I think I first started noticing it with Warcross by Marie Lu. The relationship between the two main characters felt so cliché and by-the-book, and I felt pretty much nothing for the two as a couple. Same thing happened to me with Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo, From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon, and again with my latest read, Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody. When I'm more or less invested in the plot but couldn't care less about the romance - which is usually a high selling point for me - it's obvious that there's a problem.

Now I don't have an issue with the predictability of which two characters will get together. That has always been obvious, and I love how powerful I feel when I'm like I saw that relationship coming from a mile away. No, the issue is when what happens between two characters romantically feels mechanical. Dictated. Expected. Boring. Sometimes I wonder if it's my age that has me bored to Hell and back with these bland romances, but nope, I just read Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West the other day and I can assure you I seriously swooned over that relationship. I know that romance in YA has always been something that is almost a must for the genre, but I guess the chemistry part of attraction isn't a necessity anymore. I'm seen characters eye each other with interest as soon as they meet, awkwardly shiver away from the other's touch, but it's hard for the reader to feel much when the characters themselves feel like they're not on board with this relationship the authors are telling them to take part in. Long story short: these romances aren't doing it for me. I mean, authors, characters, WHERE IS THE ANGST?

Take Ace of Shades as an example. Levi is pretty much interested in Enne as soon as he sees her, for no apparent reason. He's the leader of the Irons and doesn't trust anyone, but for no reason at all, he immediately trusts Enne and promises to help her no matter what. Because she's the first pretty girl he's seen? Similarly, as soon as they meet, Enne has an inner commentary on how handsome Levi is, but of course she doesn't want to admit that to herself. Naturally, Levi's eye's flit to and away from Enne, trying not to reveal his interest in her. Come on. Stop with the annoying, non-romantic antics, please.

There's a bunch more fake, stale romance throughout the rest of the book - though possibly not a single kiss, if I'm remembering correctly - but then there's a prophetic (read: it's all in the head) sex scene between the two toward the end of the novel that I laughed my way through because, again, what chemistry? It was funny how all the characters were remarking on how they liked each other and I was just siting there smirking at the falseness of it all. Just like in From Twinkle, With Love, however, Levi and Enne's relationship got more believable and had more substance towards the end of the book. But like I said in my review of Menon's book as well, it's hard to care much about a couple who had an unrealistic and boring start to their relationship. It certainly doesn't make me eager to pick up the next book.