The Broken Male Lead

Why do we love our romances with male leads who are bad, broken, possessive, and, frankly, out of control? This may come as a shocker, but women gravitate towards these bad boys, and I think it has a lot to do with it being fantasy and not real life. Maybe it’s the drama that keeps us intrigued or the mystery, but we can’t seem to get away from these book boyfriends. It’s definitely a toxic relationship.

The One-Dimensional Bully

This post is about the stories where the bully or bullies are minor characters with the sole purpose of popping up every now and then to remind the reader that the main character is relatable and/or a social outcast. We can talk about enemy-to-lover romances later, but those are entirely in their own category. These types of bullies tend to be forgotten as the main character comes into their own. It becomes less about the obstacles the main character has to endure and more about what they can accomplish. Can’t showcase that with a bully still in the way, right?

Rushing Romance

Have you ever read a romance novel with great characters, but their attraction and sexual tension happened a little too quickly? Then after the initial sparks the story fizzles out? I have. Pacing is so important in a romance story. It can make or break it.

Love in the Time of Serial Killers

Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson made a lot of promises that it didn’t deliver on. I absolutely was swindled by a cute book cover and a professionally written synopsis with “come hither” vibes, but that’s not at all what I received. So buckle in, because I’m about to take ya’ll for a ride down this rambling rabbit hole of a mess Thompson created.