You may or may not know that I write. It's something i've done since I was small, it's something i've continued to do since I became a grown up. After discussions this morning on Twitter with my friend and critique partner Danielle, we discussed aspects of our own WIP's. I said I wanted to do a post and she came up with this idea, because it's something that almost everyone will have a differing opinion on. So, romance in YA, does the protagonist need to get his or her kiss on to make a good story?
Romance seems to have developed a lot over the years. More people are becoming interested in the romantic aspects of the characters lives we are reading about. It's not so much that the books we are reading have changed, its more we've changed in the way we view them. Romance is something that every reader, no matter their age or sex can relate to, because it's something that happens in everyday life and is not restricted to the pages of a book. It's comfortable in its predictability. Most romances follow the same pattern, the said couple meet near the beginning of the book, a few distractions are thrown their way, maybe in the form of a love triangle, or a misunderstanding, and then they sort everything out by the last page. Don't get me wrong, I love romance, but does it have to be included in a book to make it something memorable?
I myself am guilting of loving a story with a bit of romance in. One of my favourite books is The Time Travellers Wife, which in essence is a love story, even if aspects are quite scientific. When i'm reading a book, i'm always looking out for the potential love interest, i'm always reading more to see if they get together, or what their first kiss might be like, or what obstacles they'll have to overcome to be together.
In this generation we can find romance in books that are not even classed as romance, nor was ever conveyed that way purposefully. Take The Hunger Games for example. This is an amazing dystopian novel about a girl who has lead a truly dreadful life, a girl that has to go into an arena and kill children her own age. A girl who has lived in squalor, who's life has been practically destroyed by the capitol. Sometimes, I don't see this book as an amazing story about opression and fighting for what you beleive in, fighting for a life that you deserve. I see this story as a love story. Maybe thats just because of our culture at the moment. Maybe the editor knew thats what we as readers would take from this book the most. The romance. Whenever I talk about this book, I want to know if you like Peeta or Gale. I never ask what people thought of the capitol, or how it's reminiscent of how governments can destroy lives. Maybe this is because I am naive? or maybe it's just because the girl in me finds the romance the most memorable part of the book?
Now, i'm pretty sure I would've loved The Hunger Games regardless, even if no romance or love triangle was added to the mix. On the other end of the spectrum, I find it hard to think about books that don't include romance, becauser the vast majority do. The one that sticks out in my mind is To Kill a Mockingbird, which is one of my other favourites. This is just one of those books that is just amazingly profound and will still be here when we are long gone. Same with Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. My 11 year old self loves this book and it doesn't include romance.
So, in conclusion, does a story have to have romance, or for characters to get their kiss on to make a story? Think about your favourite books, do they have romance? Would you love them if the romantic aspect was removed? Or is romance something that makes or breaks a book for you?
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