What do you think about romance books without happy endings?

I'm perhaps not the best person to comment because I don't read romance novels, and yet I consider myself a very romantic person and love romantic stories. Yet if you look at some of the most famous romantic stories in history; such as Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", possibly the single most beautiful romance ever conceived, "Wuthering Heights"; one of the most romantic of all novels from the Romantic era in the arts; and more recently, Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby"...all have unutterably tragic endings. And were I to be given the power to change them, I'd refuse to. They are perfect as they are. There is something incredibly beautiful about a romantic tale with a tragic ending. And yet terribly sad too; as much as I love "Romeo and Juliet" I wouldn't put it past myself to wish for a happy ending next time watch it...and there may never be one. Yet, great romantic tales can have happy endings...as in the case of Thomas Hardy's "Far from the Madding Crowd"...but even at that, as a book, it's drenched with sorrow. It's strange isn't it...I mean...how so much Romantic literature is so suffused through with sadness. Yet...I saw a classic old movie the other day called "Meet John Doe" directed by Frank Capra and featuring beautiful performances by Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck, and when the happy ending came, I was in floods of tears; tears of relief as much as anything else. I just get so involved with emotional stories.

In some conditions, it may a good ending for it but I think romance books without happy endings is also a good story, cause may be a difficult situation or the author has already thought about the story. Sometimes, I also like to read this type of story.

It's sad when the ending isn't happy, but sometimes I feel it's a little more true to life.

in my opinion i dont think romance necessarily means a happy ending or a happily ever after because most of the books made were base on true stories or real events happen in life or in reality before i really hate it when i read a romance books without a happy ending but as times go by i realize not all things have a good ending not all romances have a happy ending and this happy ending happens only in fairytales (that was my thoughts)

I'm with you on this one! I too am an avid reader and can deal with tragic endings, but not in a romance novel. I feel cheated and quite unhappy without the good ending. Life is hard enough and love in real life can be a disaster. I read the romance with the expectation that love will prevail.

I think romance books always should not have happy endings because all love stories always does not have a happy ending.

i think it is always good to read stuffs and books with happy endings.. but sometimes they are very expected leaving not much room for the imagination or for us to be wrong with our assumptions. i think i have read some books that has some open ended stories and it was okay with me.. the fate of the characters would then rely on my own thinking. :D

Romance Novels without a happy ending in my point of view is sad but realistic. Not every romance ends happily. The person who writes these types of story is simply showing the truest part of life. Changes are evident even for lovers.

that's why romance is so called.romance always has a good ending.i think there are two reasons.one is that after many troubles,a happy ending is necessary.the other is that the reader want to have the hero and heroine own a happy ending after they suffer a lot although they will not have a happy life.being happy is the expection of the readers to the hero and the heroine.

I love reading books and novels. just like you I want those books with happy ending because it feels good when everything turned out better in the end, like all of the lonely and anger emotions at the start was relieve.

I believe every writer has expectation for his own story. So I could totally accept a story without a happy ending. But personally I still prefer those happy endings. They make us believe in love. Sad endings often leave me frustrated and in a bad mood.

It really doesn't bother me if i read a a romance book without happy endings. After reading it, i'll just say, what the hell just happened? and then i'll laugh. It's not really a romance book anyway, it was tragic. LOL.

ALL Romance books has a not happy ending. A Romance is become Powerful when the ending will be in a sad way. but romance is enlarge a reaction to the viewers when it satisfy their desires. so,that is the huge question left to the public's heart that what is the climax should happen till to the last end.

Not everyone has a happy ending and as long as the book itself was enjoyable, I think I could overlook the fact that it didn't end happily ever after.

I've always been fond of happy endings whatever kind of novel I am reading and even in real life I always want happy endings although of course it can't be possible all the time. Now with romance books, I avoid those with sad endings like one with terminal illness and would die in the end. I don't like that. I want to see the couple ending up still together despite all the trials, sharing love and building a good family.

Most of us like a happy ending and that is human nature. But to be honest I feel the story with a sad or not so good a ending do more impressive sometimes and such a story touch me more. Though I do not like it, I was somehow touched by it. Of course I like books with happy endings as well and that will make me feel better while seeing it: