Addicted to YA discussion

I have some questions about romance in YA books.

Now first of all don't get me wrong I love having some sort of romance in my books when I read, but mainly as a subplot and with YA it should be appropriate. I have been struggling lately with some books that I have been reading that has romance in it, and it made me think of some questions.

1) What is your favorite romance trope?

2) When is it too soon for the couple to get together in the book?

3) What are some overdone romance cliches?

4) In a series how long is too long for the couple to finally kiss or realize they like each other?

Let me know your thoughts! (:

Hi L.C.!
I absolutely love your questions because I read my first YA Fantasy Romance this past summer and it was good, but I realized because the romance took center stage it wasn't my thing. While I am still not opposed to reading Fantasy Romance, I think I would need a book with an equally compelling plot line that doesn’t center around the romance. All that to say, I've been thinking about romance in YA as well.
So here are my answers…
1. My favorite romance trope would definitely have to be enemies-to-lovers, I know it can be cliche, but a good and genuine enemies-to-lovers can always get me hooked.
2.For the acceptable timeline for a couple to get together it definitely depends. I am not a fan of super slow burn romances but I also like it when it's not right off the bat. I think the build up is super important, so if it's a series maybe by the end of the first book or at least mostly through the first book. I think for me as long as the characters go through the stages of attraction, like, then love at a reasonable pace its good.
3. Maybe this trope isn't overdone, maybe I just don't like it, but love triangles. I am always hard pressed to finish a book that has a love triangle. I just feel like there is romantic tension to be explored outside of two people liking one person or vice versa. It's not an objectively bad trope, I just don't like it. I am currently reading Red Queen, and I went into it knowing it would have a love triangle so it has been bearable and it also helps that the book is so good.
4. So I guess it kind of connects to the second one, but it really all depends. One thing I don’t like is if it is the end of the series and they finally kiss or get together. I always like seeing a relationship grow throughout the story rather than it all just happening at the end. As far as how soon it can be, I wouldn’t say there is a set page count. I think as long as the author has taken the time to develop their story line then at any time it's ok. It all depends on the character and who they are.
What about you? What are your thoughts about romance in YA? Also what are some YA books with romances that you really like?

1. my favourite trope is probably friends to lovers (i know it might be an unpopular opinion but i just really love it)
2. i definitely enjoy a buildup to the romance and i'm not a fan of insta-love so for me anytime within the first five chapters is probably too soon.
3. i absolutely despise love triangles, fake dating, and the "he's mean to you because he likes you"
4. hmmm i feel like it's too long if they only realize that they like each other/ kiss at the end of the series/ book

Favourite trope is enemies to lovers, especially if enemy is an old/former friend. It frustrates me if gets drawn out across a series so would prefer if it’s in the same book but drawn out, so closer to end.

ok, so my fave trope is rivals to lovers. If its primarily romance end of the book is good, but if not middle end.

I can see a lot of Enemies to Lovers replies so ig I've finally found my ppl lol :'D
I just seem to get super attached to etl relationships, bonus if the storyline doesn't revolve around it (cause then it kinda becomes too much imo idk if u get what I mean); I'm reading Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn rn and I'm obsessed with Brelwyn TvT

I love a fake dating trope but it has to be done well. I'm not a fan of anything involving toxic relationships or similar unless it's about getting out of one and into a safe one. I like finding what the romance will be early on but not them getting there until later - there needs to be build up but not too much. Love a cliffhanger chapter with a realisation or confession of love.

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I absolutely loved Prophecy of a Vampire. Thanks for the heads up. I just ordered The book Signing from Amazon.Prophecy of a VampireThe Book SigningTania Gold

I share your opinion that I prefer romance as a subplot and not the main plot, but I also think more people need to be educated on the difference between a "love story" and a "romance", which seems to be something that gets easily confused in YA fiction more than Adult fiction (if only because Adult fiction borders on erotica instead of romance, but that is another discussion entirely). Here are my answers to your questions...

1. What is your favorite romance trope?
In short, I don't have one. I don't like any of the standard tropes and think they are overused (though, a cliche is a cliche for a reason). I think if written well, there are some good enemies-to-lovers and forbidden love stories out there, but I find most of the standard tropes to be a little nauseating.

2. When is it too soon for the couple to get together in the book?
I don't believe there is a standard answer for this because the timeline is dependant upon the characters, their development, and what the story needs. It needs to feel organic and not forced (e.g., having two enemies suddenly fall in love in Chapter 3 does not make sense for their characterisation).

3. What are some overdone romance cliches?
Soulmates/True mates. Love triangles.

4. In a series how long is too long for the couple to finally kiss or realize they like each other?
My answer here is pretty much the same as #2; I don't think there is a set number of pages or chapters, I think it has to make sense for the characters' development. However, there is something to be said for the "well s***!" moment that some people have in stories where they realise it themselves but are not at a point in their development to move further or look deeper into it.

I love any type of romance trope except if the main character is in couple with a villain and also love triangles which don't finish into polyamorous relationships because I always feel bad for a character except if it is a bad character.
I love ennemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, strangers-to-lovers (it might seems weird but I read What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera which is a strangers-to-lovers and it was a really good book!) Well, I like every king of tropes if there are kind characters actually and if it finished well. Oh, it might seem cliche but I also really like soulmates!

Zoya wrote: "1. my favourite trope is probably friends to lovers (i know it might be an unpopular opinion but i just really love it)
2. i definitely enjoy a buildup to the romance and i'm not a fan of insta-lo..." I agree with you but I like fake dating to real dating (I'm so sorry!) But I agree with everything else in your comment!

Love a good slow burn and i like it when romance is a subplot, like how it is in Six of crows and so on, love a good enemies to lovers, most of the so called enemies to lovers books is basically just miscommunication.

I love childhood enemies to lovers ( obviously I read Better Than The Movies), enemies to lovers and umm let's say the one with "best friends brother" idk what it is called but you get me.

1. My favorite romance trope is probably Enemies to Lovers, I just really love the dynamic between the characters especially if it’s written well
2. I would say it’s too soon when there’s still a good 200+ pages in the book. Like if the characters are together by chapter 10 or something it’s way too soon.
3. I would say a very overdone cliche is definitely love triangles
4. I’m not the biggest fan of slowburns so I would say at the very very end of the series or book

My favorite has to be enemies to lovers and forced proximity. I like seeing relationships grow throughout the book and to see tension before they get together i like the build up. but i don’t like when they get together right at the end much unless it’s the first book of a series. for standalones it really just depends on the pacing i guess. i’m not crazy for friends to lovers or second chance unless it’s done really well.

Ok so my fav. Tropes are either friends to lovers, or fake dating. If they get together in the first 3 quarters of the book we all know it’s doomed. Overdone is when the guy confesses everything in front of people. I like when the characters know there feelings early (on both sides) but something gets in the way of them admitting it.

I loved reading everyone’s thoughts. Romance is my favorite genre so I love when there’s romance in my YA books and it’s interesting to hear why others can be put off by it.

1) Enemies - Friends - Lovers. I love enemies to lovers too but there’s something so perfect about the enemies becoming friends for a while before they fall for each other. I feel like it adds such an important dynamic to the relationship.
2) I think it depends on how well they know each other and what their relationship was like before. If they’re enemies I’d like to see that develop and have them get together later in the book series where if they’ve both been harboring secret crushes I think earlier is fine.
3) I’m not really sure. I think anything can be a cliche because there’s very specific things that make romance, romance so I think it depends how well it’s written. For example, the one bed trope is overdone but if it’s written well I’ll eat it up. If it isn’t then I’ll pass.
4) Insert my second answer here too.