There’s a post today on Dear Author, Is the male point of view essential for you as a reader, that I hope you’ll weigh in on.
It started when Jane recommended Housekeeper’s Happy-Ever-After by Fiona Harper—an April 2010 Harlequin Romance.
I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as she did, though it is a very good book, and I mentioned one of things I didn’t care for was how few scenes were in the hero’s POV, which I’m told is the norm for that line. If you’ve stopped by here regularly, you know I love category romance but, for some reason, I haven’t read a Harlequin Romance in ages. I think it’s just a matter of so many lines, so little time. I do have a few more in my digital TBR, though I must admit I mentally bumped them down the list when I was told a scarcity of the hero’s POV is common for the line. I’m very hero-centric.
I hope you’ll head over to Dear Author and weigh in with your opinion. I’m going to once the caffeine kicks in and I think I can muster some coherence.
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Not going over to DA, but I’ll toss in my two cents here.
Frankly I’d rather read a story entirely in the heroine’s POV than be teased by only a few scenes in the hero’s. If it’s her story, then make it her story. Got no problem with that. But if the story’s THEIRS, then to only occasionally let us inside the other protag’s head feels very lopsided to me. Either go 50/50 or don’t bother, is the way I see it.
Which is probably why I could never write for Romance.
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I feel the same way, I think. When I read a Kristan Higgins and it’s only in her 1st person POV, that’s okay (except for the last one). But if you’re going to give me the hero, I want all in, not just the occasional glimpse.
Probably why I won’t read too many more Romances, other than those that come highly recommended.
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I was invited to speak about my book (answer questions, lol) at a library book club meeting many years ago. The age range for the group was from about 19-70, and they had about 20 members total. (At this event, it was only women. The romance thing, I guess.)
The best part for me was when they asked if I had any questions of THEM. I asked how they felt about male POV. None, a little, a lot?
Most every member stated they wanted more hero POV. One sassy elder even commented, “I know what women think, I’ve been one all my life. Give me the juicy bits inside the hero’s head!”