Let's face it, 97% of young adult books nowadays has the romance genre. Okay, maybe 96% of young adult books nowadays has the romance genre in them.
I don't mind romances in my books. In fact, I like it when books I read have romance in them. To me, romance in books makes the book more fun to read. I love to meet all the new hot guys authors write and to be able to swoon over them. I love watching people ship their ships and ship my own ships. I enjoy watching people playfully argue with other people over their in-common book boyfriends and I love judging my five book boyfriends with guys I know in real life. Guess who I always end up liking better? ;D
However, I do have two problems with romance in young adult books nowadays:
1. The romance overtakes the plot. I've seen this a lot lately in many young adult books to be honest. The top two I still remember is Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally (ugh, where on earth was the plot?) and Chosen at Nightfall by C.C. Hunter (I think this one had a love square...or was it a love pentagon?). Those two books had great premises - I was counting down the days until those two books were released, only to be disappointed with...romance. 97% romance to be specific. Who cares if the guys are hot or if they made a dumb move or even if they -gasp- betrayed you in the end? Where on earth is the plot that I was promised in the summary? Romances that completely overshadows the plot and I do not get along well, if at all.
2. The romance in the book is full of insta-love. It might be my fault for choosing these books to read, but lately these past five months, 40% of the books I pick up have insta-love one way or another. Some people argue that they love insta-love, that nothing is wrong with insta-love whatsoever. I respect their opinion and understand things from their point of view; however, I don't really enjoy books with insta-love in them. To me, it's just a lazy way in which authors incorporate their romance without taking their time to fully develop it and to slowly make us fall in love with the characters and their romance.
My logic is this: your friend tells you one day that she met a guy that she's attracted to and is interested in. You, of course, feels happy for her (or jealous of her because she met the perfect guy for her and you haven't yet - whichever one ;D). Four days later, you and your friend meets up and your friend spends 85% of the time talking about her boyfriend: how handsome he is, how awesome he is despite the fight they two recently had, and how she is so dearly in love with him. For the first scenario, I'm pretty sure you'll be creeped out by then and asking her if she really knows this guy well enough to be "in love" with him. I know I would do that.
So far, I've read around 660 books in my life according to goodreads, not counting my childhood books that I never even bothered to add onto there. I've read 471 from 2012 to this very moment and only one book, one book (yes, I felt the need to repeat that), that I've read had insta-love in it that I loved anyways. Again, one book out of probably at least 100 books I've read with insta-love in it.
It's sad that these two problems appear in a lot of books nowadays. I try to pressure my friend that only reads adult books to read young adult books too, but she told me that she doesn't like to read young adult books because they mainly focus on the romance in one way or another, but she just wants plot. It's a legit reason that I sadly just can't deny.
What did you guys think? I happen to agree with a lot of her points and it's a definite change from Kristen's view on insta-love but I like both posts! I honestly wish there was less of it, especially in YA, but I suppose I can see where some people may like it. I admittedly like it too sometimes when it's done in a great way, but sadly that's pretty rare (for me anyway). Well I hope you all enjoyed Kelly's post!
Thanks so much Kelly for agreeing to help out with the event! Love the post and it means so much for you to do this!
Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for more fun from awesome people! I hope everyone is having a great time with this, I know I am!
There's also the giveaway you can enter! 11 prizes of pure awesomeness!!
~Kayla~
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