Comments on: Three Ways to Lose a Romance Reader

By: Maggie FitzRoy

Maggie FitzRoy — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 14:20:43 +0000

Great post and excellent advice, especially about writing romance as a subplot, which I find more challenging than writing romance. My first three books were historical romance standalone novels but then I wanted to write mystery with romance as a subplot and to have the romantic relationship between heroine and hero evolve over 7 books. I just finished book four and they are Happy for Now. I’m calling my genre romantic mystery because they were not together as a committed couple in book one or two. My most difficult challenge is the marketing!

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 02:50:17 +0000

In reply to Jennifer Windrow. Yup, I loved the Charlie Davidson books, and the romance in them was smokin' hot. They weren't traditional romance, but they had more than enough for me. But I'm always more into the romantic elements ALONGSIDE the story and character arcs.

By: Jenny Hansen

Jenny Hansen — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 02:44:57 +0000

This is a FANTASTIC post, Jenn. You totally nailed it!

I once read a "romance" where the heroine and the hero were only together for 3 of the 10 chapters.

I was critiquing, and I had to do what you just did... state the rules.

By: Jackie Rod

Jackie Rod — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:15:10 +0000

Jenn,
The post is spot on. Faulty writing is one thing, but a promise that is not kept is a fatal blow for a Romance book. Many writers create a love story that does not follow the rules for Romance. These are two different genres. A good example is Nicolas Sparks.

By: denise

denise — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:17:12 +0000

I read a story sent to me as romance, but it wasn't. It didn't meet critical aspects of romance. I think the author didn't realize romance requires certain things, in addition to the HEA/HFN.

By: Victoria Bley

Victoria Bley — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 01:30:21 +0000

Thank you, Jenn.

I'm dusting off an old romance for editing and this refresher came perfectly timed. I love romance because of HEA. Gotta have a happy ending.

Enjoyed your column very much.

By: Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt

Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:24:09 +0000

In reply to Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt. Also note that my mentor, Dorothy L. Sayers, wrote mysteries, not love stories, and yet managed to create one of the most beautiful love stories I've ever read. So much so, I've used quotes as epigraphs in my chapters. Lord Peter Wimsey is one of the most romantic heroes ever. But Sayers left a bunch of things unresolved, and I don't think that makes the best story - so I'm not.

By: Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt

Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:19:50 +0000

I don't write Romance (a well-defined genre), nor do I subscribe to its tropes. But I don't mind telling anyone who will listen that Pride's Children IS THE GREAT AMERICAN LOVE STORY - because that's what my characters have earned and deserved. We will have an epic through many topics first, but I hope no one will be disappointed; there is enough negativity in life, and I'm not going to add to it. I just want to show you how hard it is for some couples - and a lot of why.

By: Jenn Windrow

Jenn Windrow — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:05:53 +0000

In reply to Ronda Wells. Well that will ruin a whole show and book for you!

By: Ronda Wells

Ronda Wells — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:23:33 +0000

SO RIGHT!! A great Kdrama was slow but of course, the payoff SHOULD have been a HEA. They parted with a completely nebulous ending—the message was we will both be okay as we are. Even though they’d been friends-and even lovers-for two decades. Totally ruined the story for me.