No words necessary.
The characters don't need to exchange proclamations of love. It should be apparent by how they behave around each other. Simple things like his fingers at the small of her back. Her eyes following him across the room. Him noticing the way she rubs her knuckles when she's nervous. His smiles leaving her helplessly smiling in return.
Or, depending on the book, more dire things like her rushing into danger to save him, or him standing up to insurmountable odds to protect her. But these are things that should happen at the end, after the two have spent 300 pages or so getting to know each other.
There's more to character development than the progression of a romantic relationship.
One of the biggest mistakes I've seen writers make is introducing the love interest too early. For me at least, I have to care about the characters as individuals before I can care about them as a couple. If I'm introduced to character A, who then immediately decides s/he likes character B and sets out to make something of it, then I'm left wondering who these people are outside of their attraction to each other. When the romance is the only thing that defines the characters, then I find it very difficult to care or like either of them.
Now, of course, this isn't always the case. Love interests can sometimes be introduced in the first chapter and, in addition to being attracted to each other, they're still complete individuals with their own issues and character arcs.
Wait, what?!
And then there's the other side of the spectrum. The two are so subtle, barely ever thinking about each other outside of their own problems, that when the romance happens, the readers are left reeling and flipping back through the book to find some indication that they were meant to be attracted to each other.
(Not to be mistaken with the rivalship, in which the chemistry is still very much there, just on a competitive or unexpected level)
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Some of my favorite YA romances:
• Anna and Étienne (Anna and the French Kiss)
• Kaye and Roiben (Tithe + Ironside)
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♥So what do you guys think? What makes an effective romance for you? What are some of your favorite romantic titles (YA or otherwise)?
Logging you in...
Bluestocking · 712 weeks ago
Lori M. Lee 93p · 712 weeks ago
Creepy Query Girl · 712 weeks ago
Lori M. Lee 93p · 712 weeks ago
Aderu · 712 weeks ago
I think the best kind of romances start out as friendships. That way--as you mentioned--the characters can get to know each other, and the readers can see how they are outside of a relationship. I also like making them hold out on saying "I love you" or even thinking that they like the other person, because I like writing stories that doesn't focus on only love. There are other things characters need to focus on.
Lori M. Lee 93p · 712 weeks ago
Yes! I do love those sorts of relationships as well. And the "I love you" never even has to come if it's obvious enough to the reader :D
Cherie · 712 weeks ago
I'm not a prude, but I do not care for graphic sex scenes in novels, especially if it's YA. Thankfully, most YA sex scenes are not graphic. I'm all for the subtle hints. Btw, sex does not equal love.
Love scenes definitely do not have to be melodramatic to show a point that the characters are in love. I had a chapter where the male mc finally kisses the female mc at the end of the chapter. I just wrote that they kissed. One critiquer later messaged me to say she's still thinking of the kiss. I thought that was great. EVen though there weren't a lot of descriptions or emotions to accompany the big "kiss" moment, it stayed with the reader, and therefore it did its job. Sometimes, less is more. Cliche, I know, but it's true. ;)
Lori M. Lee 93p · 712 weeks ago
And that's wonderful to hear. You're right in that that is exactly what you want your readers to remember and hold with them.
Stina Lindenblatt · 712 weeks ago
Lori M. Lee 93p · 712 weeks ago
Anita · 712 weeks ago
Lori M. Lee 93p · 712 weeks ago
Krispy · 712 weeks ago
Lori M. Lee 93p · 711 weeks ago