Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits, and it’s where we get to discuss certain topics, share our opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts! Check out the February 2024 Topics if you want to join in the bookish discussion fun.
This week’s topic asks us:
What Makes a Fictional Romance Believable?
Prompts: In honour of Valentine’s Day, here’s a romance-related topic! What makes romance in books believable and compelling? What makes fictional romance feel fake? Who are your favourite bookish couples?
Is it believable that, despite being a prolific romance reader, I’ve never really thought about what makes a romance believable before? 😂 I know what works for me when reading romance and I know certain things make me love a couple more than others but I never thought of it as believable vs. unbelievable. Or maybe I just never thought of it in those terms specifically! I think to some degree, all fictional romance is believable though because what works for others might not work for me and vice versa. Does that make sense or am I overthinking, lol?
What makes romance in books believable and compelling?
I guess what makes a romance most believable to me is when the characters are well fleshed out and most importantly, they have chemistry. I want to see our characters on the same page for a good chunk of their story—having conversations, getting to know each other, and experiencing emotional, mental and sexual journeys together. Show me their moments falling in love and I’ll believe it.
Honestly, fantastic banter will just about sell me on (almost) all romantic relationships, even if or maybe especially if it’s slightly antagonistic banter in hate-to-love/rivals-/frenemies-to-lovers romances. I love that as they spend more time together and learn things about each other they never knew before, they have gradual realisations that this person before them is actually pretty freaking fantastic, and ooh, feelings. 😍 Banter endears me to characters and when I find them endearing alone and together, I will fall in love with them!
What makes fictional romance feel fake?
The times when fictional romances feel fake are when there’s a lack of chemistry, their interactions are very limited, and their exchanges are stilted and awkward. I won’t be sold on a romance when the couple spends less than 40% of the book together or when they spend more time working on their personal growth than with their romantic interest.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against personal growth and I need characters to be well-rounded on their own but it has to be well-balanced with the romance. I mean, if I’m reading a romance, I want to read a romance and I want there to be romantic moments of tension, sparks, chemistry, and togetherness!
Another thing that makes it hard for me to enjoy a romance is when their chemistry is told and not shown. When we’re only told that a couple is doing something but not shown it, it makes it hard to get invested. I also want to say that for me personally, instalove makes a romance feel less believable because is it really love when you’ve only spent a few days or a couple of weeks together? 👀 Unless you have *history*, it’s a hard sell.
Who are your favourite bookish couples?
I have so many favourite bookish couples and I don’t even know where to begin with listing them and going into details about why they’re favourites. I think half the fun is getting to know the couples yourself so I’ll leave you to decide and discover their love! Sorry, not sorry that I’m listing 20 books and favourite couples! 😂
What makes a romance believable for you? What makes it feel fake? What books have some of your favourite romances? I’d love to know! 😍
dinipandareads 
I think you nailed it on what makes romances believable. It’s hard to describe. The attraction, the chemistry, the feeling of this person gets you like no one else has.
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Thanks! I was surprised I struggled to come up with something but in the end these answers felt right 😂
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[…] @ Becky Bookstore | Kathryn @ Kathryn Books | Laure @ Reading Delicacies | Dini @ Dini Panda Reads | Lotus @ Pages of Starlight | Raji @ Worlds Unlike Our Own | Fives @ Down the Rabbit Hole | Book […]
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I also have never thought about this topic. Given my romantic past, I really have no skills when determining if something seems like the real thing, but if I am feeling the feels, the chemistry, the attraction, and the swoons, I am usually sold. I love that you included Hart & Mercy. They were great!
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As a hopeless romantic who has had middling romantic success IRL, I think that part of me wants to believe that a romance is all the wonderful, chemistry-laden, swoonsy feels that romances give me. 😂 I’ve had mildly relatable emotions IRL in the past but not like *the greats* that reading romance usually makes me feel but I still love to believe in them, y’know? Hart & Mercy were so wonderful. Their letter exchanges really did me 😍
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This is such an interesting topic and something I have never actually thought of when reading. Having three dimensional characters definitely helps alot because it makes their emotions and interactions way more real feeling. And of course we need some good banter between the characters
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Yes! If I’m going to care about these characters in a romantic relationship, I have to actually care about and feel invested in them on their own first! 🙂 Banter is always a sure sell for me, lol!
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[…] Let’s Talk Bookish: What Makes a Fictional Romance Believable? […]
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Like you, I don’t think I’ve ever thought about what exactly makes romance believable. I just know when it does! I think you hit the nail on the head with the whole wanting to see the chemistry! I hate when authors tell you that these characters definitely have chemistry but I don’t actually see it in the way they interact! (And attraction to each other is not enough for me on its own, personally.) I also absolutely love banter, and I’m not a fan of instalove, either.
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I totally agree. There has to be more than physical attraction although I don’t mind if it starts as a physical/sexual journey as long as there’s some emotional growth in there personally and as a couple! I also really don’t like when it’s all tell and no show. It needs to stop! Lol 🫣
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This is a great topic. Never thought about it, but good banter and chemistry are definitely pluses. And time to connect, too. I love that you shared your favorite couples! More books for my TBR! 🤣😅
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[…] and I just absolutely devoured them during this time of the year! I saw this discussion post on Dini’s blog on what makes fictional romance believable in 2024 and I can’t get it out of my head so I immediately jot down some notes, but it never […]
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