#MYSTERY BOOKS WITH ROMANCE SUBPLOT FULL#

I mean…I THINK? I’VE HEARD? When I was 16 I wrote an epic fantasy with man-eating-horses and murder and torture and bleeding and fun stuff like that.

A lot of teenagers think about romance.

It’s great that the protagonist is fighting zombie sand stuff physically…but how about giving them tension emotionally? Good writing tip, dudes. Do you know how often I write about cake? A.

The author really wishes they’d found a Nice Adorable Person when they were 16 so they’re writing in their own dreams.

SO I MADE A LIST OF HYPOTHESIS TO WHY ROMANCE IS SO PROMINENT IN BOOKS: I do like those romances (particularly Saba and Jack…squeak!) but I’m not sure that every book needs a romance on top of the adventure. And as I’m reading, I’m so much more likely to care more about a) Katniss saving Prim instead of whatever-she-feels-for-Peeta, b) for Cinder to rule the moon, c) for Saba to rescue her brother Lugh.ĭON’T GET ME WRONG. For every 30 YA books I read, maybe 1 will have no romance. As an unromantic bean I do ask myself this copiously. But secretly be grateful.īecause we need to ask the important questions here.

ROSE UNDER FIRE: BECAUSE ALL YOU DO IS CRY WHILE YOU READ THIS BOOK.

Thomas and Theresa have history but that doesn’t equal attraction.

THE MAZE RUNNER: People might argue that there is a romance…but I honestly don’t think so.

And they kill people and there’s blood everywhere and the protagonist has exactly no love interest.

THE GIRL FROM THE WELL: There are ghosts.

EON: Fantasy, dragons, girl-posing-as-a-guy…you know the drill. Plus Eona has no time for boys when she’s got DRAGONS.

He is definitely mentally ill. But there is no romance here.

CHARM & STRANGE: It’s a confusing mess of a boy who has….eh, who even knows.

But they’re like 14 and sort of trying to live.

THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO: There is a boy and a girl in this story and I see potential.

MESSENGER OF FEAR: This book has no time for romance because it’s too busy creeping you out.

It’s an incredible book!! Also no romance! Because they’re finding their DAD.

SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE: This is about a blind girl who “kidnaps” her little brother to fly overseas and find their father.

Unless you count Jackaby, who is basically a Sherlock Holmes character, being romantically attracted to a duck.

JACKABY: While the protagonist, Abigail, makes googly eyes at a local constable…their relationship never evolves past there.There is absolutely NO romance in there…which I found really refreshing, because for once it focused on recovery and family and self - instead of smooching your problems away. CHALLENGER DEEP: This one is about schizophrenia.IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY: The focus is basically depression and recovery and while there’s a girl in there alongside the narrator, Craig….it just isn’t a romance.Sam loves someone else! Magnus loves nobody! IT’S A MIRACLE. MAGNUS CHASE AND THE SWORD OF SUMMER: After the squishy cuteness that is Percabeth, I honestly expected Magnus and his sidekick, Samirah, to get together.Demons and roadtrips and killer cars and friendship - and THAT IS ALL.

But she a) doesn’t love him, b) NEVER loved him, c) in fact she detests him. DEMON ROAD: Technically there is a secondary character who’s “in love” wiht the protagonist.There are illegal activities and a deaf protagonist and kidnappings and roadtrips. All of which are basically spoilers to say. THERE WILL BE LIES: This is about a…a lot of things.

#MYSTERY BOOKS WITH ROMANCE SUBPLOT FULL#

Attraction? But nothing develops into a full fledged googly eyes fest.) So for those of us who are after a YA book that is devoid of the romance category - I AM HERE FOR YOU. It means to root for two characters to have a “relation ship“. * The term “ship” unfortunately does not mean to captain a crew and become pirates. I also yell at the book “YOU’RE 16 FREAKING YEARS OLD, CALM DOWN” because I’m an old hermit and have legal right to say these things now. Although I do like to ship* and I often find romances entertaining or squishily nice to read about. I am not a monstrously romantic person myself. If anyone says “all YA books do ” then I honestly believe they have not read very many. I often hear fellow bookworms raise their voices in the agony of despair over how YA books focus on romance so much. We do have rights to whine because - YES, most YA books do feature a romance and a lot of time it is the focus.īut not “all YA books”.

Mystery books with romance subplot