If you read many romance novels, especially mainstream romance, you will become acquainted with a slew of heroines who are stunningly beautiful, talented, and witty. If she has a physical flaw, it is usually along the lines of “her eyes were too big.” Or, “she was just so thin and willowy.” Shudder! Wouldn’t it be terrible to be endowed with those shortcomings?
Lately there has been a bit of a backlash against this, and we are now seeing some heroines who are described as merely attractive instead of the most dazzling woman in the room. Sometimes they may even be described as plain or a bit plump. Based on the comments on sites like amazon, it seems readers appreciate seeing a little bit of physical diversity in their heroines. Other comments reveal that some readers are looking to novels as escapism. They want the opportunity to walk in that perfect woman’s shoes, if only for a few hours, and they prefer her to be gorgeous, witty, etc.
One thing I never see readers ask for is a heroine to be more dull, less clever, less able to stand up to the hero. On the whole, heroines are almost always bright, good-natured, and intelligent. I’ve always worked pretty hard on making my hero and heroine witty and smart. This is simply something I find immensely attractive in real life, and I like to see it in novels as well.
I am asking two separate questions here: Do you want your heroines to be pretty, and do you want them to be smart?
Comments 7
Your two questions made me think of what Diana Barry says to Anne Shirley: “Gilbert Blythe says being smart is better than being pretty.”
I can’t relate so much to a stunningly beautiful heroine. I want to relate to a smart and witty and courageous one.
i get tired of the same thing in movies and books,heroines being pretty.i would rather they be smart about comman sense issues and situations,and attract the man with smarts instead of looks
I don’t mind plain heroines, but don’t like “issue romances” (the ones where they have cancer or are blind or have some other massive problem.) I read to escape into another world…..not re-hash the problems we have at home!
I’m with you, Vickie. I love some of the more recent movie stars like Sandra Bullock or Rene Zellwinger who are not knock-your-socks off pretty…..but who still have a sweet kind of smartness.
I like heroines who struggle a little with something, not necessarily an issue with their looks, but maybe saying the wrong thing, or having a clumbsy moment. I also like reading about women who are intelligent and have some depth of character. Of course, in a novel, they are usually going to meet the right guy, but I like it when they have something more than looks to offer in the relationship. They may not be perfect, but they have substance. I love Anne Mateer’s comment. Anne of Green Gables is my all-time favorite novel.
Rebecca, you said it perfectly….. I think a heroine MUST have something to offer beyond looks (“beauty fades, but stupid if forever”…..words of wisdom from Judge Judy!)
I like them to be smart. And I like that they take care of their general appearance. Doesn’t mean they have to be supermodels, but they practice good hygiene, etc. I also like it when I find out the heroine is thin, but like normal humans, she has to eat right and exercise, and even then she tends to struggle with her weight! 🙂