I used to hate reading. Not dislike. Not avoid. Hate. As a kid, I’d do anything to get out of reading assignments. Books felt like punishment—boring, pointless, something adults forced on you because they thought it was good for you. Then my mom handed me Towers...
Protective hero romance is one of the most popular—and most controversial—tropes in romance. When done right, protective heroes make readers swoon. They’re fierce, devoted, willing to face any danger to keep their loved one safe. They make readers feel cherished...
“Touch her and die.” Four words that send some readers into raptures and others running for the hills. Touch her and die is peak protective hero energy—the romance trope where the hero becomes absolutely feral if anyone threatens, harms, or even looks...
The first kiss is one of the most important moments in any romance novel. Get it right, and readers will remember it long after they finish your book. They’ll reread it. Screenshot it. Quote it to their friends. Get it wrong, and the entire relationship feels...
Love triangles are one of the most divisive tropes in romance. Some readers love them. Most readers hate them. And writers? Writers often mess them up. Here’s the problem: most “love triangles” in romance aren’t really triangles at all....
Slow burn romance is the ultimate exercise in delayed gratification—and when done right, readers will devour every page, desperate for your characters to finally get together. But here’s where most writers struggle: they confuse “slow burn” with...
