What do you think about my plot for a gritty romance novel?

Question

Set in a make-believe town in Minnesota, present day, the story is told from the first person view of Andi Evans, a Sophomore who hides a dark secret that behind closed doors, her mother relentlessly abuses her, her excuse being that she is a 'god fearing woman' and that Andi 'is not her child.' Obviously, I’m looking forward to writing some very psychologically engrossing scenes, unlike most sappy stories, Andi is not a character you feel sympathy towards, instead, her will power and quirky attitude towards life make you draw strength from her. I include heaps of natural, woodland scenery. Andi escapes to these 'sanctuaries' that keep her 'safe' i.e. an abandoned cubby house imbedded in the heart of the forest, an isolated lake with an island in the middle, a cliff top overlooking her quaint little town etc.
Her best friend Eva, a fierce, protective, half native American tomboy is the only one who knows about Andi’s troubling life, she plays the bigger sister roll, the person that picks up the broken pieces of a shattered person and glues them back together again.
Andi is an extreme party girl with terrible insecurities, the opening chapter having her coming home from a party to be confronted by her mother. She drinks to forget, and drinks to gain confidence, and loves the thrill of a man in the heat of the moment. Names are thrown around about her, but everyone wants to know more about the mysterious girl whom misses weeks of school, is quiet, yet is a known party girl.
Her father was tragically murdered in his bed by being stabbed, her elder brother Lucas whom has moved out of home now, and herself discovered the body. She is troubled by the images she saw. I reveal later who did it and why, because I love a good crime.
Of course, i include a love triangle, because that’s always juicy.
There is a boy, Levi, the classic, dark, handsome, charmer whom she had known since pre-school, he rode past her house the night her father was murdered and watched behind police tape. They had been good friends, but last year they slept together at the annual summer lake party. He is a known 'player' and has always had a soft spot for Andi. Now they have intriguing, flirtatious interactions. He suspects correctly about her troubled life, he's constantly helping her out and Andi is in debt to him for many things. He's the son of the town Mechanic.
There is a new boy, Christian, the casually dressed, blonde-haired family boy who moves from the twin cities. He moves into a house four doors down from Andi and she is somewhat fascinated by this handsome, new boy. Immediately there are holes in his perfect-boy persona, he has regular absences from class, mysterious behaviour, and always appears to look tired and worn; his twin sister whom he is very protective over appears the same. One day she sees him when she skips class and follows him. He goes to the hospital, and she finds that he has a younger brother who is terminally ill. After the initial shock and anger, they form this abstract relationship, the story reveals that he is the sole thing that keeps his crumbling family together.

I’ve written a nice plan where all the things mentioned above tie in nicely into a flowing, non-confusing plot. I’m sorry it was long, but believe me when I say I tried to keep it short.
Honest opinions please, and thank you so much for reading.

Answer 1

I think this sounds great and definitely has a lot of potential!



Of course it really takes reading a story like this to learn to feel for the characters, but I can tell a lot of thought has gone into it, so I'm sure it will be great. I would just say, it's very important for the reader to feel and care for your characters. Show the compassionate side of all the characters as-well as the exciting side, and show their less wonderful side too. When a character seems too perfect, they start to seem less human, even in a romance novel it is the characters weakness's along with their fantastical strengths which makes characters lovable.



Write this story, and finish it no matter what. As long as you keep your focus on the enjoyment you feel as a writer, i'm sure it will happen, just don't let your sights drift onto the possibility of your book being published, because it is a weak and unfocussed motivation, and for a passionate writer(like yourself I am sure) this isn't needed(I discovered this from writing a novel myself, which is around a third of the way through).



Finally don't let anybody discourage you from writing, I think you've been quite brave putting an idea which you have clearly put a lot of thought into on yahoo answers, under the scrutiny of other people, and I hope all the feedback you get is positive, but be careful because there are a lot of horrible and/or idiotic people, who don't understand the passion a writer can feel for their ideas and will put them down as if it's nothing, or they fully understand but are jealous for whatever reason



Good Luck!

Answer 2

I love dark stories like these. It is great you have everything planned out, as this will prevent a writing block. An issue I see is the love triangle: her close friend is half native american, and the other boy is a handsome charmer, and they both love her...do you see a connection to a book series that has to do with a friend werewolf and vampire boyfriend? I'm sure you get what I mean it has clear similarities to Twilight.



Another small issue that may just be a personal pet peeve for myself but I don't really like it when the main character is obviously beautiful but she doesn't think she is. It bothers me so much but I can understand why in this situation because of physical abuse and mental abuse her mom might have inflicted upon her.



Going back to the love triangle (I don't mind them, I hate them if the author can't write it well but I love them if the write does well) but another problem is your love triangle is falling into a stereotype. The close friend and the bad boy both love the main girl, they want to protect her, etc. BUT I do like the terminal illness that was thrown in, this really reminds me of an asian drama/movie.



As long as you are able to execute this out well, great character development, then it will be great. I would love to read it. I am a sucker for sad romantic books/movies!



Going back to the love triangle another problem I have is the heart does shift around but isn't it weird that in books it is portrayed in a positive way for the female main character to love two boys but when a guy loves two woman he is called a player?



Good Luck!



Edited: Don't worry about it, you put up you question for people to point this out to you. I also try and add in various ethnicities to my stories. Try half Indian and maybe Canadian or he is from South America.



Edited part 2: I really wouldn't worry about the title until you are finished. I find that after I finish writing the story, a single line in the story stands out and I use that as the title or there is a strong symbolism in something I wrote that I use. But a title for this could be something like: Whisper To Me, Never Alone, or Hand In Hand (I am having a hard time thinking of titles because I don't know your entire plot line! So just worry about actually writing it all out first!)

Answer 3

I think it is a great plot, and I would get it if it ever got published, which I hope it does, but have you considered a title yet? That is very important.

EDIT: "A tale of pain and love" Would be a good title.

Answer 4

I think the love triangle is kind of cliche, and maybe you should make it a more straightforward romance.

Answer 5

OH MY GOD!!!! I freakin love it! I want to read it now.