Romance novels have taken over the book market. Enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, bad boys and girls-next-door; we want them all. They are comforting, familiar, and remind us that maybe love does exist in the real world.
(Well-written) love stories pull readers in because they offer a tried-and-true framework for connecting with your audience. Characters struggle with real problems in realistic environments and experience relatable things.
What we often forget is that these stories are fiction. They may alter our perceptions of what love really is and how people actually operate. Humans are complicated. Forming those deep, swoon-worthy connections requires much more effort than “who did this to you?” tales imply.
Love is formed through trials and triumphs, understanding one another, and unwavering trust. So when it comes to a romance story to die for, I believe that the best ones have the romance come second.
Romance arcs work better as an element of the plot, rather than the focus, for three main reasons.
What makes a romance arc good?
Falling in love is a messy, complicated process. So yes, there are definitely wrong ways to write a romance arc.
Crafting your characters
Good characters are a requirement for any good story, but when you’re writing a romance arc, fleshing them out is essential. If you want readers to root for your couple, their connection needs to be believable.
Being loved is being understood on the deepest level, perhaps in a way that we don’t even realize we need. For this to happen in a story, the characters should do more than have a basic, physical attraction to each other.
They should each have their own ambitions, shortcomings, and quirks. Being with their love interest should bring out the best in them, not completely change who they are. And of course, the connection needs to feel natural and mutual. Insta-love stories where the main characters fall too fast for each other are the biggest giveaway that the romance arc is not doing what it should.
Incorporating outside tension
While love has the tendency to take over our minds completely, the real world doesn’t stop spinning just because we’re pining for someone.
Life needs to throw curveballs, no matter what genre you’re reading. Unpaid bills, natural disasters, political unrest, and even strained relationships with friends or family members will put a hold on the all-consuming romance arc.
However, this doesn’t mean the love story will be stinted. If anything, when the romance is true, it will continue to develop despite the obstacles getting in their way.
When I see two characters in a story changing the world, fighting for good, or making a real difference, not only does the story feel more complete, it also makes their romance arc feel earned.
Is it true love, or just convenient?
While already briefly mentioned, it serves to repeat that readers want the characters to actually be perfect for each other. We can’t throw two strangers into wacky situations and just believe that they are soulmates afterwards.
We need to see it, feel it, and believe it just as much as the characters do. Otherwise, the romance will fall flat and feel forced, which will turn any book lover away from finishing the story.
Real connections are born out of real struggles. Life-or-death battles may be dramatic, but they help us feel invested in the outcome of the love story.
Romance arcs are a tool for better stories
When reading (or writing) any story, you have to consider how the flow of the plot will fit together. Adding in a romance arc to a thriller, fantasy, or even a regular realistic fiction novel can hook and hold readers.
Plot devices
Romance arcs build tension, literally and figuratively. They can either raise the stakes or create conflicts within the main plot. The characters can grow and learn from their budding relationship, or be held back by their fears and make mistakes.
As the characters move forward , so should their romance with their love interest. One doesn’t take precedence over the other—the two grow in tandem, and maybe even cause conflicts with each other.
No matter which route a story takes, the romance arc serves to make it more interesting.
Logic and cohesiveness
It’s hard to argue against the romance arc because love is an integral part of the human experience. Even in a high fantasy adventure novel, if the characters can care about something, then they can also care about each other.
However, that doesn’t mean a romance arc can just be thrown into the plot. It has to make sense, character and plot-wise. Does the couple actually work together? Does the environment allow them to build their connection? Or is the romance eclipsing the actual plot and diverting our attention?
All it takes is a few thoughts, or a brief scene, to remind us that a romance is brewing. The romance subplot should be relevant and important, but not the main focus. Otherwise, you’re better off reading/writing a typical romance novel.
Less is more
To me, a perfect romance arc should act as the cherry on top of an exquisite cake. Sure, the main plot could stand on its own, but it wouldn’t be the same treat without a little extra sugar to sweeten our palettes.
The heated glances, brief touches, and bittersweet memories of simpler times make us crave the romance even more. Think of a series like The Hunger Games. After everything Katniss and Peeta go through, all we want is to see them be happy together. When a couple is finally granted their happy ending, it’s like a sigh of relief.
The characters shouldn’t be the only ones yearning. The readers enjoy it, too.
Decentralizing the fictional romance perception
Of course, we must address the elephant in the room. Does consuming too many of the streamlined romance novels of our time make it too difficult to separate fiction from reality?
The toxic romance
It’s one thing to read about a toxic relationship on paper. It’s another matter completely to experience it in real life.
When we read too many stories that normalize or even glorify manipulative, controlling partners, we may begin to accept those traits in our real-life relationships. It may be a common “trope” to see in books now, but the implications of consuming too much of this material can have real consequences, especially for young readers.
No matter if the romance arc is the main plot or a subplot, we should be careful to remember that all fiction is just that—a story crafted for entertainment.
Love isn’t easy
I’ll admit, I do love a fluffy, sweet romance story to lift my spirits. But other times, I want to be reminded of how love really is. The best books with romance arcs that I’ve read have shown me how love can be ugly, painful, and confusing.
Broadening our horizons a little bit can not only keep us from falling into the dreaded reading slump, but also allows us to experience a wider range of stories that teach us something about love and sacrifice for those we care about.
Something more to root for
I’d be lying to myself if I said I didn’t crave love like any other person. But that doesn’t keep me from wanting other things, too, just for myself.
Seeing those kinds of ambitions, such as careers, academics, travel, and achievement, represented and explored in fiction reminds me that there is more to life than finding “the one.” We are all our own people, and deserve to invest just as much energy in ourselves as we do in our partners.
When it comes to fiction, avenging our families or getting into our dream college can be just as rewarding as falling in love. So seeing the two work together in books only makes me enjoy a story more.
Recovering the art of a good romance story
Love is a part of life, just as the romance arc may only be a piece of the story.
When you combine all of these elements mentioned above, ranging from dynamic characters, multi-faceted plots, and genuine, realistic connections, the romance arc can transform a good novel into a great one.
However, keeping the romance arc as a subplot allows authors and readers to focus more on the other elements of stories that make our lives interesting. The dimension of love can help readers connect with and root for the characters without distracting or pulling away from an intriguing plot.
When given the choice, I’ll always go for a story that gives the flavor of romance without being all-consuming.
Book recommendations for a worthwhile romance
If you’re looking for some good books with intriguing romance subplots, check out these listicles!
11 Romance Subplot Book Recommendations
11 Books About Love That Aren’t Just Rom Coms
6 Fiction Books With a Romantic Subplot
My favorite romance subplot is from Stephanie Meyer’s Renegades series. Leave a comment with yours!
