July 22, 2006
HEA
Written by Cindy Kirk in Jaunty PostI was wondering today if most readers know that in a romance a HEA (Happily Ever After) is guaranteed? It’s what I’ve always liked about romance. But in so many books that readers “think” are romance, there is no HEA. You see it some in Chicklit (that tends to have a “hopeful” ending) or in Women’s Fiction, which can have a romance in them, but a HEA isn’t guaranteed.
The HEA thing comes up when a reader will say…I was so worried they wouldn’t get together. But, in a romance they “always” get togther. That said, I know what they mean. When I’m in the middle of reading a story and all seems lost…a part of me says the same thing. I would be so disappointed if I was reading a story, thinking it was a romance only to discover they didn’t get together in the end. What about you? HEA required or is Hopeful ending okay?
My daughter went to see the new Jennifer Anniston movie. She is one that likes hopeful endings (says they’re more realistic) but she said she walked out of the movie depressed. Said the couple fought the entire movie and then broke up (again) in the end. No overriding theme that she could pick up on. I told her I don’t think I’ll be seeing it….I like to feel good when I leave the theater after spending the time and money to go to a movie.
Enough rambling…I’ll be in Atlanta next week for the national Romance Writers of America conference and am looking forward to see the other Jaunty Quills there!
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Isabel Says:
The HEA is one of the very important reasons I read romance. I don’t want a nebulous (sp) or hopeful ending. The “black moment” or when all is lost and how the author writes the story to get the characters to their HEA is what keeps me coming back to romance. For the definite and sure HEA is a must.
Shana Says:
I’m with Isabel. In a romance, I want an HEA. I don’t need that in every book I read, but I think an HEA is the promise a writer makes to the reader in a romance novel. I don’t necessarily want to know the HEA when I open the book, though. I like to worry a bit about the characters and wonder how it will all work out. The best stories are when an author makes it seem impossible for the hero and heroine to ever come together, and then she somehow makes it happen in spite of everything.
Margo Maguire Says:
Yep - I want the ol’ HEA in a romance. And I think we deliver!