I’ve been thinking some about heroines…and what my expectations are for the heroines in the books I read. I started thinking about this on Wednesday when Beverley Oakley visited us.
Beverley writes Regency romance, a sub-genre that I don’t read a lot of. But as I read her post and the comments that followed it struck me that there are definitely things that I like in heroines within historical romance. One of the things that I like are spunky (not necessarily bratty) heroines. I like a heroine with a sense of adventure which leads her into trouble. I like a heroine smart enough to get herself out of the trouble she gets into at least most of the time. I don’t like heroines who do stupid things repeatedly and who has to be rescued by the hero repeatedly. I like a heroine who is the hero’s equal in some way even if the strictures of society at the time prevented her opportunities to do some of the things that he can do.
I like similar things in other historical periods though things like the heroine’s spunk and her sense of adventure are a lot less important to me in other historical sub-genres and in contemporaries than they are to me in Regency romances. I think in later historical periods heroines were not as hindered by the time and so a sense of adventure is not as much an aberration as it seems in Regency romances.
I like heroines who, in spite of the time period in which they live, do something with their lives…have some calling…some interest that gives meaning and purpose to their lives.
In general I expect heroines to act like I would in most situations…unless they have backstory, knowledge, or interests different than mine which would make their behavior different than mine. There is one exception to this. In domestic discipline (spanking) stories I start out with the expectation that the heroine will act differently than I would, at least in some key areas. She might be more spoiled than I am, more disorganized, chronically late. After all, there has to be something that she does that is spank worthy. 
What about you? What traits are important to you in the heroines you read? Do you have a different list of favorite traits for heroines in different sub-genres?
Heroines In Romance Novels
Heroines In Romance Novels
Heroines In Romance Novels
I think they should be smart and strong.
I agree. I like smart and strong…though I like vulnerability too.
Generally I like a heroine who gives as good as she gets.
Someone can be emotionally vulnerable and still be a strong person. I guess that’s the combination I like.
I like reading about smart and self sufficient heroines.
I agree in the sense that I don’t like books where it seems the heroine needs a hero to keep saving her from herself or to keep pulling her out of trouble that she keeps getting herself into.
I don’t mind a heroine who is a bit weaker in one area if she compensates in another. People are sometimes big packages of conflicting traits…the very smart person who is a bit absent minded kind of thing.
I like heroines who stand up for themselves, ones who aren’t afraid to say what they want.
Indeed, characters who stand up for themselves are fun. I especially like these characters in books where the hero has some misunderstandings about them. In those stories the sparks really fly – and I’m a fan of flying sparks.
I do read Regency Romance & I enjoy it.
The heroines I always like reading are intelligent, witty, a touch sassy & not afraid to break from convention, whatever the time period.
Yes, there is something…I don’t know…exciting maybe…about the heroine not afraid to break from convention…to march a bit to her own drummer.
I like people like that so I suppose it makes sense I’d like characters like that in books.