There is a reason for expectations, especially in genre fiction.

I could be wrong but it's my impression that romance is especially restrictive in this sense. Science fiction, mystery, horror or thrillers have more latitude in plot outcome than Romance. I think you can hit all the beats in those other genres and have a variety of outcomes, but Romance has to end happily so the narrative suspense is somewhat muted.

But...I've never really read a Romance (unless Precious Bane counts) so I'm just going on general impressions and speculation.

From the outside, it does seem like a lot of rules. Some people object if they bump uglies too early, for instance.

Science fiction, mystery, horror or thrillers have more latitude in plot outcome than Romance. I think you can hit all the beats in those other genres and have a variety of outcomes

But expectations don't cover *only* the outcome. Other genres do allow for more than one kind of ending, but each genre demands certain elements ... or a book doesn't fall within the genre anymore.

From the outside, it does seem like a lot of rules. Some people object if they bump uglies too early, for instance.

Some people get upset if they call it "bumping uglies" too.

I think "bumping uglies" is my very favorite euphemism for sex.

I actually did read a parody romance written to flaunt the "rules" once, although, you're right, they still didn't call it *that*, no.

But expectations don't cover *only* the outcome. Other genres do allow for more than one kind of ending, but each genre demands certain elements ... or a book doesn't fall within the genre anymore.

That's true. But the genre elements are less plot defining except in perhaps Mysteries which - like Romance - needs a money shot satisfying ending. Science Fiction can go just about anywhere storywise, it just needs elements addressing how advances in technology can affect the story. Similarly a Western is defined by it's setting and era and to a lesser extent it's themes, but within that can tell any story it wants.

But mystery has about fifty billion categories, which is cool, until you start think about how Chandler would feel about being shelved next to the mystery solving Siameses. Then, it's a little sad.

opps - real life too real. sorry.

But the genre elements are less plot defining

Right. But my point was simply that there *are* expectations, however loose, in genre fiction. So you need to know what those expectations are to satisfy the bulk of readers. You can't answer *only* to yourself, and what you think equals a good book, not if you'd like to sell it.