Throughout my reading journey, I have discovered that when reading a book, my strongest desire is an excruciatingly painful slow-burn romance. It’s possible that I might not be reading the right books, or searching in all the wrong places, but I believe our book community has been forgetting the true meaning of “slow burn.” I have read too many stories that claimed to have a slow-burn romance but had the insta-love trope instead. This is an issue similar to that of books claiming to have the enemies-to-lovers trope when it’s actually just a minor miscommunication between two characters whose relationship is more like a rivalry. Which, oftentimes, I spot when the characters’ inner monologues contain affection and attraction towards each other at the beginning of a story when they’re supposed to be hating each other.
I have compiled a short list of stories that didn’t quite live up to their tropes, along with some that I consider to be my favorite slow-burns.
My desire for slow-burn romance in books originated when I watched the TV series The 100. The 100 follows Clarke, a seventeen-year-old who gets sent to Earth, along with 99 other juvenile delinquents, to discover if the Earth is habitable after a nuclear war. I loved the main characters’ dynamic in the show, and decided to purchase the book series. To my surprise, though, the two got together in the books much quicker than I anticipated, disregarding the build-up of a relationship and not developing much of an understanding of each other, given that they are both still strangers as their relationship begins.
In the TV show, things are different. Clarke and Bellamy begin at odds with each other as the two battle for leadership and have different ideas for survival. This builds an initial tension between them, which fades once they realize they must work together for the good of the group. As the series progresses, the two balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses and make decisions together. This builds their trust, causing Bellamy to admire her, value her opinions, and see her as more than just his co-leader. They grow closer emotionally and physically when Clarke goes to Bellamy for advice when stressed by her leadership duties. When the two face life-or-death situations, they pull each other out of danger and comfort each other after traumatic events, demonstrating their mutual care for each other. While their relationship lacks romantic gestures, they understand each other deeply and share their burdens, which builds a foundation for their romantic relationship that I can truly appreciate.
That being said, while I was disappointed with the relationship build-up between the two in the books, I still believe it’s a great series, and would recommend it for those who enjoy suspenseful chapters, survival stories, teen drama, and sci-fi romance!
After reading Shatter Me, I wanted a similar slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance set in a dystopian world, which is when I read Legend—unfortunately I was disappointed with the “slow-burn” aspect. The story follows June and Day who are on opposite sides of the Republic and have goals to protect their loved ones. Rumors spread against Day, claiming he is a murderer, and June strives to catch him. As their story progresses, they share intimate moments where they reveal their history, and their perception of each other shifts, leading them to trust and rely on each other.
This book was recommended to me as a story with a slow-burn romance; however, I found it was more of an instant-love that begins in the middle of book one of the trilogy. While the story didn’t deliver a slow burn that I was promised to receive, it contains a spectacular enemies-to-lovers trope, as the main characters are on opposite sides of the war, so I would still recommend it.
One story I believe fits my slow-burn qualifications is the Shatter Me trilogy by Tahereh Mafi. This story follows Juliet Ferrars, a teenager imprisoned for her lethal touch. Her love interest, Aaron Warner, starts as the antagonist who captures her. In Shatter Me, she hates and even tries to kill him, but he’s always found her interesting. Aaron never sees her as a weapon but values her power and notices great potential in her as their world enters a war.
In Unravel Me, the second book in the series, readers begin to dig deeper into Aaron’s complex character as he demonstrates compassion towards Juliet while the Republic’s war grows more intense, and their forced proximity breaks their walls down. The two share moments that build their trust in each other when Aaron begins to reveal his past, exposing his vulnerability to Juliet which shifts her perception of him and reveals Aaron’s soft side.
By the end of Ignite Me, the last book in the trilogy, the two form a friendship and a romantic attraction for one another that cannot be denied as they undergo traumatic events and lean on each other for support.
Another series that gets praised for its well-crafted slow-burn romance is the Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy. While I have not read this story, I have been wanting to after hearing such great things about it. This story follows Evangeline Fox, a girl residing in an enchanted world who has just recently gotten her heart broken. To stop the one she loves from getting married to another woman, she makes a bargain with the Prince of Hearts. In exchange, she agrees to a series of deals, striving to do what it takes for her true love. As the trilogy progresses, Evangeline is unsure of who holds her heart and battles the consequences of her deal with the prince and her personal feelings. To make matters worse, a curse stands in the way of what Evangeline desires.
Finding books with real slow-burn romances is a challenge I will continue to face, but hopefully with the help of others, I will find something that will suit my interests, and I hope I was able to do the same for you.
Anasofia Alejandro, Pine Reads Review Writer