There’s a lot of hype around steamy romance books these days. Is it good? Is it bad? Is it ruining reading?
Personally I don’t think steamy romance books are ruining reading. In fact, so many bookshops are doing really well and have been able to stay in business because of them.
As someone who likes to write sci-fi and fantasy stories with rich detailed world-building, authentic romantic drama, and strong character work, the steamy romance/romantasy genre has never been something I’ve really gravitated towards. That being said, I am actually outlining my own spicy romantasy book at the moment for fun. I don’t know if I’ll ever publish it but if I was to publish it, it would be published to-market (as in solely for money).
And that’s because the romantasy genre is super popular right now, thanks to BookTok. Spicy romance books tend to do very well on BookTok and are the biggest sellers in the book market at the moment.
I think my biggest problem with the modern steamy romance and romantasy genre is there seems to be more focus on the physical attraction between the characters instead of the emotional attraction/connection. And those just aren’t the type of love stories I like to engage with or write myself.
I enjoy writing weird quirky (and sometimes fluffy, cozy, and whimsical) sci-fi and fantasy stories that are more character-driven with heavy story focus and usually a romantic subplot. And from what romantasy books I have read, the genre tends to concentrate more on physical attraction and lust rather than anything else. I enjoy writing about two personalities coming together and gradually falling in love. I love writing about characters who communicate well with each other and who learn to really understand each other and what attracts them to each other.
So when I’m reading a romance book where there is more focus on the physical attraction between the characters, I start to lose interest. Sometimes I feel like I’m being told who these characters are rather than being given a choice to explore who they are. I want to be fully bought in as to why these two characters want to be together on an emotional, intellectual, and psychological level.
I think this is also why I much prefer to write about friendships in my stories. I feel there tends to be a lot of emphasis on love at first sight rather than a slow build-up to the two characters becoming lovers. I like writing love stories where the reader gets to know both of the characters separately as people as they fall in love with each other.
But that’s just my opinion and the way I like to write love stories in my fiction. There is obviously a huge audience out there who enjoy romance books with solely physical romantic relationships in them. Those stories can be fun and exciting which is why the genre is such a massive seller right now.
Enemies to lovers is a common type in the romance genre and I’ll admit, I do love this trope (when it’s written well of course). What can I say? I’m a villain freak. I’ve always loved the trope where the hero is attracted to the villain and the intense complications, chaos, and danger that relationship can inflict.
I grew up watching Batman: The Animated series and Spider-Man: The Animated Series so ever since I was a kid, I always enjoyed the push and pull dynamic of Batman and Catwoman as well as with Spider-Man and Black Cat. Even as a young teen writer, I’ve always been obsessed with villain love interests.
I also ship Daredevil and Elektra quite a lot. Buffy and Angel from Buffy The Vampire Slayer was my favourite fictional pairing during my teenage years. The same goes for Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask. In my late teens, I got really obsessed with the Aeon Flux animated series on MTV and I liked how the heroine, Aeon Flux, had this on again-off again romance with her arch-nemesis, Trevor Goodchild. I found their relationship so strange and oddly compelling. They had this intense undeniable attraction towards each other but were also fighting on opposite sides, and that made the relationship between the two of them very unpredictable and intriguing.
I really like the Rey x Kylo Ren relationship from the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Even though I don’t love those movies, I do enjoy the Reylo will they-won’t they connection. What is wrong with me? Why do I love villains so much? It’s a question I ask myself all the time.
My own Irish superhero book series, Lasair-Fhíona, also features this trope although it eventually evolves into a more ‘reluctant allies to lovers’ type of situation.
That’s pretty much some of my explorations into the spicy romance genre and the tropes I enjoy writing into my own stories. I don’t like to yuck anyone’s yum so if you enjoy reading spicy romance books, I love that for you and you should read what makes you happy. I think the reason why I struggle with romantasy in particular is because I much prefer to read/write epic grand fantasy adventure fiction with rich in-depth world-building and grounded characters. Romantasy just doesn’t quite offer that (at least the romantasy books that I’ve read).
If you’re looking to read a cozy whimsical queer litRPG fantasy novel this winter and would like to support a lovely Irish-owned independent bookshop, consider ordering a copy of PRINCESS PINEBERRY AND THE SKY PALADINS OF RAM from Buythebook.ie!
Let me know in the comments if you are a romance lover. What are the type of romance tropes you like in fiction?
Thank you so much for reading!
Love,
Laura-Louise xoxo