Aren't romance novels about the love between two people? I don't think a romance novel needs to end on a happy note.

I know there are people who disagree with me but I really need a HEA in my romance. I realize that there are books/stories classified as romance that do NOT have a HEA and I classify them as tragedies (i.e. Romeo and Juliet).

I feel cheated if there's no HEA. If I want real life without happy endings...I'll watch the news!
J

I feel so strongly about HEAs that I want publishers to put that info when they give the synopsis! Like an icon the way Phaze Books does. I love their rating system and wish the rest of the publishers, e-format and print, would follow suit. They have an icon for HFN, too.

I'm satisfied with Happy For Now though I still prefer an HEA. Strangely enough, I do NOT like epilogues of the wedding or, worse, the first baby. The proposal and acceptance is where I want it to end.

We need a LIST here on this site containing books that have no HEA or are open-ended so I know which ones not to buy or read.

For me to truly enjoy a book, it has to have an HEA. It doesn't have to be super sweet and happy, but I want something to tell me that the H/H are on a path to a happy future. I want to feel good after reading a romance novels, that's part of the reason why I read them, and finishing a book where there is now resolution between the H/H just pisses me off and leaves the story feeling incomplete.

Elaine if you ever make up that list please write HUGE ENDING SPOILER so that I know not to read it :D I hate any kind of spoiler in a book especially the ending--hey now there's a poll idea (lol!)!

I like sad endings or bittersweet ones that leave you crying buckets after. I'm a fan of the emotional roller coaster ;)

For me, if there isn't an HEA, it ruins and cancels out everything else I've read! HEA is a def. must for this chica!!

Yes definitely, whats the point of the book then...We are all looking for the pot of gold after all the drama.

Eastofoz, I do worse things: when I see a book in the store whose reviews I haven't checked out yet, I read the ending! Even the serial killer ones!!!

No strong HEA or HFN, it goes back on the shelf. Most times, the killer or villain is guessable so I don't care if I already know before I read the book but a happy ending is my raison d'etre for reading romance so I must have that.

I'm on the side of needing a HEA in my romance books, if I'm going to invest my time in reading the book, then I want the pay off. I have ended up throwing books across the room when there isn't a HEA. If I didn't want a HEA then I'd read an Oprah book. lol.

Lol, East, I have the same problem. Even if the endings are predictable, if there's any kind of spoiling, I can't read the book, though it may be great. I do prefer HEA. I'll say it: I read romance mostly as escapism, so I'm not really interested in sad endings, but if a writer's very talented and writes very moving prose, I can excuse it. I've seen a few of those in fantasy.

Add me to the list of those needing a HEA!