💋Do We Really Need Another Romance Novel? (Don’t Hate Me Yet)
Let me just start by saying:
This isn’t a hit piece.
I’m not here to drag anyone’s favorite trope through the mud.
I’m not anti-love, anti-kiss-in-the-rain, or anti-slow-burn-longing-for-300-pages.
I’m just… tired.
Romance novels have swarmed the bookshelves, the bestseller charts, the Kindle top 100s, and somehow—even the writing community itself.
Every day, someone online says,
“I want to start writing. So I’m going to write a romance.”
No shade. But also... yeah, maybe a little squint emoji here. 👀
Romance Is the Default Now—Whether We Like It or Not 🔁📚
Here’s the thing: romance has become the safe zone. The “easy button.”
Not because it’s the only genre that matters. Not because it’s always the best. But because it’s the safest bet.
It’s like going to a restaurant with fifty wild, delicious options and ordering chicken tenders every single time. Reliable? Sure. Satisfying? Maybe. But... isn’t your palate curious about anything else?
The Romance Trope Recycling Machine Is Real 🌀💋
Let’s be clear: I adore a great romance novel. Some are breathtaking, emotional rollercoasters that left me whispering, “Damn. That was love.”
But recently, every romance I see feels like it’s wearing the same faded outfit:
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Enemies to lovers? Check.
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Friends to lovers? Check.
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Forced proximity? Oh, definitely.
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Second chances? Of course.
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Grumpy sunshine? Who doesn’t love that?
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And yes, one traumatized lead with a cookie-baking love interest who fixes everything.
Same story. Different names. You already know how it ends—they kiss in the rain, cry a little, someone runs away in act three, then comes back. And boom, happy-ever-after. 🌦️💋
It’s not that these stories aren’t good. It’s that they’re expected. Safe. And dominating every shelf, screen, and conversation.
If you’re a new writer not writing romance, you might feel invisible, like your work doesn’t exist.
Is Romance Too Easy? Let’s Talk About That 😬
Brace yourselves—I’m diving into hot waters here.
Is romance easy to write?
Not entirely. But… kind of?
Hear me out before the pitchforks come out.
Writing well in any genre is hard. Writing well in romance is absolutely an art. I know that.
But lately, romance is pitched as the fast lane to becoming an “author.”
Throw two attractive people together. Add some trauma. Sprinkle in witty banter. Make them kiss. Slap on a pastel cover.
Congratulations, you’re an author! 🎉
But wait—are you really?
Because while you’re busy following that blueprint, you might forget the most important thing: bringing yourself to the story.
You might write what sells, but not what matters.
Romance Is the Only Genre That Doesn’t Have to Try as Hard (There, I Said It) 😶🌫️
Romance owns the shelves. It doesn’t have to fight for attention the way other genres do.
Horror, literary fiction, sci-fi—they have to earn their spotlight. One wrong move and they vanish.
Romance? Write the same tired plot as ten other books and you’ll still be praised for being “cute” or “addictive.” You can phone it in and still make waves because… romance sells.
Meanwhile, authors crafting entire universes, inventing languages, unpacking layered generational trauma, or tackling tough moral questions get lost in the shuffle.
All because they didn’t have their protagonist fall in love with the barista who “just gets them.” ☕
But Hey, There Are Mind-Blowing Romance Novels Out There 🫶📖
Don’t get me wrong. I see and admire the romance authors pushing boundaries, writing with heart and complexity, challenging tired tropes, and redefining love.
They’re crafting stories that make you cry, think, heal, and hope.
I want those books front and center.
Instead, we get the same love triangles, flat characters with quirky jobs, and plots that feel like déjà vu.
And honestly? I’m bored.
What About Books That Aren’t Love Stories? 💡📚
Here’s the sting: there are books out there that will change your life, but they’re hidden behind 40 copies of the same romance novel.
Books about identity, loss, redemption, survival, moral decay, shame, grief, rage.
Books that make you uncomfortable. Books that take risks. Books that say something new.
But you won’t hear about them as often, because romance has swallowed the spotlight.
This Is Just My Opinion (But I’m Sticking to It) 🙋🏽♀️
I’m not here to gatekeep or dismiss any writer’s work. Your voice matters. If romance is your passion—write it, own it, love it.
But ask yourself:
Why are you writing that story?
Is it because you love it? Or because it’s the “safe” choice?
Is it your creative truth? Or just convenient?
If you’re picking a niche out of fear or trends, that’s not writing. That’s echoing.
We need fewer echoes.
We need more stories that keep writers awake at night.
More stories that make us feel something different.
More stories that haven’t been printed 700 times on pink covers.
So, To New Writers: What Do You Want to Write? 🤔
Maybe it’s romance. Maybe it’s not.
Either way, make it yours.
Don’t settle for the safe bet.
Write what scares you. Write what breaks your heart.
Write the story only you can tell.
Final Thoughts Before I Get Canceled by #BookTok 💬📢
Romance isn’t the enemy. Lack of creativity is.
We don’t need more carbon copy romances.
We need you.
Your weird, messy, genre-bending ideas.
Your heartbreak. Your curiosity. Your truth.
Write the book that scares you.
Write the one that doesn’t fit the market.
Write the one you think nobody else wants.
And if you write romance, please, for the love of originality—make it mean something.
Make it different.
Make it honest.
Because the world doesn’t need another enemies-to-lovers with a predictable third-act breakup.
It needs something real.
Something risky.
Something you.
Want more unfiltered writing takes and creative inspiration?
Dive into my blog and explore a treasure trove of brutally honest advice, storytelling hacks, and the occasional sarcastic truth bomb. You’ll be glad you did. 🚀
#Mindsindesign #Makitiathompson #Themiduniverse
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