Epilogues in Romance Novels

dolores haze · Mar 16, 2008

I'm toying with the idea of adding an epilogue to my current romance WIP. The problem is that, for the most part, I really dislike epilogues in romance novels. So often the epilogue consists of that much later in the marriage scene, where the couple have a few perfect children, or the heroine is glowingly pregnant, or the grumpy hero is now the perfect husband and father. Don't get me wrong - I love a perfectly realized HEA, but I often find the epilogues cloying or unconvincing.

So, what do you all think of epilogues? Love them? Hate them? Write them? I look forward to hearing all your opinions.

Marlys · Mar 16, 2008

Depends. Sometimes epilogues can tie up a few loose ends that aren't covered in the big finish. But I'm with you about most of the here-we-are-with-our-perfect-children codas. Unnecessary--you've already pointed your characters in the direction of Happily Ever After. If you've made their future logically convincing, we don't have to see it.

Jersey Chick · Mar 16, 2008

I tend to stay away from them - that way I can do future stories about the supporting cast.

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Mar 16, 2008

I used one in mine... but it didn't show all had been 'happiness and light'. It brought me to the death of the heroine and her looking forward to being reunited with her husband. 'I like them if they're realistic', would be my answer.

Cathy C · Mar 16, 2008

Since I write more action-oriented books, I tend to use an epilogue (when I do one) to wrap up the SUB-plots. Was the dog at the vet and about to undergo surgery? Was the heroine being fitted for a bridesmaid gown for a friend's wedding? It's easy to tie in the romantic aspect by having BOTH people go pick up the dog and having the dog finally "accept" the heroine, or have the heroine show off a new ring to the other bridesmaids at the dress shop, etc. It can be done with a lot of finesse when thought out and can ADD to the book, rather than just being a "tack-on."

Does that make sense?

StoryG27 · Mar 16, 2008

Sometimes there's just that one loose end to tie up that is going to take months to develop in the story so then an epilogue works, IMHO. I just don't like the cheesy ones, there needs to be a reason for it.

Susan Gable · Mar 16, 2008

If it works for the story...

I'm toying with the idea of an epilogue for this book I'm working on. I think there's one final issue that will actually take several years to be completely resolved all the way...so I'm thinking of an epilogue to show that. Because there IS a big time span.

And yeah, I'm pretty sure it is going to show that my hero and heroine are married at that point, and they have a kid, but I think I've got a pretty good reason to include this epilogue. Those aren't the points I NEED to show -- we all know that's what happens in the HEA. <G>

So, I'll probably write it and let my editor decide if it enhances the story or not.

Susan G.

kristie911 · Mar 16, 2008

I tend to like them because it wraps everything up and, personally, I like to see the "big finish", like the wedding, the kids, whatever. I could use my imagination but because I'm kind of a grouch and don't really get this "one great love" thing, I usually imagine they broke up and are miserable unless the author tells me different.

Sonarbabe · Mar 16, 2008

In one of my stories that I have out right now, there's an epilogue. At the end of the actual story, the hero is still incarcerated and I used the epilogue to show the hero and heroine together after his release. Basically, it was a "tie up loose ends" thing. Normally, I don't mind an epilogue as long as it's not a sugary sweet, "See? Our life is ever so joyful" thing. Those tend to bug me and I stop reading it. lol. Pretty cynical for a romance writer, huh?

Stacia Kane · Mar 16, 2008

I love them. I don't care if there's nothing new to tie up--while knowing there will be a HEA is great, being able to take a peek at their happy lives several years down the road finishes the book perfectly for me.

smlgr8 · Mar 16, 2008

I just wrote one for the first time for an erotic romance because it was important to show the characters six months later due to what was going on with them at the end chapter. For the most part I like epilogues in other books as well.

lrs · Mar 16, 2008

I love them. I really like to see them happily ever after. Plus, usually the book ends right after some huge climax, some terrible black moment and it doesn't feel like its enough. Like its taken a long time to work up to that black moment and then there isn't enough time to come down from it. The epilogue usually is that time for me to come down from the suspense or emotion of the black moment.

Cathy C · Mar 16, 2008

I have to admit I DID like the one at the end of Harry Potter 7. I wanted to see that life went on, and he and Ginny wound up together and their kids were starting at Hogwarts. I thought that was a great wrap-up to the series, and the book would have suffered without that resolution. So, a REASON for it to be there.

Robin Bayne · Mar 16, 2008

Add me to the list who loves them!!

Kasey Mackenzie · Mar 16, 2008

Ditto on the LOVE them! I figure it's preferable for an author to include them (if they choose to, I mean...if they feel that it fits) and for those who dislike them to skip them and use their imaginations while those who love them (like me) can read them and get another peek into the HEA. =)

san_remo_ave · Mar 16, 2008

Generally I don't care for them unless:
a) some subplot remains to be resolved
b) it is used to foreshadow something to come (in the next book)

I was noticing on the Eloisa James/Julia Quinn boards there's quite a bunch of conversation around secondary epilogues (yep, epilogues after the epilogue) and it just seems too much (to me). If there's more to tell, give me another book. Otherwise, I like letting my imagination fill in the what ifs.

Irysangel · Mar 16, 2008

Love them. Absolutely love them. I almost feel cheated if there isn't one and we don't get that 'snapshot of the HEA'.

Crinklish · Mar 16, 2008

Yeah, I like 'em too, even if they're cheesy.

aliajohnson · Mar 16, 2008

Love them, particularly when they're a "snapshot" as Irysangel put it, or when they're used to tie up loose ends, or give us a peek at a story to come, or. . .yeah, I just love them.

Gillhoughly · Mar 16, 2008

I hate prologues, but an epilogue that winds up the loose ends doesn't bother me.

Heck, they had one at the end of The Nightmare Before Christmas!

I liked the Potter one, too. But hey--careful on giving away plot points. There are some people left on this planet who haven't read it yet.

dolores haze · Mar 16, 2008

It seems that more people like the epilogue than not. I should have done one of those poll thingies. I'm considering an epilogue to tie up a couple of loose ends (to be more specific - betas have indicated they want to know what happens to a couple of minor characters.) I don't want any focus taken away from the HEA, so it seems like an epilogue is the way to go.

Thanks for all the responses.

Little Red Barn · Mar 16, 2008

Loves them too! Always read them!

Gillhoughly · Mar 16, 2008

I like the kind of epilogue they had in The Front Page (the Jack Lemmon version, thoough I love the Rosiland Russell version) and Animal House.

But I would only put one in if it's needed. Tacking one on "just-because" is not the done thing.

Cathy C--edit your entry on Potter!

I just heard from someone who hasn't read it yet!!! Spoiler alert!

Inky · Mar 16, 2008

I love epilogues. I HATE dangling endings. Epilogues wrap up the danglers. If danglers are left, I start looking for a sequel....I hate wandering aimlessly for days, wondering what happened to so & so, or how did this turn out....grrrrr. Gimme the epilogue.

AllieB · Mar 17, 2008

Interesting to see that so many people like them! For my second novel, my editor suggested I add one - the story ended right after the black moment, and though the H/H had a brief, heartfelt conversation about being together forever, she felt that a brief epilogue actually *showing* that would be better. It's short, but I think she was right. I also switched it up so that the epilogue's in 1st person (the rest of the novel is in 3rd). I figured, why not really get inside the heroine's head?

Epilogues in Romance Novels

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