'Heart the Lover' review: Lily King's erotically charged new novel - NPR
This is the engine of the romance. It is the witty banter, the late-night conversations, the "will they/won't they" anxiety. The best storylines use this phase to expose character flaws. Does the protagonist sabotage intimacy because of past trauma? Are they too proud to apologize? The relationship becomes a crucible. We aren't just watching two people kiss; we are watching two people learn to see each other.
Different stories need different relationship trajectories.
As we look ahead, three trends are defining the future of relationships on screen and in print.