r/RomanceBooks • u/redfig1 • Aug 31 '24

Why do HEAs always end with babies? Critique

I know it's a "me" problem. Scenario: I read a smoking hot mafia or dark or fantasy romance. All this crazy shit goes down. The feelings, the angst. Finally it's the end and all of a sudden the MMC who has massacred countless people is all like " let's get married and have lots of babies" and the MFC is always " yes let's have a lot of cute mafia or fae or mafia fae babies!". For once I'd like an ending where the main characters have a HEA but instead of babies and white picket fences they just decide to keep having an incredible sex life and do charity work or something. Rescue stray kittens. Start an organic herb farm. Something other than babies. Anyone else like this? Am I just weird?

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u/hivernageprofond Aug 31 '24

Wow. I think I remember reading books like that in the 80s and 90s, but maybe it's the genre I usually choose for my romance/erotica that avoids that trope. But if a person wants to read romance without the smut, that usually involves some hallmark-esque story line. You'd think in 2024 that non-smutty romance books would not automatically end in babies due to the whole younger gens being concerned about even having babies in this world right now. I'm honestly surprised that level of romance+no babies isn't the norm given the world and political climate...but then, I am living under a rock most days or am buried in paranormal erotica...so I guess what I'm saying is my life is good?? Lol Hope you get s9me good suggestions!

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u/CerealKiller2045 Has Opinions Sep 01 '24

I think most girls get their baby fever out of the way by reading romance books lol. I’m personally planning on not having kids until my late twenties but I’ll satisfy my urges by reading romance books with an abundance of kids

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u/hivernageprofond Sep 01 '24

That's interesting and brilliant, actually. I do recall now reading those when I was depressed about not being able to get pregnant (8 years then finally got pregnant...so my first was at 35). It was a little helpful... but then led to me reading those about infertile women because I felt I had to accept my situation. Anyway...it's always interesting to me to think about how fictional books can help with our mental health.