One of the most common criticisms of romance novels I hear is that the people in them are always perfect. I don’t mean that they live perfect lives and have no personality flaws – I mean that they’re always about beautiful people living in a world of beautiful people, unless you need some goofy sidekick to provide comic relief.
I recently finished writing a Christmas story called Christmas Star Sapphire, a novella based on the Jewel Series, that will be released in October. In it, I wrote this scene:
His eyes scanned the room and he spotted Barbara Mullins, the reason for the early morning meeting. The sophomore from Birmingham had her head bowed and sniffled into her paper napkin. As Joe approached, he felt his steps pause when he saw Madeline Viscolli seated across from Barbara. As soon as he recognized her, he waited for the skip of the beat of his heart and the catch of his breath. When he expected to see her, he could usually brace himself and control it. But the unexpected times, like this, actually took his breath away and made him feel nervous, jittery, and uncharacteristically shy.
He had seen a lot of beautiful things in his life. He had seen sunrises and sunsets over crystal seas that would envelop every sense like a symphony. He had seen longboats and yachts hand crafted with the finest attention to the smallest detail that soared over the water like sea foam. He had seen beauty in his lifetime. But he had never seen anything as beautiful as Madeline Viscolli.
Now steeled against the feelings, he felt he could safely approach the table. He mentally wished Barbara would look up and scoot over to accommodate him, but she didn’t even see him walk up. Instead, Madeline looked up at him, her ultramarine eyes shining like sapphires, and a warm smile lit up her face.
He wondered, absently, how a woman devoid of any makeup, wearing a worn out Florida Gators sweatshirt with her hair piled on top of her head could possibly look so beautiful that her loveliness could steal a grown man’s breath. As she moved over for him, he took the time to slip his bag over his head and set it on the ground next to the table. When he slid into the booth, his hip and thigh brushed up against Madeline’s.
In my most omniscient narrator voice in this book, the only description that you get of Madeline Viscolli is that she has black hair, olive skin, and blue eyes. She’s also tall – just two inches shy of six feet. That’s the extent of her description.
Ian Miller: I know this great place… Zorba something… anyway, I’d love to take you there if you’d like to go.
Toula Portokalos: Uh, that place, Dancing Zorba’s…
Ian Miller: Dancing Zorba’s!
Toula Portokalos: My family kinda owns that place.
Ian Miller: [looking at her closely] I remember you. You’re that waitress.
Toula Portokalos: Seating hostess.
Ian Miller: I remember you.
Toula Portokalos: Look, I was going through a phase. I was Frump Girl.
Ian Miller: I don’t remember Frump Girl, but I remember you.
He didn’t remember her with shaggy messy hair and ill-fitting clothes. He just remembered her – this woman with whom he fell in love.
me
1 Samuel 16:7 says that God doesn’t look at outward appearance, that He looks at the heart. In the case of romance, I believe that something similar can ring true. I know that I’ve never stopped conversation walking into a room, but I can tell you that my husband believes that I am the most beautiful woman on the earth, that he thought that the first time he ever saw me, and he tells me that and affirms it to me regularly. It doesn’t matter if other people see it or believe it. It only matters how he sees me through his eyes.
An old Randy Travis song, “Forever and Ever Amen”, has the lyrics:
They say that time takes it’s toll on a body
Makes the young girls brown hair turn grey
But honey, I don’t care, I ain’t in love with your hair
And if it all fell out, well, I’d love you anyway
I can understand the criticism that accompanies romance novels, but I don’t really agree that it creates an issue for the reader. I think it would be exactly the opposite. I think that if I see through the eyes of the hero or heroine in a novel and they don’t find the other person attractive, then the romance won’t ring true to me. I want to read about a love that overwhelms my characters so that they don’t see with their eyes at outward appearances, but see inward to the heart. I want my characters to be radiantly beautiful to the ones who loves them, regardless of how the world would classify their appearance.
I have been known to specifically make my female character beautiful to other people in a few books. When I’ve done it, there’s been a very specific story-driven reason for it. I much prefer that my readers experience it with my characters rather than influence with my perception of beauty.
What do you think about the physical beauty depicted of characters in romance novels?
Tell me what you think and one commenter will win a paperback of my Jewel anthology, which contains all four books in my Jewel Series. The Christmas Star Sapphire is a second generation Jewel series story.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
With over half a million sales, Hallee Bridgeman is a best-selling Christian author who writes action-packed romantic suspense focusing on realistic characters who face real-world problems. Her work has been described as everything from refreshing to heart-stopping exciting and edgy. Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide her. Subscribers to Hallee's newsletter get her bestselling contemporary romance COURTING CALLA for free! Sign up by clicking the newsletter icon below or going here: http://www.halleebridgeman.com/newsletter
Halle, I always love your posts. They can be so though-provoking. I had an opinion when I read the first paragraph and you took my thoughts and expanded in a way I wouldn’t have thought, but completely agree. It is so true that the characters wouldn’t connect well in my mind if they didn’t find each other attractive. I love that you leave the character description fairly vague. I am willing to bet that authors do that quite often, but then, as a reader, we create the finer details from our imagination.
My husband told me that this isn’t always true. He used Beauty and the Beast as an example. He said, “He wasn’t beautiful. He was actually hard to look at.”
I told him that it proved my point – because she didn’t find him hard to look at at all, because she was in love with him!
My husband always tells me how beautiful I am; this tends to be moments when I feel the most unbeautiful, such as cleaning the chicken coop. I love to read books where the women see their flaws and the men who love them see the features and qualities they love about their woman. Satan, the master of lies, tells us that we aren’t enough while God puts people in our lives who see us as He does. Who love us as He does. I remember once looking in the mirror and being very negative about myself. The Spirit stopped me and told me that God couldn’t allow me to continue to berate His beloved daughter. I have never again looked in the mirror without remembering that moment. I now like to think of myself as ” perfectly imperfect.”
I think you are exactly right! The story would seem far-fetched if the characters fell in love but didn’t find each other attractive. I love the way your writing allows us, the readers, to create our own mental picture of the characters with just a bit of structure from your descriptions. This may be why a book made in to a movie always falls short for me. My mental picture is never what is portrayed on the big screen. Just my rambling thoughts! Looking forward to your next book!!!
When I look in the mirror and berate myself, my husband will say, “No one talks about my wife like that.” It always gives me pause and makes me see things from his perspective.
It seems in every romance book that I have read the female characters are all very beautiful and the men ridiculously handsome.
I think that is why so many romance novels don’t have full faces on them. The authors or publishers want the reader to use his or her own imagination.
I often hear that as well (obviously) which is what spurred this post. Like I said, though, I wonder how much of that is told from the eyes of the character and not the omniscient narrator?
One of my favorite books is The Broken Path by Cami Checketts. I love the flawed, imperfect characters who fall in love drawn to the inner beauty and see beyond face value.
I have always loved that, too.
I read a secular historical romance by Jude Devereaux one time — the heroine was overweight and had a guardian angel. I was so disappointed in the fact that the guardian angel “magically” made her lose weight, because the hero was already really attracted to her, and complained about how much weight she’d lost. I think it ruined the story, personally.
I love that exchange from the movie! I agree: it’s all in who is doing the looking. :)
Great article. I do sometimes have a problem when an author describes his characters from the his own point of view and every guy is 6′ 2″, super handsome, and ripped, and every girl is thin, leggy, and gorgeous (especially if it’s a series). But if the hero/heroine thinks the person they love is that way, then that’s totally different. I think of my hubby as tall, dark, and handsome and he’s really 5’10”, out of shape, and I cut his hair. Objectively he doesn’t come close to Tom Cruise or Chris Pine in the looks department, but if we’re talking attractive…Wow. The balance totally flips the other direction. They have nothing on him. (And we haven’t even talked about beautiful character yet.)
Looking forward to reading your books!
They have nothing on him — I love that. :)
That is one of my favorite exchanges from any movie ever.
Great Blog! I totally agree!! Love your books!
Thank you so much!
Yes, I agree with you Hallee. That old saying, “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” certainly is true. I have known some very beautiful (outside beauty) women but whose attitude and character made them ugly. And then some women who are not “beautiful” as the world would categorize them, but their inner beauty makes them beautiful.
I like to read characters whose inner beauty shows and the hero sees that inner beauty. Likewise, I like when the woman is attracted to a man in the story whose looks are not handsome at first glance, but over time she sees past his outer looks. It’s the inner beauty that will last over time.
Thank you for a chance to win a copy of Christmas Star Sapphire.
Blessings,Tina
Thank you for giving me a different perspective on beauty. I think one of the best authors to show how ordinary people are beautiful in the eyes of the one they love was Betty Neels. She did an awesome job at showing inner beauty. I love your books and can’t wait to read Christmas Star Saphire.
Hallee, I really enjoyed your post. But I have to tell you, I read that last bit several times, thinking, wait, why is the hero putting a bag over his head? Is he THAT worried about how he looks in comparison to her? I was picturing a grocery bag. LOL. I’m sure it was the beauty-oriented context of the post that made me misread that line.
Great post, Hallee, and so true! I especially love stories where the characters don’t see much beauty in each other initially, but by the end of the book, each is so beautiful to the other. That’s the true transformation, learning to sees each other with the inner eyes of love. Seeing the beauty that will last through the years, not physical beauty or shape that will inevitably change.
LOL, Lee, gotta say, I thought the same at first about that bag line too. I’m sure in context it works fine, as we’d know he’s slipped his messenger bag on in the first place.
But talking about beautiful and not so beautiful people always makes me think of wanting to wear a paper bag over my head. Hmm, guess that says something about me, doesn’t it? I’m glad Joe didn’t feel that way! ;)
I think that “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” certainly is true. I smile when the nasty tempered beauty loses the man to the lovely on the inside, average pretty lady! !
Sometimes it seems like the world (and especially Hollywood) says if you’re not outwardly beautiful you’re not worthy of being loved. It’s nice to be reminded that’s not true, that beautiful can mean so much more than just physical looks. Like Prince Charming sang to Cinderella, “Do I love you because you’re beautiful or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Characters with insecurity make me enjoy the story more. I think being loved gives strength and confidence.
Btw, my daughter and I have read your Virtues and Valor series and love it! The interrelated characters and gradual progression of the timeline throughout the series kept us glued to our kindles! Looking forward to reading the Jewel series
It’s so great that your husband participated in this discussion. Did he (your husband) humbly concede? :)
btw, I am both tlrosado and Terrill Rosado. I’m never sure how I am logged in.
I have heard complaints of this nature too, that all of the characters are too perfect. I think your solution to this is perfect – seeing her through the eyes of the man who truly loves her. Sounds like you have a good male ‘character’ for inspiration – your own husband. Thanks for sharing.
I love Christmas stories! I look forward to late fall when I can pull out a stack of Christmas books to read. Add some soft Christmas music and hot chocolate and I get so excited about the season, and the true reason for the season!
That’s hysterical. I guess I hopped into the middle of a scene there. LOL
Of course! LOL
(and, I’ve never been able to figure out WP login. It’s frustrating at times.)
I know a male model whose personality leaves much to be desired. Yet, his photos are fawned over in earnest. I find myself cringing whenever I see a photo of him, because I know the real him.
I think inner beauty is easier to convey in the written form — because as the reader is falling in love with the character, I think the visual in the mind might shift and adjust.
“Seeing the beauty that will last through the years, not physical beauty or shape that will inevitably change.” – beautifully said, Autumn, Thank you.
That is always fun! Especially when you know the heart of the “average” pretty lady.
Oooh – I love that. If I had remembered that, I would have included it in my article!
Thank you so much! I’m so happy you loved the series. It was complex to plot out, but the end result was exactly how I envisioned it. May I ask how old your daughter is? I have been told time and again that the series is perfect for teen girls. I’d love to start marketing in that direction.
My husband is always good for inspiration in writing romance novels. :-)
You’re in the right place, Stacey! Several authors who contribute to this blog will be in Christmas story box sets. I’m personally in 2 of them. Keep a watch here and I’m sure we’ll tell you about them as they release!
What I like is the stories where there are two friends and one is a beauty and the other is the “girl next door” type. At first the guys notice the beauty but more in to the story the other girl starts catch the attention. Once the get to know the these ladies they really start see who they are and that can change how you see them.. Now you are seeing more of the whole person and not just the image. My son started falling for his wife a long time before he met her but it wasn’t looks as much as it was how she treated everyone. To this day she is the most beautiful woman in his world. We all assume what men see and want but only the man really knows. You can be ordinary everyday in looks but your personality and love of others can make you beautiful.
I think your books do a wonderful job in letting the readers create the characters they want to see. Movie created what they think the world wants to see. Thanks for writing books I can not put down.
I think it’s true what you said here, Hallee. The character (hero or heroine) will see the beauty inside the other person no matter what they truly look like! They will always be beautiful or handsome in that persons eyes. I think for me as a reader, a heart will show the true character. Since I can’t physically “see” the characters in a book, only read about them, I can only make my conclusion on how the author portrays them in the story. An author could, for example, write about a physically handicapped person but describe them so well in the story, that their physical appearance makes you forget that they need a wheelchair to get around in. In other words, make them real, but still be beautiful in their own way.
Not sure if this makes any sense. I guess for me, I want the author to make the hero or heroine beautiful or handsome in the other person’s eyes….isn’t that why we read romance stories? And I’m talking about beauty on the inside that shines on the outside!
Great post Hallee. I really dislike how everything is so perfect with regards to beauty and physicality in books, although I myself have been guilty of doing it like most authors. I have to remind myself to include more regular sized and overweight characters in my books. I have created curvy heroines. Ideally the hero and heroine fall in love with each other’s souls, but the reality is that we describe our characters and there is a physical attraction. That is one of the reasons why I adore Beauty and the Beast…I also love that the heroine’s name is Belle.