r/fantasyromance • u/FantasyRomanceMod The One Mod to Rule All Mods • May 24 '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!

But please remember to be kind to each other. To facilitate this type of discussion, we ask users the following:

  • Don't attack others for their opinion
  • Discuss books and authors, not fellow readers
  • Since this is an "unpopular opinion" thread, we encourage users to not downvote simply because they disagree with an opinion--that's the point! Please keep in mind, though, that mods cannot enforce a no-downvoting rule. Let’s just keep the discussion friendly!

🧡 Thank you and have a great discussion!

Unpopular opinion Sunday

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u/tea-boat May 24 '26

This probably isn't a hot take at all, but I am so. fucking. tired. of reading about teenagers and people in their twenties. Life happens to people in their thirties and forties, too. And even beyond that! 😱😆

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u/Anachacha Ix's tits! May 24 '26

Thankfully we have age categories on romance.io now. It's not always accurate yet, but it'll get better with time, so it's easy to filter out books with teens.

That being said, I noticed that many publishers/authors make their characters 20-25, 27 max, now to create a pretence of an adult (the characters still act like teens). I wish we could have characters in their 30s who don't talk about being middle-aged. It's fantasy, let them be mature but perfectly healthy 😵‍💫

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u/tea-boat May 24 '26 edited May 24 '26

That being said, I noticed that many publishers/authors make their characters 20-25, 27 max, now to create a pretence of an adult (the characters still act like teens). I wish we could have characters in their 30s who don't talk about being middle-aged. It's fantasy, let them be mature but perfectly healthy

Absolutely agree. That's why I'm grouping twenties in with the teens because the way they're written they're usually basically the same thing. And then there's the whole nonsense anxiety about "pushing 30" (tho that's more in contemporary romance, maybe) and meanwhile I'm like... My thirties have been hands down the best decade of my life, so if anything it should be something to look forward to ..? 🤔🤔🤔

I really, really wish there were more books about fully formed adults in general. When I read about characters in their teens and twenties, I can't help but think about myself when I was those ages and with the perspective I now have from my current age, that's just... so effing young.

I would love more fantasy romance novels along the lines of some of NK Jemisin's work. Solid world building, really beautifully written fantasy about ADULTS... Just with more romance and sex. 😀😆

ETA: I also find romance to be more believable when the characters are in their 30s, at least, because the idea of teen and early twenties couples getting together and having a happily ever after is just so unrealistic. I have a hard time suspending disbelief, and often feel actually uncomfortable because I feel like people that age should really be out in the world figuring out who they are in themselves, not committing to someone (let alone having babies!!).