Do you realize that most of this insta-love is in YA literature? I have seen it occasionally in Adult Fiction, but not nearly to the extent that I see it in YA. Maybe the reason authors do it is because the main characters in YA are teenagers and let's face it, teenagers have a tendency to think they are in love way too soon.
My question though is: does it ever work? Maybe there is a case where insta-love is part of the plot, but it is done really well or maybe the book is so damn good that you don't care. Or maybe the circumstances surrounding the plot allow you to make excuses for the insta-love.
Recently I read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. This is actually one of the few cases of insta-love I have seen in Adult Fiction.
Another one that had the insta-love thing going on was Cress by Marissa Meyer.
So how do you feel about insta-love? Is there a book where that is part of the plot, but it was done in a way that you just didn't care?
I absolutely cannot deal with insta-love, because it's just so unrealistic. Maybe insta-attraction or insta-lust, but not LOVE. I don't know, maybe I'm a hopeless romantic but I don't see how looks can determine love ;)
ReplyDeleteLoony Literate, that is so very true. It is impossible to fall in love with someone after knowing them about 30 seconds. It drives me crazy.
DeleteI mean for the most part insta-love is annoying. But there are definitely times I just don't care if the books are just that good (including both you mentioned) or it is kind of built in as the premise. And as long as it isn't over done I think it can be fine. For me I guess it depends on the book then. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Grace! Maybe it's just that if you don't like the characters or if the writing isn't done well, then the insta-love just heightens your annoyance? That may be the only explanation for stuff like that.
DeleteIn general I don't like instalove because it feels fake and forced, but sometimes if I really like the couple, then I am okay with the instalove.
ReplyDeleteYes, Nerdgirl you are so right about it feeling forced. It's like the author is trying a little too hard to make us root for the couple. I can root for them even when they are not whining about meeting their soulmate thirty seconds after meeting the person.
DeleteWell, I DO hate insta-love. But are there a few cases I can overlook? Yeah. I mean, if the book is done well, and the insta-love makes SOME kind of sense, then yeah. But it is RARE. Insta-infatuation, insta-lust, fine. That definitely happens. But insta-LOVE is usually a disaster. Because the characters are doing stupid stuff and making life choices in the name of "love" when they've known the other person for like, 5 minutes. And I cannot handle it! I do want to read both of those books though :)
ReplyDeleteShannon @ It Starts At Midnight
Shannon, you haven't read Cress yet?? Oh man, you HAVE to. And The Nightingale was one of my favorite books that I read this year. SO GOOD. And yes about the horrible choices part. Maybe that's why insta-love is even extra annoying. It's like the author wants the MC to do all of these stupid things and they need to give him or her an excuse for it. I have felt plenty of insta-lust in my life (pre-husband, of course. ha), but I have never risked my life and made awful choices based on the fact that I was in "love" with this person.
DeleteHmm I don't know. I mean there are definitely cases where I wouldn't care because everything else fit so perfectly. I do think that teenagers think they fall in love right when they meet someone, but that may also be because media is playing into that. Often times I view most things as insta-attraction. I feel like insta-love is more like saying you actually love the person after a day or so.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if we call it insta-love because we KNOW that's the two will end up together somehow since it's a book?
Wow I am leaving more questions than a comment. But I LOVED CRESS, and I totally agree that she liked Thorne, but it was more of a "Wow I haven't seen a guy in my entire life" and so of course he would be super good looking. (And who WOULDN'T fall for Thorne, he is awesome)
Awesome discussion Cynthia! Made me think even though it's morning :P
Thanks so much Val! You may be right about the reasons why we call it insta-love. And I did know a LOT of teenagers when I was young who thought they were in love with someone they barely knew. I know teenagers who have felt that way now. Ha. Maybe sometimes the book is just too young for me when that happens. I love YA, but sometimes certain feature of YA just makes my eyes roll, like the insta-love. Cress by Marissa Meyer is one of those where it just worked so well. Because of Cress's history, I completely understand why she fell so hard so fast. But seriously . . . I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! They are one of the few insta-love couples that I completely adore.
DeleteYou're right, if the book is fantastic overall, I can make allowances for the insta love. I'm still not a fan of it, because it feels much less satisfying than a "real" development of a relationship, but if the story is great overall, I'll be able to enjoy the book despite it. Also, I REALLY have to get to the Lunar Chronicles ASAP. Those descriptions just sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteVlora, YES! You must get to the Lunar Chronicles now!! The entire series is amazing.
DeleteCress is my least favorite, because I felt that her story line was pushed the hardest, and I flat out just don't like her.
ReplyDeleteI can't hit too hard on instalove, because I use to have a WIP with it in there, until I discovered how shitty it was for the reader. I think that authors have a heard time looking at their work from a reader's perspective, and although your main couple are just so made for each other in your head, you are going to have to show it to the reader. I had to overcome this mistke, and I understood it a bit better when I found that sin on my own hands.
Lyn, oh I am so sorry that you didn't like Cress! She was actually my favorite, but I can see why she might get on some people's nerves.
DeleteAnd I think you are so right about how it is for a writer. I worked on my first novel (after this post went up) and I realized just how hard it is from a writer's perspective. I still hate it, but now I think I wouldn't judge the writer as harshly for doing it. Sometimes writing a slow burn romance can be really hard. That is part of the editing I know I will have to do later.
I wrote a post about this once too. Basically, I think there have to be some extreme circumstances to make insta-love work, but it CAN (occasionally). Oh, and the author has to continue building that connection once the insta-love has been established or it all falls apart.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Nicole. yes that is a GREAT point! And maybe that is the problem a lot of the times: the author does the insta-love thing, but then that remains the basis for the relationship throughout the entire book. There is no connection or even chemistry. Maybe that is why I didn't mind the insta-love in the books I mentioned. There is a connection holding the couple together.
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