Reading Romances discussion

Does a book have to have a sex scene to be considered romance?

No, but I think most romance readers expect it. If there's not a sex scene, I think it's usually considered just women's fiction or inspirational or sweet romance.

Yes, sweet romance has either no sex or behind closed doors. I so some sweet and some spicy with sex. It seems as if the stories lend themselves to one or the other.

As Jean stated, sweet romance is pretty much sex-free. Personally, I like my romance with a little more than chaste hand-holding!

No, not required, though it does seem that current readers expect it / want it. It does seem that there is a stronger trend towards more explicit intimacy scenes. Personally, as a reader, I like a little heat in my romances.

You can have heat and sexual tension with the act behind closed doors, too. I find that writing a sweet story is a greater challenge with plot and characterization, since you don't have sex scenes to fall back on. I do like some heat in my stories, but mostly I like a good story.

In my opinion, the Happily Ever After (or happily for now) is more important than sex.

I don't enjoy sex for sex's sake in my reading. A story and HEA are crucial. Too much sex makes me skim. But well-written sex is a beautiful thing! ;)

I like a little heat with my romance, too, but I can't say I'd refuse to read a book without it. There are some plotlines that lend themselves to a bedroom scene and it can tell you a lot about the characters. On the other hand, closing the bedroom door can also open the reader's imagination.

I agree with Abigail and Rosanna, story and an HEA are all important. The best sex scene won't make up for a bad story or a crappy ending.

I agree, Jacqueline, Abigail and Rosanna. The story's the thing. But a little heat is nice, too!

Nope, a romance doesn't have to include a sex scene. For example, in many historical romances, it would be completly out of place. In a modern romance it would seem strange, but it would depend on the situation and characters.

Seeing as we all seem agreed, I propose we embark on a group reading of Fifty Shades of Sex...

Kidding.

Denise, did we answer your question? :)

Abigail wrote: "Denise, did we answer your question? :)"

Oh, yes. Thanks everyone for commenting. I know I kind of threw the question out there without leaving my own thoughts. I just wanted to know what others thought. Personally, I've enjoyed both romances with the sex behind closed doors and romances with the scene written in hot detail. I'm not much on chaste hand holding either. That's not very realistic.

I agree with Abigail, Jacqueline, and Rosanna. Hot sex doesn't make up for a poorly written book. I know a lot of readers loved Fifty Shades of Gray, but I don't think they loved it for the romance. Lots of sex doesn't make up for a thin plot line and dreadful writing. If the book doesn't build up with sexual tension, throwing a sex scene into the plot just to have a sex scene makes the story hiccup for me. I'll skip over it, but not because I'm not a prude. There have been some sex scenes I've had to go back and reread because they were so well written.

But it's not the sex in a romance that gets me. You know, if you read enough romance novels, some of those scenes start reading a lot alike! What catches my breath is that first moment when the attraction becomes so obvious the hero and heroine can't ignore what's going on between them anymore. For me, that's romance.

Denise wrote: "What catches my breath is that first moment when the attraction becomes so obvious the hero and heroine can't ignore what's going on between them anymore. For me, that's romance. "

Me too! I love the developing chemistry, and how each character deals with the realization that they are falling for the other.

C.E. wrote: "Denise wrote: "What catches my breath is that first moment when the attraction becomes so obvious the hero and heroine can't ignore what's going on between them anymore. For me, that's romance. "

..."

There you go, C.E.! You put it in a nut shell. If you don't feel that chemistry, if you don't feel like cheering them on or smacking them because they don't see what's happening, the romance is just blah and all the sex in the world won't fix it.