I love and appreciate you and all authors who deviate from the baby-logue. The moment I finished reading Bombshell by Sarah MacLean, I messaged her with a heartfelt thanks that she had stayed true as an author to the character of Sesily she'd written. I'm not upset generally by babies in romance novel endings. But it's not for me, so I'm utterly chuffed that more authors are reflecting my reality. I am truly not fond of miracle infertility being cured or men who didn't want children being shown The Meaning of True Love by holding their child, but presumably that speaks to some people the way Sesily as the "cool aunt" spoke to me.
there may be a place for babies in an HEA--your points are eloquent as always--but i would really prefer not to have that as a default and to leave more space for main characters who are full and complete without biological offspring, especially in historical romances.
As someone who is childless/childfree and will be so for the foreseeable future, I wish I could like this about a thousand times. YES to every word of this. thank you, Maya! I hate the notion that becoming parents is the only way to lead a happy full and fulfilling life. Parenthood isn't for everyone and that is OKAY. Frankly, there are a lot of people who become parents who shouldn't have and plenty more who do it because that's seen as the next step and what they should do.
And the idea that a romance novel's HEA isn't complete or valid without that baby epilogue is problematic for the many reasons you stated. This makes me think about being much more intentional about showing how HEAs can come in many different forms and what's right for the story/couple. Babies aren't mandatory!
I don’t need babies in a HEA. It depends on what is important to the characters. I like romances with older characters, so babies aren’t expected at that time of life. But in light of your comments about healing generational trauma, I realize HEA’s without babies often include the protagonists in their loving extended family as doting aunts and uncles or as mentors to a younger generation. Babies are heartwarming, but not necessary.
Nothing says “ever after” like a baby, because of the need for a stable home and enduring love to nurture that life. Ever. After. I know, families are messy, in reality. That’s why it’s also convenient for an epilogue show that cooing infant and loving parents, and then--quick!--bring down the curtain before the fighting begins!
I love and appreciate you and all authors who deviate from the baby-logue. The moment I finished reading Bombshell by Sarah MacLean, I messaged her with a heartfelt thanks that she had stayed true as an author to the character of Sesily she'd written. I'm not upset generally by babies in romance novel endings. But it's not for me, so I'm utterly chuffed that more authors are reflecting my reality. I am truly not fond of miracle infertility being cured or men who didn't want children being shown The Meaning of True Love by holding their child, but presumably that speaks to some people the way Sesily as the "cool aunt" spoke to me.
there may be a place for babies in an HEA--your points are eloquent as always--but i would really prefer not to have that as a default and to leave more space for main characters who are full and complete without biological offspring, especially in historical romances.
I love you! I'm proud of you! I hope I did an ok job of being your mom!
As someone who is childless/childfree and will be so for the foreseeable future, I wish I could like this about a thousand times. YES to every word of this. thank you, Maya! I hate the notion that becoming parents is the only way to lead a happy full and fulfilling life. Parenthood isn't for everyone and that is OKAY. Frankly, there are a lot of people who become parents who shouldn't have and plenty more who do it because that's seen as the next step and what they should do.
And the idea that a romance novel's HEA isn't complete or valid without that baby epilogue is problematic for the many reasons you stated. This makes me think about being much more intentional about showing how HEAs can come in many different forms and what's right for the story/couple. Babies aren't mandatory!
I don’t need babies in a HEA. It depends on what is important to the characters. I like romances with older characters, so babies aren’t expected at that time of life. But in light of your comments about healing generational trauma, I realize HEA’s without babies often include the protagonists in their loving extended family as doting aunts and uncles or as mentors to a younger generation. Babies are heartwarming, but not necessary.
Nothing says “ever after” like a baby, because of the need for a stable home and enduring love to nurture that life. Ever. After. I know, families are messy, in reality. That’s why it’s also convenient for an epilogue show that cooing infant and loving parents, and then--quick!--bring down the curtain before the fighting begins!