Let’s talk bookish is a weekly meme, created and hosted by Rukky @Eternity Books and Dani @Literary Lion, here different topics will be discussed.
This weeks topic is ‘Romance as a subplot’, which is a fun topic since readers ether love it or hate it. I generally don’t mind romance to be present in the background in a book, as long as it is not too forced.
Why do you think romance is the most common subplot?
Why do you ask such difficult questions? I guess it is the ‘easiest’ subplot, since the characters are already there for the rest of the story. The author does not have to introduce many new things for the subplot to be able to happen. Besides romance is logical to happen?! Even when the characters are trying to defeat some epic creatures.
Do you think romance subplots take away from the main story, or add to it?
It really depends on the book. If the romance stays the subplot I think it adds to the story. But sometimes the romance kinda takes over the main plot, and that I really do not like. I want my epic fantasy stories to stay the main focus of the book. I don’t mind there being a romance in the slower parts of the story, like in between the battles etc. But sometimes the battles get forgotten because we have to go safe the loved one, and the battle never happens.. Not a fan of that!
Do you to prefer stories without any romance in them?
As I said I don’t mind romance to be present, as long as it doesn’t take away from the main plot. But it is also good to have a book where romance is not a thing once in a while. I mean it doesn’t have to be there in every single book!
Is romance better as a subplot or as a main plot?
I guess that really depends on your reading taste!? I prefer fantasy/sci-fi books, so I think it is better as a subplot. I mean there are fantasy books were romance is the main thing, but those are not my thing. So I would say romance is better as a subplot!
I love me a good romance, but I think like everything it really depends on how well its written. If it’s believable then I can get on board. 🙂
Yeah it has to be well written, but as you said, that is for every aspect!
I’m also more of a fantasy reader – I think romance is good as long as the main plot is still given time to properly develop. A love interest can really make people passionate about a series if it gives them a new book boyfriend, but it’s not worth sacrificing the plot for.
http://literarylion.ca/romance-as-a-subplot-lets-talk-bookish/
I agree!
Interesting discussion. Very important
Thanks 🙂
Interesting discussion. I agree with most of what you said, although I do keep my eye out for those books that have no or very little romance. Sometimes you just need a break from it.
Thanks 🙂
I agree, we do not always need/want romance in our books haha!
“Why do you ask such difficult questions?” Haha I agree with your response though, it’s definitely very convenient since the characters are already there, and there is a tendency that some sort of romance will happen in a normal situation. And I agree with everything else you said! Romance is best in adventure/fantasy books when it’s a subplot and when it does not interfere with major occurrences (unless it does in a fantastic way which is very hard to do).
Great post!!
Hahah that was all I could think for a couple of seconds!
Thanks 🙂
Great discussion! Romance subplots can be great, but I don’t like it when they end up taking over from the main plot!
Exactly!