My favorite part of this trope? The moment when the object of affection begins to realize there was something potent there all along. They just didn’t realize it. Perhaps they weren’t ready to confront it. As in any romance novel, we get our moment of reckoning. The delicious moment in time when the other protagonist confesses, “I love you too.” In that instant, we know all the tension and trials were worth it.
I’ve written a couple of unrequited love romances for my Gemini Island Shifters series, and they were so much fun to write. There’s something quite beautiful about laying those emotions out on the page. As a writer, I find it allows me to dig deep. When I write scenes for these types of plots, I usually end up in tears somewhere along the way. Do I mind? Not at all, because they end up being happy tears.
Based on the number of unrequited love romances out there, it’s clear I’m not alone. Apparently, I’m not the only author who likes to see their characters secretly aching for another.
I’ve brought a few likeminded authors along with me today, and I’m pleased to share their stories. So, buckle up. We’ve got a truckload of withheld emotions, yearning characters and happy endings coming your way.