It happened again. I just read another romance with an abrupt ending. This is driving me nuts.
Oh, shut up.
All of you.
Well, it’s either that or seriously start distrusting my own judgement and we can’t have that. ;p So, in light of that unnerving thought I’m going to post the titles of the last few books I’ve read – that I can actually remember at present because there are more I know – where this has happened and see if anyone out there agrees with me about the endings.
Yea or nay will do fine, unless, of course, you wish to elaborate.
Which I will, naturally appreciate immensely at this point either way.
Plus, I figure maybe this might actually help the rest of you see what I’m talking about.
Or not. Sigh.
It’s the not that worries me. (Eyes shifting nervously from side to side here.) Paranoid, me? Not a bit. But what one does have to understand is that I really enjoyed reading these romances. The endings simply struck me as way too abrupt once I got to them. As in, like, “huh, where’d the rest of that last scene go?” too abrupt. And I can’t figure out if I’m expecting something that should or shouldn’t be there or not.
Okay, the books, from most recent, backwards:
Please note: some of the things that I say from this point could technically be called spoilers since I’m talking about the endings of the books but probably aren’t. So, proceed at your own risk.
After I finished the first one on this list today, I mulled it over and did realize something. I’m not sure how much it has to do with this or not but I do think it’s significant. I’m just not sure how to put it in context precisely. As far as I can remember, almost every single book where the ending has bothered like this, either the hero, heroine or both have made a major life change and implimented it right at the end of the book and we, the reader, are deprived of seeing any of the effects of the change.
And, no, I don’t believe this is a “sequel effect” in action, because even though most of the books in question are part of groups we probably wouldn’t see the changes I’m talking about even in another book.
It’s almost the “I love fairy tales/I hate fairy tales” thing. I love fairy tales but I’ve always hated the way they stopped just when the story got to the good part of the “and they lived happily ever after”. Here though, I’m not talking about the bedroom door. I’m talking about the fact that they’ve made a major change, usually in the heroine’s life, and I, the reader, am left sort of pouting and digging my toe in the dirt, “Well, okay, you say they’re happy and I sort of believe you, but I wanted to see their new home, too.” Of course, with true fairy tales we probably don’t want to ruin the fantasy but I’m not sure the same applies to these situations.
Now am I crazy in actually wondering whether that is a satisfactory modern romance ending? Cause it sure feels like a step backwards to me. What annoys me is that I probably wouldn’t mind one romance hitting me this way occasionally. Like every year or so. Three within a week or so of each other, in different formats?
That’s a different matter entirely.
And the first person that mentions word count to me gets a wet cyber-noodle in the face. ;p
Is it “Since I don’t see it, I can’t believe it”?
I don’t usually have this issue, but you know, it may explain the popularity of series.
No, it’s not that type of thing, but something did hit me almost the second I woke up this morning. I think it’s the old “show, don’t tell” thing in action. Or something very similar to that. Only it’s getting cut off in mid-scene. And repeatedly by different authors. Or feels like it. Weird.
Dang, I haven’t read any of these. You know, it must be a fine line authors walk because there are times when even I think, enough already, their happy I get it!
Is it a too pat ending? Like everything that was wrong just fixed itself all of a sudden? I have run into those kind but I can’t remember instances – maybe Stupid and Contagious cause neither figured out they were in love until very near the end but it was a chick lit so I didn’t expect much more.
Nope. I’m not being much help 😉
CindyS