Posted: August 20, 2024
I’ll say right from the start that fast burn isn’t really my thing when it comes to reading romance. I don’t understand it, perhaps because I personally couldn’t just fall in love (or into a relationship with) a person so quickly. Because of this, it feels…cheap? superficial? It doesn’t feel real or healthy when it’s portrayed that way. The only time I can find myself somewhat enjoying this style of romance is if both characters know the relationship is superficial—or if it starts as fast burn but over time becomes something deeper.
But that’s just how I feel. Fast burn relationships, by nature, are destined to burn out and/or end badly.
I’ve haven’t read a lot, but I’ve seen the usual tropes: love at first sight, office romance, characters who meet and instantly jump into bed together—really not my thing. A lot of the time, it almost seems to take the choice away from the characters, like they’re not feeling real love but rather lust and they let it take control. Call me a control freak, but I prefer to take things slow.
Fated soulmates and such are popular in this style as well. They fall in love because they’re destined to, because they’re supposed to, but doesn’t that take away the choice of the matter? I understand that some people think it’s romantic. I can understand why people would like the idea of one person out there being your perfect match in every way, but then…what would be the point of exploring and discovering things about yourself? Why strive to grow and change?
You’ve probably already guessed it, but I think the only good portrayal of fast burn is when the reader knows that it will end badly. Rushed relationships will always be toxic in my eyes, so unless the plot of the story truly explores the characters’ emotions in a slower way (thereby changing it into a slow burn), it won’t work. It can’t be portrayed in a healthy light without romanticizing toxic relationships.
If a reader knows this and is there for it—for the relationship to end in a dumpster fire—more power to them. I think that’s great. But when readers don’t know better and end up basing their own love lives on the books they’ve read while searching for love, they will be the ones to crash and burn, and that’s not something I can support.
Anyway, thanks for listening to/reading my rant. Have a wonderful day!
Angels & Demons in Fiction
Deities in Fiction
Dragons in Fiction
Dwarves in Fiction
Elves in Fiction
Fast Burn in Fiction
Heroes in Fiction
Love Triangles in Fiction
Magic in Fiction
Mythical Creatures in Fiction
Orcs in Fiction
Powers in Fiction
Pregnancy in Fiction
Prophecies in Fiction
Romance in Fiction
Shapeshifters in Fiction
Slow Burn in Fiction
Vampires in Fiction
Vampires in Fiction II
Villains in Fiction
Werewolves in Fiction
Witches & Warlocks in Fiction
The Joining by Frank Talaber
The Twilight Saga Book 1: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Nightshade Book 1: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
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