Addicted to YA discussion

So, I was recently talking with some people who said they don't care for romance in YA. Some said it's cliché and others said they'll put the book down if they get even a hint of it. I actually think it's kind of fun if it adds to the story and isn't there just for the sake of being there. What do you guys think? Do you like romantic subplots or do you wish they'd go away? What are some romantic YA subplots you think were done well?

All our lives are guided by love or fear, and the last one is only love wrong focused, therefore, in my opinion any good YA book should have a romantic drama, so you can get closer to the story and characters and remember them as a friend who is sharing his experience with you.

I totally agree. I think it can add a lot to the story and a character's development and motivation. Also, for me, it kind of adds to the genuineness of the characters. YA is about teens and teens are always falling in and out of love, it comes with the age. I don't think YA necessarily has to have a romantic subplot, but it can add some extra fun to the story if it's done right.

I enjoy romance in my reading, but I know it doesn't appeal to everybody.

I always love when there's romance in a YA. It adds to the story in my opinion. I love Tris and Four from Divergent. I think Veronica Roth wrote it very well and I liked seeing them grow together. Personally, I don't think it would've been as good without Four being with Tris but that's just my opinion.

I don't mind romance in books, but if it makes the characters dumber, or it becomes the main part of the plot, it drives me crazy. Just a little bit of romance can enhance the story, but too much can burn it lol.

It depends. Unless I’m reading a book that’s specifically in the Romance genre, I like it as a subplot rather than main focus. It’s ok when it adds to the story or helps guide character development and events but when the whole plot revolves around the romance, sometimes it can get into more relationship drama and less storyline.

If you are interested in finding more romance in YA books, you might try Aviva's Library on Youtube. She loves romance in YA and reviews many YA books with romance in them. This is the address of her channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfU_...

Lynn wrote: "If you are interested in finding more romance in YA books, you might try Aviva's Library on Youtube. She loves romance in YA and reviews many YA books with romance in them. This is the address of h..."

Awesome, Lynn! Thanks for the info. I'll check it out!

Linette wrote: "I think it depends on the book! I'm okay with romance being a part of the book, as long as the characters involved in that romance have arcs outside of the romance. Characters feel so flat when the..."

I can agree with that. When a character exist solely to fulfill the "love interest" role, it adds nothing to the story and feels like filler. However, if they have development and a significant role in the story, I think it can be a lot of fun.

I agree with all of the responses. Personally, I find most YA books with zero romance have less character development. But if the relationship is thrown in just for the sake of having romance, that's even worse and I may stop reading. It's not a book, but one of the best slow building romances ever was Pacey and Joey on Dawson's Creek. I always compare romance story lines to that, and most don't measure up.

I agree with all of these. I had a conversation with two of my friends who read every now and then. They said they hate romance in literature and especially a solely romance book. It took some convincing, but I got them to see past the cliques, and I think that was actually really important for them. Not just for their enjoyment of the book, but their view of every type of love that they would encounter in life. I think the comment about "all our lives are guided by love and fear" sums it up so well. It definitely adds to the characters to have some level of romance in a book, in my opinion, but when it is done well and moves past just the first layer that initially meets the eye.

I definitely like romance in my books. But I would like it to be a subplot.I don't want the romance to be greater than the plot itself.But sometimes it becomes really annoying when the characters suddenly act like lovestruck puppies throwing out all the character development.This is especially true for the male characters.Most of the male love interests have some personality and background in the beginning.But then they fall in love and they have no other purpose than supporting the main heroine.

All these being said,I would still need romance in my books which is well done and with growth for both the characters.

I am the opposite: if there isn't romance in a book, I'm probably not going to read it! I love falling in love with the male protagonists of books and watching how the heroine interacts with him. Got really into A Curse So Dark and Lonely and the relationship between the characters.

Sarah wrote: "I am the opposite: if there isn't romance in a book, I'm probably not going to read it! I love falling in love with the male protagonists of books and watching how the heroine interacts with him. G..."

same!!! and you can see how characters are falling for each other ! its fun haha

If it’s like a fantasy book or something then I do still like romance but I don’t want it to overtake t he actual plot. And I especially love enemies to lovers and the time before the characters get together and are all flirty. 🦋🦋🦋

I like romance if it furthers the plot rather than weakens it and
usually i prefer it mixed in with other genres.

I love a good romance!!

I don't really love to read books frm the romance genre itself, but when it comes to things like fantasy in YA, I cannot live without romance!!! In fact I can't really say that I have ever read a YA fantasy with no romance at all. It just adds so much more to the characters and the story. If I do come across a fantasy or dystopian with no romance in it, I'll probably be weirded out haha.

I compleatly agree! you need the balance els it all feels like something is missing. I just finnished a contemporary romance and I kept thinking about how meh it is without majic and fae aha.

I personally only read YA romance like ones that have at least a good amount and I love those