If someone asked you what makes a great romantic comedy, what would you tell them? Would it the characters? Plot? Pacing? Trope? Spice level? Dialogue? Banter? Or would it be a combination of all of those things? I’ve been reading a lot of romantic comedies lately and I’m here to tell you that, like any genre, not all are created equal.
For me, the characters and their banter is very, very important. How do they interact? Do I root for them? Plot and pacing are close seconds. The tropes are where I struggle. There are some very overdone tropes out there: Friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, the “meet cute,” childhood sweethearts, second chance/impossible/forbidden love, fake relationships, the list goes on and on.
But there are some standout authors and books that rise to the top. When that happens they are usually fun, smart, and deep. Personally, I like main characters that are kind of damaged–either from family issues or past relationships gone wrong. Why? Because all of us are damaged in one way or another. Who wants to read about shiny, perfect characters? Not me. But everything needs to be done in moderation too. Do you see the delicate balance it takes to achieve a successful story? I’m sure I couldn’t do it. (Those who can, write stories. Those those cannot, critique the stories…)
But enough blah, blah. Let’s focus on two rom coms I read in October that get it right. Now, I’m not some who likes a lot of spice and smut. But I do like some romance and am OK with closed-door physical contact if it is written tastefully. PG, bordering on PG-13 is my limit. Whoops, more blah, blah. Let’s talk about books!
Practice Makes Perfect, by Sarah Adams is the sequel to When In Rome, which I enjoyed very much. (You can read that review HERE.) This time, our main characters are youngest sister, Annie Walker, and bodyguard, Will Griffin. On the surface, these two are confident and strong. Behind the scenes, both are struggling. For Annie it is trying to prove her independence to her family. For Will it is to escape the memories of his dysfunctional parents. The relationship between these two characters is wonderful, each of them bring out the best in each other. The ending is no surprise, but the journey getting there is totally worth reading. 9/10 Stars
The Hating Game, by Sally Thorne, has been in my Kindle for as long as I can remember. This is an enemies-to-lovers story, starting as a workplace rivalry at a publishing house. Lucy and Josh are each assistants to co-CEOs who also dislike each other and have very different ethics after a big merger. Forced to share space and work together every day, Lucy and Josh do everything they can to undermine each other (never quite crossing the line–a good thing.) Of course, such animosity is not sustainable and the inevitable happens, but what a fun ride along the way! Seeing the way their relationship begins, changes, and ends is a delight. 9/10 Stars
And there you have it! Happy Reading! (And don’t forget to set your clocks back tonight.)
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