or “she’s a girl.”
Nova @ Out of Time recently posted…Novel Melodies: The Distance Between Us – Kasie West
i believe as you grew older, your perspective about romance books slowly changes as well. However, basically i am a sucker for romance. I don’t mind love triangle as long as it is done beautifully, and the characters are not that annoying.
I also don’t mind the age gap, i have read a book that i thought i would not end up loving because the age gap is that wide but that romance was written so ‘effin beautifully i wasn’t so hang up with the age gap. When i read a romance book, i managed my expectations whether i know what to expect from this book if i want to be simply be entertained, i also enjoyed some dramas or do i want some in depth profound romance story. However, some of the points you made i also agree like the cheesyness…too much is not good either.
Great list!!! I agree with all of them. I also hate the whole misunderstanding after misunderstanding thing. When there are so many of those that could be cleared up with just a few seconds of honest communication, that is annoying.
Cynthia recently posted…BOOK REVIEW: Blubber by Judy Blume
You’ve definitely picked up many of my pet peeves! I’d also add the demonisation of the love interest’s exes as sluts/bitches/hideous human specimens/etc. It just doesn’t do it for me.
Hannah recently posted…Review: Perfectly Good White Boy – Carrie Mesrobian
You’ve definitely picked up many of my pet peeves! I’d also add the demonisation of the love interest’s exes as sluts/bitches/hideous human specimens/etc. It just doesn’t do it for me.
Hannah recently posted…Review: Perfectly Good White Boy – Carrie Mesrobian
PREACH! I think my list is in exact alignment with yours.
Claire recently posted…Review: The Brilliant History of Color in Art
I agree 300% on every single one of them. Something I hate is when two best friends/siblings are fighting over the same person, I think it falls into the love triangle category but it especially annoys me.
MIla recently posted…Holiday Reads
I hate it when the main character is always questioning why their partner loves them, like ‘oh why does he love me I have so many scars’ or ‘I’m so ugly’ or ‘other girls are so much prettier’. And when they don’t acknowledge non-straight romances. Also when they neglect family or friends for their lover, that always annoys me. Like, stop kissing and go hang out with your friends or family!
Insta love is basically the biggest turn off for me there. I hate it with everything possible. As for love triangles I don’t mind them if they are done well enough. In most cases, like you said, they aren’t done well enough xD
Olivia recently posted…The Canary Room (Review)
Honestly, I’m at a point right now where I just can’t stand any heterosexual relationship between two white cisgender partners. Probably because that’s the VAST majority of ya couples and I feel like I’ve read too many of them.
Shannon recently posted…Book Cover Crushes: Matilda (Puffin Classics)