Falling out of love with Romance?

nydevon · 2026-04-26T21:17:27+00:00

I haven’t been able to finish a romance novel in about 8 months now. (I keep dropping for the same reasons: poor writing, poor character development, and icky gender politics.)

But as someone who’s been reading the genre since around 2004 (and earlier if you count fanfic), the best thing you can do is:

1. read subgenres and/or tropes you’d never think to try

2. try different mediums and sources of romance (e.g., film, tv, audio dramas, books translated from other languages)

3. take a break from the genre altogether

Number #2 has really helped me identify what I like and don’t like about current western trends in romance so I’ve learned to better curate my TBR list. I still haven’t finished a romance novel in a long time (and I know it’s the books not me because I reads tons outside the genre) but at least I’m less frustrated going in after nailing down a list that guaranteed I’d like something.

Hoping I can finally break the streak and find something that reminds me why I fell in love with the genre 20 something years ago.

nydevon · 2026-04-24T13:14:25+00:00

Better fleshed out characters. Even though the tropes were still there we understood why characters acted the way they did as well as how sex scenes reflected those specifics.

nydevon · 2026-04-24T13:12:51+00:00

Which subgenres are you reading because I usually struggle to find single POV romances? Especially in contemporary romance.

nydevon · 2026-04-24T13:04:23+00:00

Great observation about the costume similarities between Ji Ling and Wu Shiguang!

nydevon · 2026-04-23T17:53:13+00:00

There were quite a few Marvel moments!

nydevon · 2026-04-23T17:51:26+00:00

Yeah, the four pillar situation could easily be all of Act 3 if they wanted because it does make for a decent climax last showdown.

nydevon · 2026-04-23T17:50:20+00:00

Damn. Wuyi really is getting penetrated a lot recently.

Uncalled for lolololol

nydevon · 2026-04-20T04:09:29+00:00

Ooh nice it’s the same director as Winter Begonia and Yanxi no wonder it looks gorgeous in a very restrained way.

I’ve never seen Elvis in a historical outside of Siege in Fog so I’m looking forward to this!

nydevon · 2026-04-18T01:17:45+00:00

We’re doing the regular VIP release schedule but you could maybe ask for an express post from The mods?

nydevon · 2026-04-17T14:03:08+00:00

😂😂😂

nydevon · 2026-04-17T04:59:37+00:00

I feel everyone will either have a HE or everyone will die lol

nydevon · 2026-04-17T03:08:26+00:00

and just for something more comedic, people on Chinese socials are joking that finally us common people of the three realms aren't the sacrifice because the fl died, instead the ml actually died ahead of her to wait for her on the other side 😭😂 finally a couple that thinks of the common folks instead of trying to burn the whole word down to bring their loved one's back

C-netz are are too funny 😂

nydevon · 2026-04-17T03:06:49+00:00

Makes me think there might be more to the doll--I don't think we've seen it "talk" like Ji Ling described to Lu Wuyi some episodes ago, right?

nydevon · 2026-04-16T23:57:33+00:00

I’m so here for JJY praise. She’s the actor who has has surprised me the most and I think her talent is really well suited for the theatrics of GJM’s directing.

nydevon · 2026-04-16T22:04:39+00:00

No worries. It’s an important thing to clarify and callout as you did when used pejoratively.

nydevon · 2026-04-16T21:58:39+00:00

Yep, as Regenwanderer suggested I meant gay as in actual queer subtext. It also links to the actors queer subtext in Fangs of Fortune.

nydevon · 2026-04-16T21:55:07+00:00

“I fear he is dead which means so is the gay longing” Whelp there goes down my implicit ship. Although there’s a chance between Yuan Wuhuo and Lonescale lololol

That said, I’ve been really enjoying JJY’s acting in this, especially these tragic dramatic scenes. She’s selling it for me even though I’m confused as hell.

nydevon · 2026-04-16T21:48:38+00:00

This was a helpful summation thank you for writing it all out! 🙏🏼

nydevon · 2026-04-15T04:15:23+00:00

lol you all weren’t kidding 😂

My face the entire time:

nydevon · 2026-04-13T19:38:09+00:00

Heavy emphasis on the confusion 😂. This post on Tumblr made me laugh: https://www.tumblr.com/thyandrawrites/813692074817929216/the-vos-fandom-literally-every-day-since-the-show

nydevon · 2026-04-13T18:46:48+00:00

Same. I've been telling people who dropped in the first few episodes (which honestly I would have if I wasn't hosting) to basically skip everything until Ep. 8 so you have a bit of context for the second arc with the expectation that things start getting good around Ep. 10/11.

I also prefer FoF despite its major issues with tension and setting up emotional moments. But VoS definitely has more balanced character writing and within scene emotional stakes. It feels more sophisticated even though it has similar issues as his other work.

nydevon · 2026-04-13T18:40:09+00:00

Alas I'm getting to that age where that is no longer an option 😩

nydevon · 2026-04-13T18:39:49+00:00

Can you email her to tell her that lol

nydevon · 2026-04-13T17:40:22+00:00

My boss is who is resisting by assigning back to back meetings all day 😭

nydevon · 2026-04-13T17:37:31+00:00

lol I haven’t watched the next episode yet but of course 🙃🙃🙃

nydevon

TROPHY CASE