I recently saw a post on Facebook in which a reader asked for recommendations of romance novels that don’t have a “black moment.”
If you haven’t heard the term before, the black moment is the point when all hope is lost.
In CCR, it’s the part of the story where the boy does not get the girl. Or the hero and heroine break up. Or circumstances tear them apart.
As a reader, I both love and hate the black moment.
When my characters are sad, I’m sad, too 😢
I hate it because when I’m invested in a character, I don’t want to see him or her in pain. But I love it because, when an author pulls off a really great black moment, it makes the happy ending so much sweeter.
What makes a black moment great? For me, it’s the element of surprise.
Most people read romance novels because we want the emotional satisfaction of that happy ending. But when I can see the happy ending coming from a million miles away, I get bored. So, I love it when an author keeps me guessing.
Becky Wade did this in her recent release, Memory Lane. There was a mystery about how the hero got amnesia that played out alongside the romance. I had some ideas about how it had happened, but I was wrong!
That need to know what had happened kept me reading, reading, reading right until the end, when the mystery was solved and the hero and heroine finally came together for real.
In the three books I’ve published so far, I haven’t included any mysteries, but I do like to keep people guessing in other ways. I do this by giving my characters seemingly insurmountable odds of ever being able to have a happy relationship with each other.
The best compliment for me as a writer is when someone tells me my book is a page turner, because that means I was able to keep them guessing about how the hero and heroine would achieve their happy ending the whole way through!
So glad I could keep her guessing!!!
How do you feel about the black moment in the books you read? Do you like books that keep you guessing, or do you prefer a book without a lot of surprises?
Meghann Whistler is a wife, mom, and Christian romance novelist who loves writing sweet, happy stories that WON'T make your grandmother blush! When she's not writing, reading, or jamming out to Christian rock music, you can find her enjoying a relaxing evening with her rocket scientist husband (seriously—he's a real, live rocket scientist!) or playing with her three kids.
It depends on my state of mind, however it is difficult for there to be a novel that does not really have a black moment. Usually in low conflict books the black moment is shorter and about a more easily surmountable problem but there it is.
Life throws so many curveballs that it’s actually refreshing to read a story with less angst!! There can be story dramas, and there are, but I really appreciate them to not be anything that pulls our couple apart.
Maybe I’m just getting too old…..
Hi Meghann! What I read depends on my mood. As a retiree I agree with Margaret, if life is throwing me a curve ball, I prefer stories without black moments or angst. I enjoy reading CCR stories with a unique premise. For example Elizabeth Maddrey’s Billionaire series that each story has a different troupe. Or Valerie Comer’s Farm Fresh series or the one about geocaching. Often when I need a pick me up story – I will most likely read a novella with less angst or black moments. Best wishes. Enjoy your weekend. Happy writing and reading.
It totally depends on the book!! If it’s a suspense, I want to keep guessing about everything all the way through the book!! If it’s romance, I know they’re going to get together, it’s just a matter of how it all comes together, and I love it if enough happens to make me guess how it finally comes about. However, I also like ones that don’t have that drastic of a black moment. I like the whole thing to feel natural, so as long as it flows well, I’m fine! And, when is your next book coming?????
I agree with others – it does depend on how I’m feeling, if life for me is going through hard time I find the back moment can be too much. What I usually do then is re-read favourite books, somehow knowing what the black moment is and that the characters get through it makes it easier to read. Or sometimes I skip over it to the ending!
I love my happy endings, but I also love the twists and turns to get there. And the black moments do make that happy ending so much sweeter. I am in between books at the moment. I may have to find one of those books. You have whetted my appetite. Any recommendations?
I like stories with twists and turns and well, there are black moments in every day life, so might as well make a book more realistic. Have a great weekend.
That’s true, Lilly – there has to be SOME conflict in order for a story to work :)
Aw, that’s sweet, Margaret! You like to see them happy ❤️
Ooh, I’d love to read the geocaching book, Renate — that sounds interesting!
I like a book that feels natural, too, Trudy! A big pet peeve for me is when the final conflict comes out of nowhere — it should evolve from the story and make sense in the context of what’s come before!
Re: my next book, I’m about 2/3 of the way through writing it, and I’ll be turning it in to my editor at Love Inspired by the end of August, so it should hit bookstore shelves in mid-2024 :)
I find it very comforting to read old favorites, too, Ruthie! Great idea ❤️
I’ve really enjoyed all of the books in Carolyn Miller’s Original Six series, Bonnie — have you read any of them yet?
That’s true, Alicia — although I like that the happy endings can lift me out my own personal black moments. I hope they do that for you, too! ❤️
I have not. I will check them out. Thank you.
I like a book that keeps me guessing. It keeps me engaged with the book. I do not get bored. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
You’re welcome :)
God bless you, too, Debra! ❤️