“Critics of romance novels love to laugh at us because the same things happen book after book, but they don't understand that that's the point. A sculpture isn't less impressive because I've seen a ball of clay before: it's not the colour on the palette, but the way the painter puts it together that makes the picture. […] It's obvious, to me, that it's writing on hard mode to keep a reader's attention when she already knows not just the ending, but the beat-for-beat structure the story must have to feel satisfying. If you don't have the pull of plot to keep the narrative tension, your characters and setting have to be so very vivid; your dialogue so sharp; your jokes so good. The emotions have to be pitch perfect."

This this this! Ella phrases this so well and I’m so grateful for it. I love romance and romcoms so much, in huge part because I know the beats. The comfort for me is quieting my brain because I already know the beats. The joy is seeing how did this author put these pieces together, how does this couple find their love and happiness with each other. And that process is delicious.