Have you ever seen a weird character that just seems so out of place with their affection that readers end up asking themselves What’s their problem? How about a time when a love interest seemed to like stalking our precious protagonist, and rather than explain to them what’s going on, they hurl a variety of insults and abuse, all the while hiding their blushing face? What about the time when the character just seems entranced, so much so that they become a bit stalkerish? In real life, every character who exhibits this behavior could potentially get arrested, but in literature, it’s just another way to express love. 

Many books have capitalized on the fact that there are many ways to express love to someone. For example, in Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush series, the protagonist, Nora, decides to just look through the new student’s files, simply because she was curious about him. Meanwhile, her best friend goes out and causes a scene that could potentially waste the time of police who are actively trying to deal with more dangerous threats. And because I’m writing this article, I will not go into the creepy contexts of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, and Fifty Shades of Grey, though I admit, Twilight was good. 

As such, below are some of the ways characters express their love to others. It differs between genres, but other than that, the end result is still the same. 

The Comedic

In a romantic comedy, or any comedy in general, two characters will meet under unique circumstances. Whether it triggers a meltdown of epic proportions, or it’s a general meet-cute in which the love interest does something cute, and the hero is supposed to “meet up” with them about it, either way these interactions are supposed to make us laugh. They want us to support the couple, even though they have the potential for a toxic relationship. Couples like these express a sort of tough love scenario that’s hard to describe. An example of these books include Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie and Wallbanger by Alice Clayton. 

The Tragic

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has solidified the meaning behind tragic romances. These romances end on a more dramatic note and have readers on the edge of their seats, just wishing for a happily ever after. There’s a certain humanity to them, as well as a romantic edge that makes us wish we could experience a romance like that, even with all the heartbreaks that go with it. The couples that express their love in books are often simplistic and symbolic, allowing them to have a special moment together before they’re inevitably separated forever. Some of these books include Wuthering Heights by Emily Brönte and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Many of the Greek legends can fall into this category. 

The Simplistic 

These couples usually express their love in a rather normal manner. This can include trying to make the other partner jealous, having children, and simply just confessing. These lovely expressions are by far the easiest and the most headache free out of all three, though they can have some drama of their own. This includes works such as The Simple Soul of Susan by Noel Branham. 

Of course, there are many other ways that our characters can express their love to their partners. The genres are by no means exhaustive, and it’s important to remember that love can blossom even in the most strangest of places. Still, it’s worth remembering how we express our love. Because after all, our characters are based on humanity itself, and we’re just a big mess of love in the end.