Do you enjoy humor in romance? I know I do. I’m not talking about an all-out slapstick comedy. Some readers love slapstick, which is great, but it’s not my thing (although a surprise slapstick-esque scene can be fun). And I’m not specifically referring to “rom-coms” either, since that definition has become a bit fuzzy over the past few years. Not every romance with funny scenes is a rom-com. But I do enjoy having a good chuckle while reading…and while writing.
As an author, I have a choice to make. Do I want the scene to be funny for the reader, as someone observing what’s happening? Or do I want the scene to be funny for the characters, with the reader in on the joke?
A great example of funny for the reader, while not funny (at least not at the time) for the character, is the “Wibblet” scene from Lucy Parker’s Headliners—a lovely enemies-to-lovers romance about two morning TV hosts. In this scene, a guest brings on a popular robotic toy called a Wibblet, and the thing goes crazy—terrifying the heroine, cursing and running amok—causing a scene on live television. It was so well-written that I had to set my Kindle down for a moment because I was laughing so hard!
An example of funny for the characters is a brief scene in On Dublin Street by Samantha Young, where the couple is clowning around (fully dressed) on the sofa and the heroine…um…passes gas. The hero bursts into laughter, but not in a mean way—he assures the mortified heroine that it’s completely natural and they both end up laughing hysterically over it. This romance (I love the whole series!) is actually pretty angsty, so that small, relatable moment helps build some intimacy for the characters and gives the reader a moment to think these two are going to be okay.
For me, laughter is a big part of romance. My husband and I laugh every day together—whether it’s an “inside joke” between us that no one else gets, or just an observation that puts a smile on our faces. And sometimes it happens right in the middle of an argument—I mean, why are we fighting over how to put the Tupperware away? One of us will point out the absurdity, and we’ll just laugh it off and move on.
Here’s our most common inside joke. We’d only been together a couple of months (but already living together), when we tackled a major relationship test—assembling a large entertainment center that arrived in a very flat box with a million pieces. That’s the day we discovered I’m a “let’s read the instructions” sort, and Himself is a “let’s wing it” sort (hello opposites-attract trope!).
Because our relationship was in that shiny new phase, we were trying so hard to be patient with each other. I kept sweetly saying things like “I don’t think that goes there, honey” and “Babe, the manual says we need to assemble this shelf first.” Finally, with a bit of an edge to my voice, I said “Sweetheart, that’s not going to work.”
He looked up at me and very seriously said “Don’t ever call me sweetheart in that tone of voice again.” After staring at each other for a minute, we both burst out laughing. We finished putting the furniture together as a team, without the sappy sweetness. That was twenty-eight years ago, and to this day, when one of us is offering unwanted assistance, the other will say “Thank you, sweetheart” (in a very sarcastic unsweetheart voice). That’s our gentle code to step back, and it reminds us of how laughter saved the day way back when.
I enjoy writing that type of humor for my characters, where the reader gets to laugh along with them, like we’re part of that inside joke. In When Sparks Fly, Mike and Zoey have been best friends since third grade (they’re both near forty in the book). Their friendship is based on laughter, even in hard times. They text each other corny jokes and riddles, just to make the other smile and know they’re being thought of. It’s how they show how much they care. That humor carries through to their eventual first love scene, when the only condoms available are multi-colored ones from a gag gift.
Even the moment leading up to disaster for them is funny, with Mike doing a silly striptease as Zoey laughs (right before the bedroom door opens unexpectedly…). I was literally laughing to myself as I wrote that scene.
Whether a romance novel is packed with one funny scene after another, or just has a few to lighten the moment, humor can help draw the reader into the on-page relationship. Of course, there’s a difference between sarcasm and flat-out meanness, which is never funny in a relationship and can turn a reader off in a hurry. But as long as it’s not mean-spirited, humor in romance helps us—as readers and as authors—relate to and care about the characters.
WHEN SPARKS FLY by Jo McNally
Rendezvous Falls #5
Between her business, her recent divorce and her teenage daughter who needs her right now, Zoey Hartford has her hands full. Thank goodness she has her best friend, Mike McKinnon, to keep her laughing. Zoey and Mike have gone through everything together—from chemistry class to heartbreak. They would never risk their friendship…until one unexpected but sizzling night changes everything.
Mike is torn. Funny, down-to-earth Zoey in her flannel shirts and messy ponytail always seems so in control…until she melts into his arms. But he won’t come between Zoey and her daughter. They’ll just keep it casual. No drama. No feelings. No messiness. What could go wrong?
But the meddling, matchmaking book club won’t be denied. They may not have set them up, but they recognize a perfect match when they see one. And they’re determined to help Zoey see what’s been right in front of her for so long…
In Lost in Love, single mom Andrea will do anything to make the fall festival a success…even ask the town bad boy for his help.
Romance Contemporary | Small Town [HQN, On Sale: August 9, 2022, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781335916389 / eISBN: 9780369703637]
Buy WHEN SPARKS FLY: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Powell’s Books | Books-A-Million | Indie BookShops | Ripped Bodice | Love’s Sweet Arrow | Walmart.com | Book Depository | Target.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Jo McNally
Jo McNally lives in coastal North Carolina with 100 pounds of dog and 200 pounds of husband – her slice of the bed is very small. When she’s not writing or reading romance novels (or clinging to the edge of the bed…), she can often be found on the back porch sipping wine with friends, listening to great music. If the weather is absolutely perfect, she’ll occasionally join her husband on the golf course, where she always feels far more competitive than her actual skill-level would suggest.
No Comments
Comments are closed.