Originally hosted by Melissa from i swim for oceans, Smash & Kt took her original inspiration, and made it their own, expanding it to more than just books. Let’s get personal and learn more about one another! So, Let’s Talk! (Source: Smash Attack Reads)
Do you need romance in your books to read them? If not, what else “hooks” you? (Thank you, Rachel/Parajunkee!)
Don’t get me wrong. I love a great romance.The pang you get in your heart when a love connection is made. *swoon* LOVE. It is a great feeling. But I’ve loved books where one didn’t exist or maybe took a back seat to the story. For me it is about the characters. If the characters have enough depth and are likable for me to connect with, then I am in. You add some epic growth through some time of challenge either via world-building or the real world then we are starting to talk 5 star rating.
Some 4-5 Stars without the Romance: Unwind by Neal Shustermann, Leverage by Joshua Cohen, I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga, Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John, Feed by Mira Grant, Cracked by K.M. Walton, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
Some 4-5 Stars that aren’t just about the Romance: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry, My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland, The Diviners by Libba Bray, Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
Totally depends on the book. I want a strong romance in actual romance books. It needs to be strong, in your face, and very much have me falling in love with them falling in love.
In all other books, I need it NOT to distract from the story. It is better for it not to be there than be distracting.
Agree on both camps. I either better be falling in love too or it needs to hang in the background.
(Sorry about the comment I started but didn’t finish >.<)
I'm also a character person. However, if I like the characters enough, sometimes I don't mind if the story is a little lacking. Of course, I probably won't claim the book is my favorite or anything, but I'll definitely see the book to the end.
Even bad romances aren’t deal breakers, but I better be in love with a character or two.
Woot! I look forward to cracking open Seraphina this month…
You’ll love the world-building, smart heroine, and similar Fire ( by Cashore ) type affection budding. Very lovely all the way around.
Do you know how long Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter has been on my bookshelf? I really need to read that book!
I look for characters I guess more than anything. Whether the relationships between those characters is friendship or romance driven it doesn’t matter.
Agree. Relationship really is what makes it work. Whether it is romance, friendship, partners in crime.
I feel exactly the same way. For me it’s all about characters, and if the romance is center stage then I need to be a little bit in love with the characters too, or it doesn’t work for me. Great choices for books without romance or where romance takes the back seat. I love Unwind, I Hunt Killers, Feed, Scorpio Races & The Diviners too, and it wasn’t because of romance, it was all down to the characters and the plots. Fabulous post!
I prefer some romance but you’re right that great characters do make all the difference. Unwind and The Scorpio Races are perfect examples.