I love Alpha Male books club discussion

Okay we are all alpha male lovers united in this wonderful group. We appreciate a alpha males of all varieties. But we hardly bring up the heroine. So is this thread get what may annoy you about either a certain heroine or heroines traits you find annoying.

Most annoying heroine is when she try to set up the hero with her friend or she thinks she is not good enough for the hero. That's bugged the hell out of me.

Sivy wrote: "Most annoying heroine is when she try to set up the hero with her friend or she thinks she is not good enough for the hero. That's bugged the hell out of me."

Lol I totally understand. I don't like the secret baby plot where she didn't tell him for her own reasons especially when she knows how to contact him.

My biggest heroine pet peeve is confusing stupidity with independence. If she doesn't have any special self defense skills, the killers still out there, but she has slip her guards to shop because she doesn't want to listen to the hero's good advice about staying safe. I understand if she's martial arts girl, or magically badass, but if she's just coffee shop waitress...no.

I'm gonna be real honest here...all of them. Sick to death of:

Broken

Depressed

Cheated on

Deserted

Broke

Desperate

Judgemental

Bitchy

The list can go on and on and on

I'm tired of the chick that needs a hero to save her from some repeatedly used storyline (only the names get changed) after she plays cat and mouse and treats the male protagonist like crap because he has a past and she's been so stupidly damaged that she cannot trust him or measure up to all the women he's been with.....blah blah blah.

So yeah...ALL OF THEM. That's because female protagonists are all written from the same cloth.....pathetic. I'm a woman who is actually starting to hate women because I read too many sad excuses for women.

However, as much as I bitch about the bitches I continue my quest for that 1 in 100 that I actually like.

@Beth

I do really have a problem with the bitch heroine and the judgemental ones too. So unattractive. I also get the others as well but those are my top two. The constant waver back and forth can get old real fast for me too. Real Fast!!


@paganalexandria

That is annoying. I hate that kind of stupidity.

Paganalexandria **wicked juices bubbling over** wrote: "My biggest heroine pet peeve is confusing stupidity with independence. If she doesn't have any special self defense skills, the killers still out there, but she has slip her guards to shop because ..."

You should read In Deeper. I enjoyed it but it got so ridiculous at the end...heroine is heavily pregnant and becomes a superhero!

Agree on putting herself in danger stupidly though...reminds me of the horror flicks where you want to yell "you deserve to die" to the screen.

How bout the gullible heroine who believes everything she hears, like the BS that jealous bitches tell her and she goes all stupid before on the hero before she gets his side.....ridiculous. oh, and the runner who breaks up because she can't risk her poor fragile heart. FIND A CONVENT.

Becky wrote: "You should read In Deeper. I enjoyed it but it got so ridiculous at the end...heroine is heavily pregnant and becomes a superhero! "

@Becky - Have you ever seen the bad movie cult classic Showgirls? At the end she becomes a ninja out of nowhere, and that's what this trope reminds me of.

beth wrote: "How bout the gullible heroine who believes everything she hears, like the BS that jealous bitches tell her and she goes all stupid before on the hero before she gets his side.....ridiculous. oh, an..."

@Beth - I too hate it when the heroine or the hero takes the word of the obvious bitter ex, or neverwas. I got so mad at the heroine from the Francesca Cahill series because in she just accepts the hero's ex-mistress' word as bond on the state of their relationship.

To Becky and Beth,

Thanks for the laugh. I needed it. Loved your comments and I totally agree with you all. :)

I'm sick to death of the strong, intelligent heroine who gets laid for the first time by the hero and reveals how in love she is with him. Or worse, they get engaged. Boy do I ever feel like throwing the book over the balcony I come across this.

Becky wrote: "heroine is heavily pregnant and becomes a superhero!"

Seriously? That made me laugh out loud.

Paganalexandria **wicked juices bubbling over** wrote: "My biggest heroine pet peeve is confusing stupidity with independence. If she doesn't have any special self defense skills, the killers still out there, but she has slip her guards to shop because ..."

AMEN. "I'm an independent woman and I'm not going to listen to the hero, the police, the bodyguards, and I'm going to dismiss all crank calls, threatening letters and damaged property as coincidence. I've got this, boys! Oh! Help! Now I've been kidnapped and 2 people have now died trying to save my stupid ass!"

Ok, one addendum..,there is a bad guy, she actually manages to hit him/knock him down, and runs without picking up the GUN. You're gonna need it honey. Odds are he's coming after you. Take the gun. (This seriously bothered me about Olivia Pope's escape attempt on scandal...she needed that gun! Don't shoot bad guy and drop it. Take his gun too to have a second! Get through red door, see Ian is bad guy...shoot him.)

I think I saw Showgirls but blocked it out. ;)

Becky wrote: "Ok, one addendum..,there is a bad guy, she actually manages to hit him/knock him down, and runs without picking up the GUN. You're gonna need it honey. Odds are he's coming after you. Take the ..."

Showgirls is the best-worst thing I ever saw pinnacle. It's both an insult, and a compliment when I compare something to it. LOL

I just thought of a big heroine pet peeve that actually extends to the hero at times as well......I have a deep dark secret you must never know, BUT YOU BETTER TELL ME YOURS OR WE CAN'T BE TOGETHER. That's jacked up, because usually that deep dark secret is so laughably lame. Writers are so busy trying to come up with the end-all be-all of conflict that the conflict is getting ridiculous. I read on some discussion blog that some book that was light on conflict was too boring. Here's the thing....not every love story is based on the dramatic, angsty BS that is loaded to the max in these stories we're reading. I could provide the list of the abused chick, cheated on chick, abandoned issues chick....you get it....then you got the chick where the ex is chasing her, the parents are running her life, she runs to save the hero's life because of her deep dark past. How many people do you know that make you able to relate to this drama.

Who says that a love story has to be riddled with OTT drama for it to be considered a great love story. It's NOT the drama that makes a story good. What makes the story good is the WRITER. There is no need to depend on kidnapping attempts, beat downs, shootings, etc. To sell a good story. Give us stories where we can relate to the drama because it's not jacked up with with these tired scenarios but have real EVERY DAY life issues. I get the jealous ex. I get being cautious in a new relationship. I get the anxiety of meeting family and friends. I get the crazy, dizzying, vulnerable feelings of falling in love. That may not be loaded down with the drama we're so inundated with these days, but if written correctly it can make for a funny and lightly angsty love story that I'm sure that 99% of us can relate to more than you can relate to "my high school jock boyfriend cheated on me five years ago and now I hate all jocks so therefore I'm going to be a raving judgemental bitch and treat you like shit even though you're the sexiest man I've ever seen and I want you more than life itself but since so many other girls do to I can't be with you because I can't compete with them because I'm so broken so I'm pushing you away even though it will kill me to see you with other girls and it will just prove that I was right to let you go....." excuse the runaway thought train....but how many eye rolls did I just elicit with those oh so very familiar and overused drama plots?

I know we are living vicariously through these fictitious females, but how many of us are getting fed up with living through a chick that has issues or behaves like the heroines we are being fed. Furthermore, who wants to live vicariously through these heroines any more because frankly I wouldn't want to spend that much time in my life being a dumbness because I'm so weak. One last question, how many times do you read a book that you think the hero should just move the hell on away from the chick's crazy train because you know in the real world no dude, hero or not, will put up with that shit for long....and the story becomes so far fetched because you can no longer connect with the hero for staying around or the heroine because she's just so ridiculous?

beth wrote: "I just thought of a big heroine pet peeve that actually extends to the hero at times as well......I have a deep dark secret you must never know, BUT YOU BETTER TELL ME YOURS OR WE CAN'T BE TOGETHER..."

Well said. :)

I just finished a novel where a female escaped her abusive partner (physical and mental) of three years. Arriving in a new town a couple of months later, she finds herself agreeing to a dinner date demanded by the gorgeous sheriff, lets him order for her, get hot and heavy in the car, he proceeds to finger her, all of which is on their first date. Did I forget to mention that she met the sheriff the day before? To this I say - WTF!?!?

I can't be alone in this. I'm sorry but I couldn't be friends with a total twit like this. Why for the love of God do authors create such unrealistic, stupid heroines?

Paganalexandria **wicked juices bubbling over** wrote: "Becky wrote: "Ok, one addendum..,there is a bad guy, she actually manages to hit him/knock him down, and runs without picking up the GUN. You're gonna need it honey. Odds are he's coming after ..."

Showgirl was cheesy, badly written, with over the top performances and I still love it lol. I like cheesy sometimes lol. Prime example is I loved the movies Crybaby and Hairspray(the original thank you very much).

@Beth, I can say I have read some books where I do feel like the hero should move on. They are either so insecure that they take the fun out of the romance or so damn bitchy they make me feel like why deal with that.

I hate when independence means being difficult just for the sake of being difficult. I mean compromise is not that hard neither is sometimes just giving in when necessary. And I am gonna run to protect myself or the hero is very annoying. I say keep running. And the woman who group all the the same or like you said this type of man hurt me so now all of this type of man is off limits because of one man previous behavior.

I do think that sometime too much in a story takes away from the story. It can sometimes be overwhelming just trying to get through so much. But I also get very tired of the back and forth angst. I mean some insecurities yes it is natural but the constant back and forth is annoying. I know some hate insta love but I would rather that sometime just to get a break from the couple who take the whole book to commitment or one gets hurt before you realize you love them.

You are right we do live vicariously thru the stories we read and to me if you can't relate or even like or love the main characters at least the rest of the story fails just because. We can do cliche stories if we can at least get a character we can get behind.

I also am getting tired of the new adult genre which has the highest angst levels. I have not found one yet that I didn't get annoyed with.

I don't like when everyone is telling me something about a heroine but all her actions are the opposite of that. I know was loved by everyone but me, but this heroine made that series lose another star with each installment. One of my problems was how they were setting her up as this rising star interior designer, but she had the worst work ethic, and was completely unprofessional (constantly being late, and standing clients up).

IMHO, the most annoying heroine, is the one who fights the hero for being so called pushy and a know it all, when he has saved her life numerous times, his instincts are always spot on and yet she fights him over stupid crap, like her having security. Perfect example was the Lyon trilogy by Jordan Silver. OMG, I loved Colton. He gave her the world and just wanted to keep her safe, but nooooooooooooo, her dumb 18 year old ass knew better! Uggggghhhh! Dang, if a man wanted to care for me that way, have at it!

@paganalexandria, I know. I can be very hard on a book when it is very popular. I guess because of all the hype. So I read it cautiously in the beginning to make sure I don't not like it just because. Sometimes it is as good as they say sometimes I am like did we read the same book.

@Emily, I loved Colton too but she did get on my freaking nerve. I was like you of all people should know about what could happen since she experienced it. She just seemed to completely ignore common sense. I hate a brat for a heroine.

OK, here is my input:

I can't stand doormat heroine.

Or continuous self loathing/self hatred or really low self esteem. I want to shout" grow a backbone!" and kick their a** every single time.

Sophie wrote: "OK, here is my input:

I can't stand doormat heroine.

Or continuous self loathing/self hatred or really low self esteem. I want to shout" grow a backbone!" and kick their a** every single time."

THIS +1000

This is sometimes worse for me in first person told only from the heroines perspective because the whole book is an ode to low self esteem. By the end, a lot times I can't even tell what the hero likes about them. She's repeatedly told us how unattractive she is, so it isn't her looks. Her personality sucks, so that's not it either. Color me confused.

@paganalexandria and Sophie, a heroine like this is very hard to wade thru in a book. I think that is why I prefer dual pov, multiple POV, or 3rd person. When I am only in the heroines head I usually get a headache unless it is very well written. I mean like fifty shades. Don't get me wrong I did like the book but Anastasia annoyed me so often in the book too.

Unorthodox wrote: "I hated Tegan from Unattainable LOL"

I never read. Why did you hate her??

@Unorthodox, I get that nasty and rude heroines turn me off a book sometimes. The only heroine I have read that can be mean is Eve Dallas from the in death series by J D Robb and still even I have moments with her too.

I know. I think it is a turn off. I can't stand mean people in real life so I am not going to root for a heroine like that.

Unorthodox wrote: "Sbyrd64 wrote: "I know. I think it is a turn off. I can't stand mean people in real life so I am not going to root for a heroine like that."

Me either!"

What type of heroine is your go to type?

Unorthodox wrote: "Sbyrd64 wrote: "Unorthodox wrote: "Sbyrd64 wrote: "I know. I think it is a turn off. I can't stand mean people in real life so I am not going to root for a heroine like that."

Me either!"

What ty..."

That is my kind too. I like strong without coming off bitchy. I want her to be able to stand up when she needs to but can also compromise. I don't mind insecurities since we all have them but not so much to way down the story. I am a quirky nerd so that is up my alley too lol. I just want a balanced heroine. Now seems like they are either a sarcastic bitch (which is suppose to be strong or feisty but not well executed), a tstl independent woman, or tstl insecure girl. I don't mind a woman who can hold her own but not one who feels like she has to constantly be in competition with men. If you are capable then they will see and if the are a chauvinist they never will so why try so hard.

Unorthodox wrote: "I hated Tegan from Unattainable LOL"

Yeah Tegan was very hard to take. That is my holy grail biker series, but it's full of characters that aren't that "likable", yet the books are so addictive anyway. It really speaks to the talent of the writer, that she's able to keep me deeply invested in a books filled with people I'd have DNF'd in less than 20 pages, if written by someone else.

@Unorthodox and paganalexandria, I know that is a really popular series. Is it New Adult or young adult? Is it really angsty or not enough to get on your nerves?

Sbyrd64 wrote: "@Unorthodox and paganalexandria, I know that is a really popular series. Is it New Adult or young adult? Is it really angsty or not enough to get on your nerves?"

It's not new adult or YA because the books in the series vary from characters in their teens to 50's. It's not angsty, just "real". They don't follow any normal romance template. If you don't like unpleasant realities, this is not the series for you. It features criminals, so it doesn't white wash that world at all.

Paganalexandria **wicked juices bubbling over** wrote: "I don't like when everyone is telling me something about a heroine but all her actions are the opposite of that. I know was loved by everyone but me, but this heroine ..."

I was thinking about that one and now I'll skip it. The lack of a work ethic would drive me crazy. More than the TSTL heroines are the too dramatic ones. The kind who over-react to everything like the heroes former girlfriends or just 'die of embarrassment' because they stumble or spill coffee. Really? Is your life so incredibly smooth that these are disasters?

@Gem, that is annoying. I never thought of that before but you are right. I also hate when they make up so much crap in their head about stuff. Like they make up in their head something about the hero and get mad at him but it is only because she has worked something out in her head to be mad about.

beth wrote: "I just thought of a big heroine pet peeve that actually extends to the hero at times as well......I have a deep dark secret you must never know, BUT YOU BETTER TELL ME YOURS OR WE CAN'T BE TOGETHER..."

Paganalexandria **wicked juices bubbling over** wrote: "Becky wrote: "Ok, one addendum..,there is a bad guy, she actually manages to hit him/knock him down, and runs without picking up the GUN. You're gonna need it honey. Odds are he's coming after ..."

beth wrote: "I just thought of a big heroine pet peeve that actually extends to the hero at times as well......I have a deep dark secret you must never know, BUT YOU BETTER TELL ME YOURS OR WE CAN'T BE TOGETHER..."

Well said Beth, for me, I have to be emotionally engaged to really enjoy a book. I can't be emotionally engaged with stupid, just disgusted.