Friday, November 22, 2019

Discussion: What Took You So Long?


This Week’s Topic:
What Took You So Long?


I was scrolling through my feed on Twitter, and I saw this post about the movie Love, Rosie. I laughed and nodded my head as I read the comments, because that book was such an immense roller coaster ride, and I had no trouble relating to what other people were saying.

If you are not familiar with the story, it's a friends-to-lovers type romance, but it took those two FOREVER to get together - about 35+ years. It's a string of not recognizing feelings, bad luck, and bad timing that seemed to keep them in the friend zone. And, they kept making these decisions that hampered them from ever being able to take it to the next level.

This was me reading that book:

There was a lot of this

And, way too much of this

But, eventually, there was this

It's an odd thing, when something makes you simultaneously happy and miserable, but that's my relationship with these sorts of stories. I always love the friendship, and I have no problem shipping the couple, but UGH! Waiting for the stars to align and allow them to find their Happily Ever After wrecks me every time.

Another book, which tortured me in much the same way, was One Day in December. Once again, I was on a roller coaster. I remember, I was reading this on a weekend, and therefore, was updating my Goodreads a lot. At one point, Amber actually checked in with me to see if I was alright. I laugh about it now, but my emotions were all over the place. Seriously, look at my updates!


So, you are probably wondering why I keep reading books like these.
  • I am a sucker for a good friends-to-lovers romance.
  • Books that take place over long periods of time allow me to really get to know the character, and that in turn, results in me having much stronger attachment to them.
  • I get to share so much of their lives! The ups and downs and in-betweens. 
  • The ending seems so much more satisfying, when I am made to work that hard. You know what they say, "Good things come to those who wait."
  • Sometimes it's a means of catharsis for me. 
There were a few you-took-too-long romances, which were tragic, and I threw across the room, but believe it or not, I still enjoyed them. 


What are your feelings on romances that take FOREVER to happen? Do you have a favorite?

Now it's your turn!

Do you like friends-to-lovers romances 
that span long time periods? 
Let us know in the comments!

38 comments:

  1. So much YES to all this! Love, Rosie was tortuous... but in the best way. And One Day in December kept breaking my heart... but I loved it. I love friends to lovers. I love stories than span a long period of time. I love being part of the character's lives since it makes me even more fully invested. I'm actually reading one right now (Grip) that is taking sooo long for the MC's to get together that it's driving me more than a little crazy!

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    1. I read Flow, but never continued with those books, because I didn't have them, but Ryan does has done these drawn out relationships in the past, and I have always enjoyed them. She makes you wait, but it's so good, when it finally happens.

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    2. Ryan does an awesome job with slow burn. I mean, all three books in the Hoops series are a testament to that. LOL But those worked for me and the reasons behind the wait made sense. Especially in Long Shot. There were feelings, there was pining, but there were also huge reasons why Iris could not be with August. It took a long time to resolve the issues she was dealing with and that made sense. In Grip, the only thing in the way of Grip + Bristol has been Bristol. She’s blamed it for YEARS on trust issues because her father is super unfaithful to her other but it’s lame. Grip is not her father. And she knows what kind of man he is. So this wait has seemed pointless.

      Okay... rant now over. LOL

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    3. Love the rant, but many of these romances taking so long is due to the characters being in their own way.

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  2. I don't mind friends-to-lovers that take a long time as long as one of the people isn't just pining away for the other one and not living their life because of it! Or sabotaging their relationships because of the other person.

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    1. But, doesn't there always seem to be some period of pining for one of the characters at some point? I just finished We Met in December the other day, and though it only spans 1 year, it sort of fits this to some extent. The two were never emotionally available at the same time, and one didn't realize their feelings for quite a while, even if they were mutually interested from the start. The pining parts can be fun, if they are done right.

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  3. well, your discussion post did it's job...made me curious. thanks for sharing
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  4. I like the friends-to-lovers tropes too. There has been a couple of time that I do find myself wanting them to speed up a little too.

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  5. I hate when they take ages and ages and ages before reaching their HEA! This is pure tortue!!!!

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    1. I agree, though, I feel like I really earned, when it finally happens.

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  6. All I can think of is "When Harry Met Sally." LOL!

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  7. I too am such a sucker for this trope!! Great post!

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    1. Same. I recently finished We Met in December, which only takes place over the course of a year, but it's about those missed opportunities. I couldn't help but grin, when they referenced One Day - one of the most tragic versions of this type of story, but sort of similar to what was going on between the hero and heroine in the story

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  8. I love the friends to lovers trop and agree, it's like torture when it takes so long for them to get together, but the payoff is so huge, and it feels that much greater! I can't think of any off the top of my head, but I know I've read many of these type of stories!

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. I think we always feel a bit "more", when we have to work for something, and those drawn out will-they-won't-they stories sure make me work for it.

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  9. I agree that these types of stories can be both heartwrenching and amazing when they're done well. I like a drawn-out romance sometimes---I definitely prefer it to one that feels rushed.

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. I know people hate instalove, but these books are an extreme slow burn. I agree, though, they can be amazing, when done well, and I loved the books I referenced in this post.

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  10. I tend to ignore romances that take such a long time to happen - I don't think those books are bad, or anything, but it makes me so anxious and nervous to read those books!? They always feel angsty or stress-filled, which is my least favorite romance type. Weirdly, I'm okay with watching movies like that - maybe because they take less time - and I really enjoyed the Love, Rosie movie. :) Great discussion!

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    1. I totally relate, as I was stressed out during each of the books mentioned, but if I'm being honest, I get like that with all will-they-won't-they romances, even if they take place over a weekend. I have never seen Love, Rosie, but I am curious to see how the book plays out on the screen.

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  11. I remember Love Rosie being tough on the old emotions and I really struggle with books which take place over that long a space of time, but it was totally worth it. I mean, that was some other world kind of slow burn but it was so good! I've not read One Day In Decemeber even though I know you enjoyed it becuase I just don't know if my emotions could take it. Books that are really emotional are books I put off, I cry at sad adverts and those heartwarming videos on facebook of animals being rescued, people being nice, etc and so if I know a book has a lot of emotion in I kind of don't want to read as I'll be a crying snotty mess and only be on the first chapter. I am a sucker for a slowburn though, but slowburn like Mariana Zapata slowburn not 35+ years slowburn.

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    1. It's not all the tears with One Day in December. There are lots of lighter moments and pure joy in there too. I just was so invested in those two getting together, and because it took place over the span of a decade, we not only saw these characters succeed, we saw them fail. Because I spent so much time with them, I really felt those losses. Love, Rosie was so unique in how long it took those two to hit the right timing.

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  12. Lol I love this post. These kind of stories frustrate me to no end but I still love them because the emotional pay off at the end is so worth it. Your choice of "catharsis" is perfect. It's all about that release.

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    1. Exactly. *MOST* of them end in a way that make me happy. There are ones that need to be thrown out the window (One Day, The Day We Met), but generally, we get that HEA and I breathe a sigh of relief, and do a little fist pump

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  13. I don't think that I have really read any romances that took that long to come together. I started One Day but gave up on it because it bored me. I do wonder if something just makes me avoid these books.

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    1. I have not read One Day, but I saw the film, which is probably why I never picked up the book. So. Tragic!

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  14. I like them when they're drawn out because I think it makes me hopeful for real life? 😂 Plus it is a million times more believable for me than insta-love. I do NOT like insta-love.

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    1. There is a lot of truth to that, my friend. I don't have issues with insta-love, but I understand it's not a fave of many. Neither cases have happened for me, so, yeah.

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  15. I don’t know the books you mentioned Sam but I love a good slow burn romance set right in the middle of a fantasy. I love the bigger than life stakes and action of fantasy but built on incredible relationships that make it all happen. It does make everything worth it! ♥️

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    1. I don't care what genre I am reading, I welcome romance, always.

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  16. I love stories about friends who take forever to fall in love. It's something that's happened to me in my own life, so I totally relate to it. :)

    I'm glad you finished that book.

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  17. I loved Love, Rosie! (It's called Where Rainbows End over here.) But it hurt the soul... So many feelings and frustrations!

    I bought The Day We Met back in spring and haven't been able to read it. I discovered what happens at the end and hit anguished rage before I even began, lol.

    One Day In December is one I've just bought but I think that ends happy? Not bittersweet?

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    1. Love, Rosie was one of the most frustrating books. I remember being so mad about the pregnancies. I mean, he was supposed to be a doctor. Did he not know how to prevent pregnancy?! The Day We Met had me bawling ugly tears. I was devastated. I am actually surprised by how many people liked the book, since the entire book is about a cheating couple, but there's just something about it. It was like the pain marathon for me. One Day in December IS an HEA, and it is one of my favorites.

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  18. I love long periods of getting together but as you said, it can be so frustrating. But in a good way!! I felt like that with a couple in the Percy Jackson series in particular.

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    1. They had books to get together in that case. I feel you can see that in quite a few series, but not as much in standalones.

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