She bit her bottom lip...

[HeavyLocks]

Why do authors do this?? I read a lot and I've noticed it more and more. Apparently it's a way of making a woman seem aroused/scared/sexy

I can honestly say I've never bit my lip when I've wanted to be aroused/scared/sexy.

Aibu? Also what other well used "phrases make you cringe?

'She' aka fictional fantasy woman is constantly 'tucking a strand of hair behind her ear'...

This has just reminded me that it's a rare romantic fiction novel in which a sexy many doesn't reach out and tuck a stray curl behind the heroine's ear.

And recently, I've noticed that crying heroines are always described as rubbing snot onto things - a disgusting detail that really doesn't endear them to me!

Reading the wrong books? What on earth do you mean? If it's good enough to make the Amazon daily deals for Kindle list, it's good enough for me!

... passes the hammer and bolster, so we can knock out a few chiselled jaws. I do loathe a colour changing eye too.

Then there's the heroines who worry about their weight and being large, only for them to actually be all tits and arse and not actually chubby.

Can't be a hero without carrying the heroine somewhere in a manly fashion.

I once read a book where after oral sex, the female character thanked the male for coming in her mouth by saying 'thank you for the gift of your precious seed'.

I may have actually thrown my head back and laughed at that.

High brow does not necessarily equal good literature. I've read Booker prize winners that I've wanted to hurl out of a window.

We're having a nice, lighthearted chat here. Please don't ruin it with misplaced snobbery.

@DemelzaPoldarksshinerrefiner, my eyes change colour depending on sunlight etc. Nothing romantic about it, just biology.

@LizzyBennet I think I just threw up in my mouth a bit.
I always love the cliche of a man being a complete psycho to everybody except for his beloved and their children. It’s like a romantic Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Laurie Graham wrote the Parents Survival Guide (I think back in the 80s) but it was my go to book when needing a laugh while sinking under the weight of toddlers.
I'm going to misquote here...

" Every so often, a man, in a dressing gown will shuffle past you demanding the most basic of human rights.

A blazing row"

Oh Laurie, if you're reading, how you helped me and my mates!

canoe my comment was clearly lighthearted. As i said i'm happy to be called a snob and i'm happy to filter out the mind numbing dross of most bestsellers too. You know i'm not saying all booker shortlisted novels are automatically good but it does help the odds significantly.

I’ve just finished a book and it annoyed me that the characters kept saying “yes?” After sentences. Like “You’ve had a hard day. Come with me to the cottage and relax. Yes?” “Let’s just wait and see. Yes?” Nobody I know speaks like that! Might be a regional thing though but it really grated on me.

I actually DO bite my lip, but the wrong one. Biting you upper lip makes you look like you smashed yer front teeth out on a bicycle accident or have one of those old school Habsburgian inbred-chins. Not the most sexy of looks but I am seldom aroused when I do it, more like plodding away at work.

I once couldn’t finish an otherwise pretty decent romance because the characters were talking in a very bad fake Medieval Scottish - or the very American version of it. The mixture of fake archaic and Scottish was the ultimate in cringeworthiness. I never understood why they are trying to make those people sound like resurrected artefacts- it’s not authentic, just horrible.

Santa Montefiore is obsessed with cerulean blue... It crops up so often that I play cerulean bingo with her books...

Don't forget to put a 'determined chin' in. All feisty heroine's have determined chins.

Okay - fair enough. - but if we're having "determined chins" can we have some upper arm grasping and a bit of shaking? eg Helena's tiny fists beat ineffectually against Tarquin's manly chest. "You little fool!" he murmured murmuringly, firmly grasping her upper arms and shaking her ... er, shakingly. "I know what you need . . . "

"Liquorice allsort?"

That sort of stuff.

I know someone who says yes? at the end of sentences but she's German and slightly scary.

The mixture of fake archaic and Scottish was the ultimate in cringeworthiness

I know exactly what you mean *EerieSilence"

It's as though Lady Macbeth had offered to freshen the Thegn of Cawdor's martini.

tinkywinky - I also know a German woman who does this and is also slightly scary* . . . .

'. . . . you aren't anywhere near Satley, are you?

*she's actually lovely, but more direct than we prevaricating Brits

Tarquinius obviously has an eight pack, and at some point Helena will see him topless, glistening with sweat.

When they pad softly into their kitchen there is always a scrubbed pine table. I'm beginning to think I'm the only one without one.

No one mentioned "flinty eyes" yet?

I have a pine table hunting, but it isn't scrubbed - it is covered with paw marks, cast off hair and cat biscuit.

And in 50 shades, her lip stick looks horrendous. It really pissed me off

The man always clenches his jaw, he doesn't look angry, but a little muscle/tic is pulsing in his face, betraying his feelings.

Hero or heroine gives a wry grin or a throaty growl/laugh, often wondered what this would actually look or sound like.
Or they speak in a husky voice, like a throat that needs clearing maybe.

Squiffany

I see your "flinty eyes" and raise you a "steely glance"