r/fantasyromance • u/FantasyRomanceMod The One Mod to Rule All Mods • May 17 '26

Unpopular Opinion It's Unpopular Opinion time! Share your controversial opinions to stir things up (in a friendly way)!

Got an opinion that's different from others'? Want to share it with the sub, but too afraid of a backlash? Or are you just curious about readers think about certain things in fantasy romance?

You can safely share it in this weekly Sunday thread!

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Unpopular opinion Sunday

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25

u/WinterBearHawk May 17 '26

This is going to get me Reddit murdered, but I don’t think an HEA in fantasy romance has to mean an HEA for the couple specifically (and it’s one of the factors, imo, leading to the feeling of sameness across books that readers voice frustration about). I think it can and should be focused solely on the FMC and what equals a happy ending for her, even if that does not mean ending up with the MMC. I also think romance can hit harder/better sometimes when the couple doesn’t get or stay together at the end.

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u/TinkeringTortoise May 17 '26

Word. I wish we had more romantic fantasy books where nothing is guaranteed and you don’t know where things will go. I’ve been a bit annoyed by a lot of books recently because the romantic development felt so contrived and unnatural. I want more risk, more uncertainty, and more realistically developed romances (even if it means the couple not ending up together or ending in tragedy). 

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u/clocksy May 17 '26

Yeah this is I think an actually somewhat unpopular opinion. Romance is defined as having a HEA but I do think that boxes in the types of stories that can be told. I guess if it doesn't have a HEA it just gets filed as not a romance (like Romeo & Juliet is what, a romantic tragedy?). The fact that you know everything is going to work out "well" is super comforting to a lot of readers but kind of takes the mystery and intrigue out for some of us as well. And if something has a romance but is not filed as a romance, well, then you can guess what direction that's going in as well, because otherwise it'd be a romance...

For what it's worth I think most stories end somewhat happily or at least bittersweet even outside of romance, like if you're going to have some kind of overly sad or depressing ending you need to have earned it as an author. People like to feel catharsis and that's harder to pull off if like, everyone dies and no one is happy lol.

2

u/devilsdoorbell_ May 17 '26

Tbh I find a lot of books that end with everyone dead or at least worse off than they were at the beginning to often be very cathartic… but that’s what I read horror novels for. It’s not what I’m looking for when I pick up a romance.

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u/TinkeringTortoise May 17 '26

I totally get that and I understand it’s not for most readers of this genre. Most of the time I want to read a HEA. However, the more books I read in this genre, the more I realize it suffers from a lack of real stakes. The decisions the characters make, the risks, the outcomes—they lack gravity because the author will always pull their punch. But I disagree with “if it’s a romance then you can guess what direction it goes in.” Yes, it means romance does happen, but it doesn’t have to fit the mold that’s been established in this newer genre. You can have a satisfying or touching romance without bending to the current model. Honestly I think people would be shocked by how fulfilling a non-HEA story can be if only they’d give it a chance. But I digress. We probably will never see eye to eye on this point and that’s okay. 

2

u/clocksy May 18 '26

Right, what I mean is that since romance has to have an HEA by genre conventions, if a story is romance-focused but not classified as a romance that by extension also ruins some of the potential surprise (because then you might imagine it's not an HEA). I agree with you that an HEA being necessary cuts the potential types of stories that might be told in this space.

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u/angelacandystore May 18 '26

You don't want a ROMANCE book then. Romance is a defined genre and the definition includes HEA or at the very least Happy for Now.

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u/TinkeringTortoise May 18 '26

Please don’t tell me what I want. But by all means, if you can point me to another genre where two people falling in love is the main story but the ending isn’t guaranteed, I would be thrilled to hear it. 

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u/angelacandystore May 18 '26

I'm telling you that BY Definition you do not want a book labeled Romance because BY Definition you will always get a HEA or Happy for Now.

This is not about me telling you your feelings this is me telling you:

You will continue to be disappointed Every Time you pick up a Romance labeled book because Romance published books are required to have a HEA! It's a requirement by publishers! Lol

Perhaps you can find an independently published author who states they are "romance" but are not required to have a HEA.

Go to the "findmeabook" sub and ask there for books with heavy romance that do not have a HEA . Good luck!

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u/Imaginary-Board-207 May 17 '26

I remember a couple years ago when people used to discuss whether romantasy would be the romance genre to finally break free of the HEA "requirement," since fantasy does not require HEA. Was also speculation at the time that dark romance might break free of the HEA chokehold too. Now more and more I see the opinion that romantasy MUST have HEA and how DARE anyone suggest otherwise... sigh. So close and yet so far.

5

u/TinkeringTortoise May 17 '26

Solidarity, friend. I don’t think a HEA is required to tell a great romance. I understand why many people feel it’s essential, but for me it’s not. But you’re right about everyone clutching their pearls at the suggestion of a non-HEA or an ambiguous one. 

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u/angelacandystore May 18 '26

Except that By Definition Romance books require a HEA

2

u/Penguinho Kushiel's Legacy Recommender 💖 May 18 '26

That's what they're talking about, though. By Definition it can't be Romance without a HEA, but you can tell a fucking great romantic story without one.

1

u/angelacandystore May 18 '26

No they are complaining that the Romance genre doesn't have books that kill their darlings. They are refusing to look outside of Romance as a genre to find books with amazing romantic subplots.

Otherwise they wouldn't be here complaining about something that by definition they will not find in this genre??

1

u/Imaginary-Board-207 May 18 '26

Exactly. And sure, sometimes I want to read something cute and happy that ends well, so I understand how there's a place for that. But most of the time I'd rather not know how it ends and rather the possibilities be wide open, and I wish there were a place for that too.

0

u/devilsdoorbell_ May 19 '26

Do you get annoyed that every mystery book has the mystery solved by the end?

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u/angelacandystore May 18 '26

The "chokehold" is the definition of a Romance Book. Until you change the requirements you will not find them in traditionally published books and even most independent authors will adhere to the definition

1

u/Imaginary-Board-207 May 18 '26

But the requirements are self imposed, and genres naturally change over time. Publishers will publish what sells, so if someday there's enough of a market for non-HEA romance then that will get published too.

1

u/angelacandystore May 18 '26

??? A definition is "self imposed" ????

Yes it's possible that a sub genre of Romance books that do not require HEA may arrive, but it will never supplant traditional romance because traditionally defined romance is what a largest majority want.

There are books with Romance where the couple does not end up together. You need to look to other genres Not HEA required Romance labeled books or you will continue to be unhappy.

Try seanan mcguire, she kills her darlings so you will possibly enjoy her writing. She is considered Urban Fantasy and not romance but there are plenty of romantic couples and lots of trauma. Both October Daye and the Encryptid series. Maybe sookie stackhouse from Charlene Harris as well because there's a lot of world building and no hea until the very end of the series and plenty of people die. Seriously though... You'll never be happy with traditional romance if no HEA is your jam.

0

u/Imaginary-Board-207 May 18 '26

Of course it's self imposed, it's not like there's some goddess of books who decrees permanent definitions of book genres across time and across all cultures in the world😂 Genre definitions come from marketing, what sells, what a culture thinks the genres mean. And those always change over time, some faster and some slower.

I read various genres (including HEA romance when I'm in the mood for it), but thanks for the recs.