I'm not sure exactly which ones BuzzFeed has specifically named, but generally, those with really cheesy dialogue are likely candidates. For example, lines that are just so over - the - top and unrealistic, like 'Your eyes are like the stars that light up my universe' kind of stuff.
Novels where the romance is overshadowed by other elements that don't blend well, such as too much focus on side characters or sub - plots that are not related to the main romance. It's like you're reading a book that's supposed to be about a great love story, but you end up getting distracted by all these other things that don't really add to the central relationship.
One of the worst might be those with overly clichéd plots, like the 'rich guy saves poor girl' scenario that lacks depth. For example, some novels just repeat the same pattern without adding any new twists to the relationship dynamics.
Some people think that 'Dear John' by Nicholas Sparks also falls into the category of worst romance novels. The plot is rather melodramatic and the relationship between the characters seems forced at times. Another example could be some of the Harlequin - style novels from the past that had very formulaic plots and shallow characters.
A really bad romance title could be 'Simple Love'. It's too simplistic and doesn't give any indication of the complexity or depth that a good romance novel should have. There's no allure or mystery in this title, and it's not likely to make someone eager to read the book.
One characteristic is predictable plots. You can see the ending from a mile away. Another is unlikable characters. If you can't root for the main couple, it's a problem. For example, if they are constantly bickering in an unappealing way.
There's also 'Novel Y' which had a really bad translation. The English version was full of grammar mistakes and the cultural references were completely lost in translation. This made it very difficult for non - native speakers of the original language to understand the story, and even native speakers found it hard to enjoy due to the clumsy translation.
Another one could be 'Gulliver's Travels'. While it has some interesting ideas, the constant repetition of Gulliver's adventures in different lands can get boring. After a while, it feels like the same pattern is being repeated over and over again.
I think 'The Mortal Instruments' series has some issues. The plot gets really convoluted as the series progresses. There are so many characters and sub - plots that it becomes hard to follow. And the world - building isn't as consistent as it could be.
One of the worst could be 'The Duke's Bastard Daughter'. It fails in its historical accuracy. For example, the way it portrays the social status of a bastard in a historical setting is completely wrong. The romance part is also lackluster. The characters seem to fall in love for no real reason other than physical attraction. There's no depth to their relationship, no shared interests or values that are explored. Another is 'Love in the Time of Piracy' which has a very weak plot. The pirates are more like caricatures rather than believable characters, and the love story between the main characters is rushed and forced, not at all a convincing historical romance.
Sure. 'The Golden Compass' movie is often regarded as one of the worst. The film made some significant changes to the source material, which made the story hard to follow for those familiar with the novel. It also failed to build a strong connection with the audience, despite having an interesting concept from the book.
Sure. 'Plan 9 from Outer Space' as a novel (based on the equally bad movie). It has a really silly premise and the writing doesn't do much to salvage it. There's no real depth to the alien invaders concept.