I've noticed different types of book boyfriends. There's the strong and silent type of book boyfriend. Usually this guy is in a position of authority or power and his duty keeps him from entering into the relationship (for awhile, at least). This guy is usually serious and that makes it extra special when he smiles or laughs (and finally gives in). He's usually a great guy, very tough and swoony. Examples are Chaol from the Throne of Glass series, Aiden from the Covenant series, Dimitri from the VA series, and Lincoln from the Embrace series (Violet Eden).
Then there's the bad boy type of book boyfriend. He usually starts off fairly obnoxious and cocky, with snarky quips. He pushes the girl away for various reasons (although there's always pull too). Basically, he's got some issues, but the bantering is usually so much fun. Examples are Daemon from the Lux series, Will from Internal Devices, Jace from Mortal Instruments, Adrian from VA and Bloodlines series, Cole from Alice in Zombieland (The White Rabbit Chronicles), and Rafa from the Rephaim series (just finished Haze and loved it!)
Then there's just the good guy book boyfriend. It's more about circumstances keeping them apart. He's not afraid to admit how he feels and is actually just a fantastic boyfriend, pretty much from the beginning. Examples are Jem from Infernal Devices, Trevor from Pivot Point, Fade from Enclave (Razorland series), Tucker from the Unearthly series, Jase from My Life Next Door, Liam from Darkest Minds, Zachary from the Shade series, Logan from The Summer I Became a Nerd, and Day from the Legend series.
I know I'm probably missing some types and it's not always easy to put guys in these categories (sometimes it can be more than one and a lot of times they all end up in the good guy category eventually). For example, where does Raffe from Angelfall fit? (Just read World After and loved it, by the way!)
What types have you noticed? What are your favorite book boyfriends and what category do they fit into? Do you tend to like a certain type more than others?
Posted by: Pam
CHAOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay I'm done. Sorry, I get excited every time I see his name. Lol. You could say I'm a bit obsessed with him... Another strong silent type is Hector from Fire and Thorns. Love him as well!
ReplyDeleteHmmm bad boys.... I know you're not a fan, but Warner from Shatter Me. There's also Darius from Soulbound by Heather Brewer. He's definitely a bad boy type.
I'm so happy you listed Day in your good guy section. So sweet. Love him. Who else is a good guy? Hmm... Oh I know! Finn from All Our Yesterdays and Chase Jennings from Article 5.
Where do you think Gavriel Duval from Grave Mercy fits? I feel like he's a good guy, but he's also really snarky so I don't feel like he quite fits in that category. I haven't met Raffee so I can't help you there.
Great discussion post! I'm always up for talking about my favorite book boyfriends. :)
Yes, Hector would definitely fit int he strong and silent type.
DeleteBad boys...Warner definitely fits that. Maybe a separate category for super bad boys. :) Seth from the Covenant series could fit there and The Darkling (I don't know if he really qualifies as a "boyfriend" though).
And yes, Finn and Chase fit as good guys. There were more good guys than I was expecting when thinking about it.
Not sure about Duval. Some are harder to put into categories.
And I still need to read Soulbound! ~Pam
I think you pretty much nailed it! Although WHERE'S MALACHI, PAM?!!? He's definitely in the first category and I love him. But I love Adrian so so much. Jase is also a favorite of mine. It's funny, I'd say I like the bad boy the least but I think Adrian is my favorite? So maybe he is the exception to the rule? But I guess I do enjoy a bad boy in a story. I obviously don't discriminate.
ReplyDeleteMalachi...should have included him in the strong and silent type. Him and his stupid duty (especially in Fractured...I wanted to smack that boy a little bit).
DeleteI'm not sure what my favorite type is, I like all of them! :) ~Pam
I definitely prefer the good guys. Jem, Hector (Girl of Fire and Thorns), Levi (Fangirl)... they're my favorites!
ReplyDeleteI was surprised there were so many good guys, especially in dystopian and paranormal books (you usually think they are filled with the bad boys). Hector and Levi...great guys! ~Pam
DeleteHector and Chaol are both definitely my favorites. I also like Fade and Four.
ReplyDeleteThen there is the COMPLETE opposite like Will and Jace. Sarcastic and annoying, but you can't help but like them.
Cassandra Clare can write a good bad boy, that's for sure. Yes, Four...he would be the strong and silent type (well, at least until Allegiant?) And love Fade, he's one of my favorites. And Chaol. And...I could keep going on. So many! ~Pam
DeleteLove this post and you pretty much covered them all. I tried some NA fiction and noticed the bad boy, stalker, crazy boyfriend who's too possessive and beats up any guy who even looks at his girl. Definitely not appealing!
ReplyDeleteI really like Day - a great book boyfriend. But I really like the strong and silent at times, this brings to mind Four from the Divergent trilogy & until Allegiant ruined him; he was one of my all time favourite book boyfriends!
Yes, the NA books seem to have the same type guy character, that's for sure. Some of the YA books have the stalky mysterious guy, I could have created that category, or maybe that's a sub-category of bad boy?
DeleteAnd yes, Day is such a great guy! Four...I was going to put him as strong and silent, but then he became weak and whiny in Allegiant, so he was tossed out. :) ~Pam
CHAOL! *fangirls* I really, really like this type of book boyfriend. Other names I can think of: perhaps Valek from Maria Snyder's - Poison study series. Or Duval from Grave Mercy :D Bad boys can be fun sometimes, but they really have to be like the examples you named. There are also the bad boys in NA and those are really not my type! And of course the good guys, like Jack from Everneath :D
ReplyDelete