Sad ending in Romance

[NotDawnKara]

How do you often feel about story in the Romance category with a sad ending?
Also, have you ever seen a Romance with a sad ending that just make you go “Damn, this story would have been worse with a happy ending”? If yes, I really want to read it

[ivanskilling]

Can't say I've read many romance stories on Tapas since my reading preference leans toward thrillers and science fiction, but I do like it when the story ends on a bittersweet note and is not overdone.

My own romance novel has a sad ending if you're interested!

Genre: Historical Romance, Fantasy
Follow Empress Wu Zetian's treacherous journey from the hands of enemy Tufan soldiers back to the Forbidden City where she battles foes from within her own kingdom.

Shackles | Tapas

[cherrystark]

I don't have any to recommend, sorry. I just have strong feelings about how female characters are written in romance novels

[Crusoe]

I don't think I've ever read one here on tapas! My story is gonna have a sad ending, but that's a long way from happening still

[artemficta]

I don't personally like sad endings but I know a lot of people who do like them at least. Personally I just want to see the couple happy and lots of fluffy family time

[Dysis]

There is a strange appeal to a sad ending, be it romance or any other genre. The stories that I'm working on may have a sad ending if it gives the plot its justice. All bets are off though.

[DogshitJay]

The only genre requirement for Romance is that it has a Happy Ever After (or happy for now). If your story ends sad, it isn't Romance.

It may have romantic elements, it just isn't romance. In publishing, it's considered "respecting your reader" by sticking to the genre conventions. Readers are supposed to be able to trust writers to stick to the right genre.

So maybe you will find more of what you're looking for in Drama (or romantic drama depending on how ppl classify their story)

[Dysis]

Or a tragedy, perhaps?

[DogshitJay]

Yep that's what I would call it, but Tapas doesn't have that as a genre As a tag tho definitely!

[vblairehawthorne]

I struggle to write romance precisely because I do not want them to be happy in the end! HAHAHAHA! OR TO BE HAPPY IN GENERAL! MAKE 'EM SUFFFEERRRRR!

But just as what @DogshitJay said, if I did that, it's no longer Romance! TT__TT It turns into Drama with a subgenre being Romance.

[malwdark]

Respect? But I love when stories don't attach to their genre

[WillowTree]

@malwdark then you enjoy literary fiction rather than genre fiction. Genre readers have certain expectations about the books they read and if a writer labels their work as a romance, romance readers are going to be very upset if it doesn't end with HFN or HEA

[domisotto]

I think drama allows you a wider range of love stories than a romance. Not all love stories are romances. I had to change intended ending for a couple of stories to fit romance vs general/drama category.

[Crusoe]

You know what, you guys actually have a good point. So I'll definitely keep that in mind when tagging my genres for the follow up volume

[NotDawnKara]

Thank you all! Also I’ll keep in mind that requirement I’m somewhat new to this writing thing ,so again ,thank you for helping!