10 Common Mistakes New Romance Writers Make (And Real Book Examples That Show What to Do—and What Not to Do)

New to writing romance? This blog post breaks down the 10 most common mistakes first-time romance writers make—and shows you exactly how to avoid them. Using real examples from popular published novels, you’ll learn what works, what doesn’t, and how to craft emotionally compelling love stories that truly resonate with readers. Whether you're just starting your manuscript or revising your final draft, this guide is packed with practical insights to elevate your romance writing.
Apr 24
Whether you're drafting your first romance novel or polishing your final pages, it's easy to slip into traps that weaken your story. But great news: every mistake is a chance to learn. In this post, we’ll break down 10 common romance writing mistakes—and show you examples of published books that got it right… and wrong. 


While I’ll tread lightly (I respect authors and know that what doesn’t work for one reader might still be someone’s favorite), here are some well-known or commonly critiqued romance novels that have been called out—by readers, reviewers, or industry critiques—for demonstrating each of the 10 common mistakes. These examples are for educational purposes and to help writers reflect on pitfalls to avoid.

1. 💔 Lack of Emotional Tension

Romance thrives on emotional anticipation. When characters fall in love too easily or jump straight to physical intimacy without emotional stakes, readers lose their investment. New writers often focus on chemistry without showing why it matters. Emotional tension builds connection, increases payoff, and makes the romance feel real.

Mistake: Diving into physical intimacy too fast without emotional depth.

Why It’s a Problem: Romance is about connection. If the emotional stakes aren’t high, readers won’t be invested in the relationship
  • What Works:
  • What Doesn't:

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  • 📚 The Hating Game by Sally Thorne — Packed with emotional slow-burn, banter, and vulnerability that make the eventual payoff satisfying.

    Critique: This novel masterfully balances witty banter, competitive tension, and moments of vulnerability. It delays gratification in a way that builds longing without frustrating the reader.

    Lesson    : Even in a strong enemies-to-lovers setup, make sure your heroine has her own inner journey to complement the romance.

  • 📚 After by Anna Todd — While intensely passionate, the emotional development often lags behind the physical, leaving some readers disconnected.

    Critique:     The relationship between Tessa and Hardin becomes physical quickly and often, but the emotional stakes feel repetitive or shallow to some readers.


    Lesson:     Without deeper vulnerability or evolution, the romance can feel hollow, no matter how much physical heat is present.

Fix: Focus on why these characters are drawn to each other—include slow-burn moments, longing, banter, or emotional vulnerability. Emotion tension is the heartbeat of romance.

2. 🧱 Flat or Idealized Characters

Readers don’t want perfect protagonists—they want characters who feel human. If your leads have no flaws, wounds, or depth, they won’t resonate. New writers sometimes write their dream partner instead of a layered person. Real emotion stems from vulnerability, and strong characters carry the entire romantic arc.

Mistake: Writing a “perfect” love interest or protagonist with no flaws.

Why It’s a Problem: Readers connect with characters who are human, relatable, and flawed.
  • What Works:
  • What Doesn't:

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  • 📚 It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover – Complex characters with personal growth.

    Critique: Both main characters are deeply flawed and face emotionally complex decisions. Their struggles feel raw and real, making readers root for them even when they make mistakes.

    Lesson    : When tackling dark or sensitive themes in romance, clarity of moral framing is crucial—readers need to know the author understands the weight of what’s on the page.

  • 📚 Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire – Idealized, underdeveloped leads.

    Critique    :     Abby is often portrayed as a "not like other girls" blank slate, while Travis is an ultra-possessive bad boy. Critics say their traits are exaggerated with little nuance.

    Lesson    :     A hot alpha isn't enough—readers want depth and believable emotional flaws.

Fix: Give your characters internal conflicts, flaws, backstory wounds, and goals that affect their romantic choices. They need these to feel authentic.

3. ⚡ No Real Conflict

A romance without conflict is a story without momentum. Whether it’s internal (emotional baggage) or external (rivals, secrets, society), conflict makes readers root for the couple. Many new writers are afraid to put their lovers through pain, but obstacles create growth—and make the payoff sweeter.

Mistake: Letting the couple fall in love too easily, with no real obstacles.

Why It’s a Problem: Tension drives the story. No conflict = no reason to turn the page.
  • What Works:
  • What Doesn't:

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  • 📚 From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata — Emotional baggage and career pressure drive both internal and external tension.

    Critique: The romance is tightly woven into the protagonist's personal growth and career goals. The characters push each other in ways that are both frustrating and rewarding.

    Lesson    : Know your audience. A slow build can be powerful, but it needs to be balanced with forward momentum and plot variety.

  • 📚 Twilight by Stephenie Meyer — The love story lacks emotional resistance, relying too much on fantasy attraction.

    Critique: Edward and Bella fall for each other with little meaningful resistance beyond the vampire element. Critics argue there’s no layered internal or emotional conflict.

    Lesson    : Even fated love benefits from character-driven tension beyond the fantasy.

Fix: Introduce internal conflict (fears, emotional baggage) and external conflict (family drama, workplace tension, societal rules). Love stories need real stakes, challenges, and resistance to feel earned.

4. 🔁 Overusing Tropes Without a Twist

Tropes are tools, not templates. Readers love fake dating, enemies-to-lovers, and secret billionaires—but only when they feel fresh. When writers copy familiar tropes without adding originality, the story feels recycled. Understanding how to reimagine a trope is a skill every romance writer must develop.

Mistake: Leaning too heavily on clichés (like love triangles or accidental pregnancies) without making them unique.

Why It’s a Problem: Readers love tropes—but they’ve seen them before.
  • What Works:
  • What Doesn't:

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  • 📚 The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood — Uses fake dating in an academic setting with STEM-savvy charm.

    Critique: This book uses the fake dating trope, but sets it in a niche academic environment with a heroine whose awkward, STEM-driven voice feels fresh and fun.

    Lesson    : Don’t let trope charm override emotional authenticity—quirky can work best when grounded in layered motivations.

  • 📚 Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James — Relies on well-worn tropes without deepening or evolving them in fresh ways.

    Critique: Overuses tropes like billionaire dom/sub dynamics, virgin heroine, and helicopter rescues with minimal innovation. Many readers say it follows predictable beats.

    Lesson    : Tropes work best when they're twisted, updated, or deeply personalized.

Fix: Subvert expectations, deepen character motivations, or blend tropes creatively to keep it fresh. Tropes are tools—not shortcuts. Add originality to make them feel new. 

5. 📉 Pacing Problems

Romance needs rhythm—too slow and readers get bored, too fast and the connection feels unearned. Many new writers struggle with pacing, either by dragging out drama or resolving tension too soon. Learning to time emotional and plot beats correctly is essential to building tension and satisfaction.

Mistake: Either dragging out the story too much or rushing the romance.


Why It’s a Problem: The emotional arc needs time to breathe, but also progress steadily.

  • What Works:
  • What Doesn't:

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  • 📚 Beach Read by Emily Henry — Balances romantic development with personal arcs, hitting emotional and narrative beats at the right time.

    Critique: The narrative alternates between introspective grief and flirty tension, with each emotional beat timed to reveal something new. It avoids info dumps and meanders with purpose.

    Lesson    : Blending humor with heavy themes is powerful, but tonal consistency is key—don’t lose sight of the emotional throughline.

  • 📚 Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens — The love triangle feels prolonged and redundant for many readers.

    Critique: The love triangle is long and repetitive, and the story drags in the middle. Reviewers often cite frustration with the pacing and indecision.

    Lesson    : Stretching out drama for the sake of page count can backfire if the emotional journey doesn’t progress.

Fix: Plan key beats: meet-cute, midpoint confession, dark moment, climax, and resolution. Use tension to guide the rhythm. Let chemistry build—but don’t stall out.

6. 🗣️ Cringey or Unnatural Dialogue

In romance, dialogue is where the chemistry lives. If the conversations feel stiff, unrealistic, or overly dramatic, readers will disengage. New writers may over-write or under-edit dialogue, but strong, believable conversations are key to deepening emotional connection and showing character dynamics.

Mistake: Characters speak in ways that sound forced or unrealistic.


Why It’s a Problem: Dialogue is one of the main tools for chemistry, conflict, and voice.

  • What Works:
  • What Doesn't:

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  • 📚 Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan — Even with minimal spoken words, communication feels powerful and emotionally charged.

    Critique: The unique circumstance of a nearly mute hero forces all dialogue to be intentional, vulnerable, and emotionally charged. Every exchange matters.

    Lesson    : Ensure both leads have full arcs—mutual transformation creates a more balanced and satisfying romance.

  • 📚 Craving by Helen Hardt — Some readers found the dialogue awkward and lacking emotional believability.

    Critique: Some readers noted stilted or awkward dialogue, particularly in romantic or steamy scenes, making it hard to stay immersed.

    Lesson    : Dialogue should sound like something a real person might say—and feel emotionally grounded.

Fix: Read it out loud. Make sure each character has a distinct voice, tone, and rhythm that reflects who they are. If it makes you cringe, your readers will too.

7. 📖 Not Reading the Genre

Romance readers have clear expectations—and if you don’t understand the genre, you’ll miss the mark. New writers sometimes think they can "wing it" without reading popular or current books. But studying the market teaches you what works, what’s tired, and what innovations are exciting readers right now.

Mistake: Trying to write romance without studying how it works.


Why It’s a Problem: Each genre has expectations. Without knowing them, you risk alienating your readers.

  • What Works:
  • What Doesn't:

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  • 📚 Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey — Knows its audience and delivers spicy tension, heartfelt moments, and strong trope execution.

    Critique: This book leans into popular tropes (fake dating, grumpy/sunshine) while delivering on spice, heart, and humor—showing an understanding of what modern romance readers crave.

    Lesson    : Spice is great, but balance it with emotional progress—readers want hearts as much as heat.



  • 📚 Marked by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast — Misses key tonal and character cues that YA romance readers expect.

    Critique: Tries to hit YA romance notes but includes odd slang, inconsistent tone, and plot elements that feel out of touch with core genre readers.

    Lesson    : Knowing what current readers love (and hate) in a genre helps craft something that resonates.

Fix: Read widely—study how authors build tension, craft swoony moments, and resolve romantic arcs. Read what’s popular—and what’s not—to understand how to connect with readers.

8. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Head-Hopping or POV Confusion

Point of view is the lens through which readers fall in love. When it’s inconsistent or jarring, it breaks immersion. New romance writers often switch perspectives mid-scene or don’t ground the reader. Clear, consistent POV not only strengthens character voice—it’s critical for emotional intimacy.

Mistake: Switching character perspectives mid-scene or confusing the reader with unclear POV.


Why It’s a Problem: It disrupts immersion and makes it hard to emotionally connect.

  • What Works:
  • What Doesn't:

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  • 📚 Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover — Alternates POV cleanly, giving each character space to shine emotionally.

    Critique: Dual POV is handled with care—each chapter has a distinct voice and emotional focus, with clear transitions. The alternating perspectives enhance rather than confuse.

    Lesson    : In dual POV, both voices should carry equal emotional weight—especially in a redemption arc.



  • 📚 Evermore by Alyson Noël — Readers reported confusion due to inconsistent voice and unclear narrative focus.

    Critique: Narration sometimes becomes inconsistent in voice or tone, and readers report difficulty staying anchored in Ever’s perspective.

    Lesson    : POV needs clarity—especially when you’re asking the reader to invest emotionally in your main character.

Fix: Use dual or single POV intentionally. Stick to one POV per scene or chapter to keep readers grounded.

9. 🔚 Weak or Rushed Ending

A satisfying ending is the reward for all the emotional investment. If it’s rushed or unearned, it cheapens everything that came before. New writers sometimes don’t know how to "land" the romance, but closure and transformation are essential in delivering a rewarding love story.

Mistake: Rushing the ending or failing to satisfy the romantic payoff.

Why It’s a Problem: The HEA (or HFN) is everything in romance—it needs to feel earned.
  • What Works:
  • What Doesn't:

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  • 📚 The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker — Emotional arcs are fully realized and the romantic resolution feels earned.

    Critique: The story gives both characters time to grow apart and together. The ending feels hard-won, emotionally grounded, and deeply satisfying.

    Lesson    : A satisfying ending isn’t just about the couple—make sure all story threads have closure, not just the central romance.

  • 📚 The Selection by Kiera Cass — Ends with unresolved romantic stakes, frustrating readers expecting payoff.

    Critique: Many readers were frustrated that the story felt incomplete, with romantic arcs left unresolved. It was clearly meant to continue, but lacked satisfying payoff.

    Lesson    : Even in a series, each book should deliver its own arc payoff.

Fix: Make sure both characters have grown and the resolution feels like a natural, satisfying conclusion. Whether it’s a series or a standalone, deliver a complete emotional arc.

10. 🧠 No Emotional Core

Every memorable romance is about something deeper than attraction—it explores themes like forgiveness, belonging, or self-worth. Without this core, your story might feel empty. New writers can get caught up in plot and forget the emotional arc. But that emotional thread is what makes a romance unforgettable.

Mistake: Writing scenes without understanding the emotional journey.

Why It’s a Problem: The story can feel scattered or shallow.
  • What Works:
  • What Doesn't:

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  • 📚 Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino — Anchors the love story around timing, regret, and second chances.

    Critique: The story isn’t just about falling in love—it’s about missed chances, timing, and the ache of nostalgia. Everything ties into that emotional center.

    Lesson    : Emotional themes shine brightest when grounded in believable character choices, not convenient plot twists.

  • 📚 RoomHate by Penelope Ward — Lacks a strong emotional throughline, relying more on plot than internal transformation.

    Critique: Reviewers say the story lacked a strong emotional arc or central theme to anchor the romance—characters react more than grow.

    Lesson    : Romance thrives when it’s about something emotionally—whether that’s healing, trust, or finding self-worth.

Fix: Ask yourself- What is this story really about emotionally? Redemption? Trust? Forgiveness? It should be about something. Focus everything around that core theme and make it resonate.
Whether you're drafting your first romance novel or polishing your final pages, it's easy to slip into traps that weaken your story. But great news: every mistake is a chance to learn. In this post, we’ll break down 10 common romance writing mistakes—and show you examples of published books that got it right… and wrong. 


While I’ll tread lightly (I respect authors and know that what doesn’t work for one reader might still be someone’s favorite), here are some well-known or commonly critiqued romance novels that have been called out—by readers, reviewers, or industry critiques—for demonstrating each of the 10 common mistakes. These examples are for educational purposes and to help writers reflect on pitfalls to avoid.

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