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So I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my preferences as a reader and those story elements that draw me in again and again. I think most of us are repetitive creatures who like to relive certain story lines or fantasies and because of this we’re drawn to certain authors or story premises. Jayne Ann Krentz gave a talk once about this very thing, about how some of us are drawn to those age-old stories that resonate so deeply. Think about Beauty and the Beast, which is really a re-telling of Cupid and Psyche. And consider all the different formats this myth has been utilized in: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, just about any vampire romance out there (well and werewolf, etc.), my favorite Kathleen Woodiwiss’ book A Rose in Winter, and the list could go on.
But here’s the stuff that works for me again and again, those hooks that if I catch a glimpse of them in the back cover blurb, it’s bound to find a way on my to-be-read shelf.
Best-friends turned lovers – oh my gosh, from movies to books, this one gets me every time. I don’t really know what it is about the scenario because it doesn’t really lend itself to major conflict, yet give me a best-friend story and I’m a goner.
Marriage of convenience – and it doesn’t matter to me if it’s historical or contemporary, this plot devise works for me either way. I love the forced proximity the MOC plot-line creates. The sexual tension is usually really strong in these stories and to just watch two strangers find their way as a couple is just mesmerizing.
Mistaken identity - this can work in several ways, it’s been a popular plot devise in historicals with the girls in pants. But there’s also the pretend fiance/mistress or twin stories, all kinds of ways to play with a mistaken identity.
As a writer I also tend to favor certain story lines and revisit them again and again. For me, I do a lot with the Sleeping Beauty/Ugly Duckling story. Usually it’s a metaphorical sleep where the heroine isn’t quite sure of her own beauty/worth. I also tend to have my hero and heroine like each other on some level, I can’t get into the characters that constantly bicker, that just doesn’t work for me so the conflict has to come in on a more emotional level.
So how about y’all? Are there certain story lines you gravitate toward? What plots makes you pick up a book from an unknown author and give them a try?
Don’t forget about the contest for the Sony e-reader, so comment and you could win!
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Jun 28th
2010
6:08 am
MJ Said:
I don’t like mistaken identities. They make me nervous, waiting for the identity to be discovered.
I love reunion stories, and ugly duckling stories, when the hero “sees” the heroine for the first time.
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Jun 28th
2010
6:29 am
kris Said:
I like best friends to lovers, but mistaken identities doesn’t really work for me. Second chances are pretty great too.
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Jun 28th
2010
8:14 am
Crystal B. Said:
I like the story lines you mentioned. I also like rich guy, poor girl stories.
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Jun 28th
2010
8:20 am
RobynDeHart Said:
That’s funny, MJ, that’s how I feel about love triangles, they totally make me nervous. Just not my stuff.
I thought of another one I missed – the transformation or Pygmalion story. There’s something eternally charming about those stories.
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Jun 28th
2010
9:15 am
Christi Said:
A Rose In Winter is my favorite Woodiwiss book too!
I like the mistaken identity stories especially when it’s done with some humor. I like marriage of convenience stories as long as there is sexual tension – I’m not a fan if the charactors don’t like each other until the last chapter. Not a big fan of best friends turn lovers, so far anyway.
Christi
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Jun 28th
2010
9:28 am
eap Said:
I like Best Friends to Lovers and MOC storylines too. And love from afar (specially from afar. PLain Jane themes do it for me as a reader everytime.
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Jun 28th
2010
9:36 am
Deb Said:
I like friends to lovers stories, too. I really like romances where the hero and heroine know each other since childhood and, then, BAM! Hero realizes that the kid next door is a girl, and a beautiful one at that!
I also like the romances where the girls are pretty, but don’t have confidence in themselves and then evolve throughout the story to be a self-assured heroine.
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Jun 28th
2010
9:51 am
Shana Said:
Fish out of water. I think almost every book I’ve written has that theme in some way or other.
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Jun 28th
2010
10:24 am
Quilt Lady Said:
Friends to lover stories is one of my favorites. I love all the plots you mentioned!
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Jun 28th
2010
10:32 am
Kirsten Said:
I really like the mistaken identities and mistaken wealth or social status of a character (from poor to actually being rich). Love Beauty and the Beast stories.
Also have a ton of marriage of convenience and loads of Cinderella stories. Poor but wonderful girl gets super rich, popular playboy/rake/duke etc.
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Jun 28th
2010
11:00 am
catslady Said:
I think I like them all lol. I love variety but as long as I love the characters I’m pretty much willing to go anywhere the author wants to take me.
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Jun 28th
2010
11:25 am
Lulu Said:
Best friends turned lovers is my favorite but I also like mistaken identity. I’m also drawn to damsel in distress but damsel ends up kicking butt story lines, too.
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Jun 28th
2010
12:22 pm
Christy Said:
The friends to lovers is one I like, the ugly duckling, I like pretty much everything except secret babies/kids I take those book by book depending on the author.
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Jun 28th
2010
1:22 pm
donna ann Said:
I think I like most of them. I don’t think there is any one that I prefer over all the others. I’m not big on the secret baby plot (though not too common in historicals that I’ve noticed). Generally what I pick up depends in part on my mood — what type of story I feel like at that moment. With new (or new to me) authors, I’ll pick up a book that sounds interesting, has been highly recommended or well reviewed. A specific plot devise doesn’t necessarily influence the decision — I’ve read good & bad books that used the same plot devices so there is no guarentees that I’ll enjoy the book based upon the plot device alone.
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Jun 28th
2010
1:53 pm
Ellen Said:
I don’t know that any particular theme will get me to pick up a book…..it really depends on the story and I’ll read the information on the back as to whether I’ll pick up a book by an author I have never read. Some authors I’ll automatically pick up and read.
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Jun 28th
2010
1:57 pm
Kathryn in Montreal Said:
I like the friends to lovers theme too… mistaken identities often seem a little far-fetched for me. Marriage of convenience can work to because to me it can be similar to the friends to lovers them with a little more conflict to ratchet up the tension.
I don’t look for any specific theme when buying books… I am author-oriented. If I like an author I will pretty much buy anything she (or he) has written.
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Jun 28th
2010
3:34 pm
Mary M Said:
Best friends to lovers is sweet.
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Jun 28th
2010
4:44 pm
chey Said:
I don’t really have a favourite storyline. I do like romantic suspense.
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Jun 28th
2010
4:46 pm
runner10 Said:
I like best friends to lovers. It seems more real.
I usually pick up a book that a blog has recommended.
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Jun 28th
2010
6:02 pm
Karyn Gerrard Said:
I’d have to say beauty and the beast stories get me every time.
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Jun 28th
2010
6:56 pm
Melanie S. Said:
I can’t choose just one, I just ask that it is a well written book and I will enjoy it.
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Jun 28th
2010
7:52 pm
Nancy Robards Thompson Said:
Good post, Robyn.
I’m a big fan of reunion and friends to lovers stories.
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Jun 28th
2010
9:52 pm
Linda Henderson Said:
I enjoy the friends to lovers storyline, also reunion stories and marriage of convenience. I’m not a big fan of the mistaken identity plot, sometimes it works for me and sometimes it doesn’t.
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Jun 28th
2010
10:52 pm
Steph Said:
I like friends to lovers, reunited lovers, mistaken identity/disguise (especially when the girl dresses up like a boy), unrequited love, and just about anything that is inspired by a fairy tale. I am also a big fan of the rake/spinster when it’s done right. Wow, just thinking about it I could type out a lot more…I guess it’s no surprise that I read romance novels so much!
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Jun 29th
2010
12:06 am
Mitzi H. Said:
I like all the different plots that you mentioned too. I will pick up an unknown author/book in the store if the cover catches my eye and I like the blurb. I do tend to gravitate toward historicals versus paranormals….and if I have a limited amount to spend on new books….I tend to buy authors I already know versus those I’m not familiar with….although I do purchase new authors based on recommendations from other readers that enjoy the books I read.
mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net
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Jun 29th
2010
1:14 am
Jane Said:
Revenge and amnesia stories are my favorites. I also like stories where the hero and heroine hate each other at the start of the book because of misunderstanding and they slowly learn to like and love each other.
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Jun 29th
2010
8:30 am
Karen H in NC Said:
I like them all but I think the ugly duckling is my favorite. Michele Ann Young does a great job writing about the heroine who doesn’t fit the mold of the norm. That is, her heroines are usually plumb, wear glasses, has mousy brown straight hair, etc. But she finds a man who loves her for herself. Gives all of us hope for a HEA!
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Jun 29th
2010
7:08 pm
jessica c Said:
I like ones where the hero is unaware of a betrayal, and years later gets to show his remorse when he falls in love, and has to work hard to win the heroine.
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Jun 29th
2010
8:41 pm
elaine Said:
I like mistaken identity mostly because it shows an open minded character and can give an unsuspected twist to the story line
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Jun 29th
2010
10:14 pm
Caffey Said:
Hi Robyn!
I too love the Best Friends to lovers and arranged marriages, especially in those historicals. Too I read a lottery marriage in westerns and that was new for me. So they kind of close right to the arranged marriages in historicals. Being deaf myself, I too enjoy reading those stories with a disabled character. I guess for me, I love to see them get their HEA as well. Another of my favorites is the fairy Tale re-telling within the story! I remember the first time I read them in historicals with Christina Dodd’s Governess books and I wanted to go back and learn the fairy tales I forgot and learn more I didn’t know. So I have alot of favorites. There really isn’t any that I don’t like to read! Oh and too, not sure if this is the right word for it, but Cabin reads… where they are stuck together and have to get to know one another and do fall in love!
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Jun 30th
2010
5:04 pm
Danielle Said:
I love Best Friends Become Lovers stories (my favorite to date is Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn). And I love the Marriage of Convenience (my favorite is Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros). I also love books that are Mistaken Identity where the girl falls for the guy but he doesn’t see her because she is in hiding dressed as a guy. Too fun! (A good example of that is The Spy by Celeste Bradley.) So, I guess it appears that I gravitate to the same books as you Robynn.
We must have good taste…lol.
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Jun 30th
2010
5:15 pm
Danielle Said:
Sorry Robyn, in the last comment I got typing happy and I noticed after I submitted my comment that I put an extra ‘n’ in your name. I promise I can spell…most of the time.
And since I am leaving another comment, I also will read most any book that is historical. Although, I would like to see a historical romance where the hero is not aristocracy.
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Jul 4th
2010
9:37 am
Ruth Said:
just reading some of the older posts as I recently found you (GOODIE !!!) I like all of the listed scenerios and also time travel stories. Of course, I will read anything I can get my sticky little hands on so there is not much that I don’t like.(Not crazy about bang-em-up westerns, although I enjoy historical westerns.)
Historicals are my favorites.
Enjoy beauty and the beast also.
Maybe I should just say that I am a bookaholic.!!!!!!
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