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Great points, everyone. @germaine-han yep, relationships and plot should be entirely tied up in each other. Totally agree.

@Eden-anderson uggghhh. *rubs face* Dora and David. Why did you have to remind me. David Copperfield is probably my least favorite Dickens ever. The point of the story was to showcase David’s silly heart, but I’ve gotta think there were less annoying ways to do it. 😛

Popcorn relationships. This is now official terminology. XD

I think, on the romance in books front, a distinction needs to be made between love and crush. It’s not at all unrealistic for someone to fall head over heels ‘in love’ with a person at first sight— attracted to a pretty/handsome face, or a winning smile, or a deep intellect, or a kind, sweet spirit. But for real love to be born, that crush has to die and give place to a deep and selfless concern for the soul, heart, mind, and body of that special person. The two ‘loves’ are so entirely opposite that they cannot exist together. Too often in fiction romances begin with crush and simply progress in that strain into full-blown relationships. Not only can this leave them somewhat shallow, it isn’t true to life. Crushes are true to life, and so is love, and yes, the relationship that begins with a crush often does progress to real love, but there must be a turning point. The crush, which is a silly, shallow, slightly selfish, slightly vain fantasy at best, must die and make room for something much more sacred.The dying is key. It can’t simply be pushed aside or take second place. If it doesn’t die, there isn’t room.