Thursday, April 2, 2009

Love Stories: Deceptive Love

*Yawns* Well, I'm staying up way too late these days. Back in WIP mode—the transition from editing wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be. Hammered is coming together nicely, I think. It's such a different kind of story for me in a lot a ways, though it still has familiar elements as well. Anyway...on with my little series thing.

Deceptive Love (I know, not the best title, but you'll see)
The Formula: Girl (or guy) disguises themselves as someone else. While disguised, girl meets an incredibly cool guy who wants to hang out with her and stuff. Girl knows it's a terrible idea, but agrees to keep meeting the guy because she's so taken by him and doesn't think he'll accept the "true" her. They fall for each other, but inevitably the charade comes to an end. Guy learns girl's true identity and is upset by it. Girl apologizes. Guy either forgives or doesn't.

This one's a classic, isn't it? It's been done and done and done. I mean, how many modern Cinderella tales can the Disney Channel make? And yet...I'll still sit down and watch them from time to time. It's just so cute! Even if you know exactly how it goes. And there's something to be said about the "disguise" thing—characters often learn a lot about themselves by being someone else. The key to this formula is lovable characters (not just likable) and a really fresh/fun premise.

One of my favorite chick flicks ever? Never Been Kissed. Man, am I showing my sappy girly side this week or what? Drew Barrymore is a geek of a reporter assigned her first undercover project—pose as a high school student and learn what kids are really into. She has to become popular. Problem? She was THE nerd back in high school. In her quest to popularity, she falls for one of her teachers, but of course they can't really date and there's all this tension/flirting there. After she wins prom queen, it all comes out. Teacher is freaked. But she finally gets her first kiss. Awww.

I'm picking a modern YA book for this one—I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter. If you haven't read it and you're into YA, you gotta pick it up. Seriously. This is a perfectly done "deceptive love" story. Cammie is a spy—she goes to a secret spy school made to look like a preppy all girls private school. On a practice mission in town, Cammie accidentally meets a "town boy" named Josh—the first boy to ever see her. She pretends to be a homeschooled girl; he wants to see her again. Her spy friends make it happen. Hilarity, mischeif, and heartbreak ensue.

I think this form is especially fun for YA. I mean, every kid struggles with identity. These stories put that at the forefront. Will people like me for who I really am? Am I being more myself when I'm "pretending" because I'm not afraid? Do people even know who I am inside? Would they care? Would they tease me if they knew? Would they like me more? Could anyone really love the real me?

Hey, I just met this really cute love story! *Ninja flies by* Oh my gosh! I think that was my love story! It's a ninja? What? How am I going to deal with this?

15 comments:

  1. The only form of this story I hate is when the girl/guy is pretending to be a guy/girl.

    So annoying.

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  2. I do love this story. Except, ditto what Kiersten said.

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  3. The movie that popped into my head was How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. A little different because they are deceiving each other. But you are right, it is the Cinderella formula, and I'm not a huge fan. Because when the girl finally does reveal her true self, I want the guy to dump her forever. BECAUSE SHE IS A LIAR. Maybe I'll love it when I write it, one day.

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  4. HA, Jessie, you bring up an excellent point. This is why you need that LOVABLE char, not just likable. Also, it helps to have a situation where the girl CAN'T tell.

    Like in Never Been Kissed—she can't blow her cover, but she'd tell him if she could.

    AND in I'd Tell You I Love You—she's a SPY. Can't tell, but she really, really wants to.

    If that reason for not telling isn't justifiable, then you really do that to see her dumped at the end, hehe. Sometimes she is, even.

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  5. I think my new WIp is a spin off of this type of romance. BTW, loved your response on Nathan's blog.

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  6. I think While you were sleeping falls into this category (although I saw it some time ago and I'm tired so I'm not sure.)

    I'm loving these posts, Natalie.

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  7. I would agree with Kiersten with the exception of "She's the Man." That movie was pee your pants funny!!

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  8. Hmm, yes this one is a classic for sure.

    I think Shakespeare loved the gender pretend version of deceptive love. Big time. There's Twelfth Night, As you like it, and Two Gentlemen of Verona, off the top of my head. All great plays in my opinion. But, I agree that it does stretch credulity a bit. And bring up a few sticky questions.

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  9. Candi stole my comment. I was going to say, "Kiersten, what about 'She's the Man' I love that one." But still at the very end, when they were about to kiss, I was like, uh, eww, how could he think of her as a woman. LOL

    But, yes, love the deception love stories as long as there is a solid reason for the deception.

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  10. I'd Tell You I Love You was so cute, and such a great example of this type of love. I kind of don't like reading this type of love though -- you know it'll climax in some huge, messy, heart-breakingly painful scene, and knowing that's coming just hurts. Even if they end up together afterward.

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  11. Yes you make very good points. If Cinderella is victimized, then I feel sorry for her, and she deserves her prince.

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  12. Steve Martin's version of Cyrano de Bergerac, Roxanne, was a classic. Charlie (Cyrano) is in love with Roxanne and desperately wants to woo her and show her his heart but he thinks she'd reject him because of his hideous nose. Along comes Chris McConnell (Christian) - nice, good looking but utterly inept at the wooing. Charlie agrees to help Chris by writing love letters and poems to Roxanne. She falls desperately in love with the writer of the words - the man who truly knows her heart. She thinks it's Chris. Chris is way out of his depth and Charlie's heart is breaking because he watches how she responds to him when really she's responding to Charlie's words. It all comes out in the wash and the couple who actually love each other end up together and the gorgeous Chris escapes relieved to be out of the deception. I like this happy ending far better than the original.

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  13. I like the ending of that too, Janey. I have to admit I haven't read the original.

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  14. Yet another great addition! I agree, this is one of my favorite. Not sure I'll ever write it, but it's sure fun to read and watch!

    Never Been Kissed is one of my favorites. :)

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  15. I'm reading your entire blog now. And you've convinced me (again) to buy a book! The beginning of I'd Tell You I Love You just sucked me right in. :)

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