Top Ten Tuesday - Things I Dislike When it Comes to Romances in Books

Hi, it's me, Sabrina.  I know I've been pretty absent lately, but hopefully you haven't forgotten me!  I'm here today with the Top Ten things that I dislike in romances in books - the theme for this week's Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  This is going to be a tricky list, but I can think of at least a few things that get on my nerves...

1.  Keeping Secrets

This is the one that annoys me the most!  I absolutely hate it when couples keep secrets from each other, whether it's because they don't want their partner to be hurt or if they just think it will make them think less of them.  The worst thing about this is that usually the partner ends up finding out and they have a huge fight - over keeping secrets from each other, not what the secret actually was!
Notable example:  Allegiant by Veronica Roth

2.  "I'm Leaving You To Keep You Safe"

I think this one is fairly self explanatory, but this makes my blood boil!  Especially, since in most cases, the couple is safer together and one of the members of the relationship leaving puts the other in danger.

Notable example:  New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

3.  Nonsensical Love Triangles

Perhaps surprisingly, love triangles as a whole don't irritate me too much.  It's only when it's obvious (obvious) who the main character is going to end up with that they annoy me.  If the triangle is done right and I have no clue who's going to be the final couple, I'm cool with it.  I guess it also bothers me when the main character doesn't go for my favourite :P 

Notable example:  Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

4.  Indecision (Particularly When the Right Decision is Clear)

This leads on from the nonsensical love triangles, but it's so annoying that it gets its own point.  I hate it when a character can't decide who they should be with, and in the meantime, basically cheat on their partner with the other member of the triangle.  I don't think you deserve either of them if you're cheating on them!

Notable example:  The Elite by Kiera Cass

5.  "I'd Die Without You"

This is more of a pet peeve of mine.  I dislike when characters say this because it implies that nothing in the world is more important than your "true love".  There are times when saying this is acceptable (These Broken Stars had a good example of this),  but mostly it just sounds silly and overdramatic to me.

6.  Second-Book Separation Syndrome

I notice this happen a lot.  The couple gets together at the end of the first book, and they're as happy as can be, but by the time the second book in the series comes around, they start to notice all the problems with their relationship.  Or something comes along and ruins it.  Sometimes the couple aren't even together-together yet, but they drift apart or are separated for some time in the second book.  New Moon, Crescendo, Insurgent, World After, City of Ashes, Tiger's Quest, Beautiful Darkness and Pandemonium are a few examples that come to mind...  Occasionally this can be refreshing, but mostly it just annoys me, because I feel like I know that they're going to be together again eventually anyway, and the second book is filled with pointless angst.

7.  "We're In Love... Since Yesterday"

I, along with 95% of the reading population, don't like insta-love.  Unless it's justified.  I don't think you can feel so strongly about a person you have only just met for the first time.  It's silly, and doesn't help the reputations of both teens and YA.  The only time insta-love has worked for me is in Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, because it was explained.

8.  Excessive Affection

Again, this is just a pet peeve of mine.  I don't mind a few make out scenes, but when they're taking over the storyline, it starts to irk me.  There's not much more to say here!

Notable example:  Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout

That's all I can think of right now!  Be sure to share your Top Ten with me :)