I think a romantic subplot can add an extra layer of tension and emotional investment in an already gripping story. The key for me is to make the romance interesting enough that it could stand on its own, while at the same time not letting it take over too much of the story. The main plot can’t get diluted or lose its punch.
One of the series I have been re-reading recently is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer – Say what you want, but this series hit me hard when I first read it, and still moves me today. There’s something so haunting about the way Bella just falls. The obsession, the danger, the ache of wanting someone you maybe shouldn’t. It’s messy, and that’s why it works. It reminds us that love, especially when you’re young and hurting, doesn’t always look healthy—but it feels real in the moment. And for the reader, that adds to the danger and the thrill.
