If you’ve been on social media at any point in the last decade, you’ve probably noticed at least one of your “friends” with the relationship status It’s Complicated. The phrase has filtered its way into our culture in all sorts of ways—movie titles, song lyrics, book themes, mindsets.
It’s complicated isn’t always a response we’d like to accept, but it’s often the easiest response to most of those nosy questions we can’t completely answer without either revealing more than we’re comfortable with or shocking the inquisitor with an unavoidably long, drawn out response. It’s more polite than telling them none of your business, right? Ha ha!
But when it comes to characters, I have to admit, I LOVE complicated. The more complex their backstory, the more I want to read. Neat and tidy characters are fine on occasion, but let’s face it. Real people are pretty complicated. And as readers, we tend to be more fascinated by humanity than non-readers. I read an article a while back that frequent readers tend to be more empathetic. Perhaps this is why complicated characters are so interesting.
I’m a reader first. Becoming an author flowed naturally from that love, but always, first, a reader. I’ll list a few that stick out in my mind, then I’ll tell you about some I’ve written. After that, I’ll share with you the cover of my latest book and why I loved writing the characters in it. 🙂
From IR’s own Elizabeth Maddrey, comes Lydia Brown in Wisdom to Know. She’s a pastor’s daughter caught up in a binding chain of bad choices. I read this a few years ago, but she’s a heroine who has stuck with me. Another that stands out is Jen Andrews in A Handful of Hope. Her struggle with depression is thoroughly true-to-life and so well presented.
Toni Shiloh, another IR author, does complicated characters very well. Some of my favorites are Belle Peterson and Nikki Gordon from her Maple Run series. Evan Carter from Returning Home is also a wonderfully complex hero. Toni tackles characters who’ve suffered abuse, assault, missing limbs, parental abandonment, infidelity, and more with finesse and sensitivity.
Then there’s Janet Ferguson. Oh my goodness, I just love her characters. Raw emotion, depth, intensity, tragedy, internal struggles, wars against sin and pain and fear…and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve loved them all, but my favorite is still The Art of Rivers.
Oh! And while I’m thinking of other IR authors (and can I just say, there are a lot of amazing ladies in this bunch, so I’m only picking a couple real quickly) I have to include Valerie M. Bodden. The entire Hope Springs series is wonderful—with a plethora of complex characters—but none more complicated than bad girl Jade in Not Until Us.
Melissa Tagg also has a way with complicated characters. I’d have to say my favorite is Now and Then and Always. Marshall and Mara both have painful stories they’re working through as they build a relationship while restoring an old B&B.
No list would be complete without Lea Sim’s two highly emotional novels, Running From Monday and Waiting on Tuesday. Lea tackles some difficult topics, and her characters have endured severe abuse, infidelity, loss, and more. Readers are put a bit through the wringer on these, but it’s their richness and authenticity of emotion that make them such memorable reads.
T.I. Lowe’s Until I Do—and her whole backlist, actually—is another perfect example. A marriage in shambles, readers get an inside look at a couple’s struggle with becoming empty-nesters and their floundering relationship. Other books by TI Lowe feature characters running from dark, violent secrets, human trafficking, and other trauma.
Several friends I asked reminded me of Tammy L. Gray. I’ve read quite a few of her books, but Mercy’s Flight is definitely one that stands out. Violent pasts, betrayal, children in need, secrets, and a journey to trust and find courage barely scratch the surface of Matt and Grace’s story.
I absolutely HAVE to include one of my very favorites, Jennifer Rodewald. I need to take a break between her books because I can pretty much guarantee I’ll be gutted afterward. Her Grace Revealed trilogy is ripe with intense, complicated characters with highly charged emotions and very real issues, but my personal favorite is still The Carpenter’s Daughter.
Whew! That ended up being a rather long list, so I’ll cut myself off there. Hopefully I’ve introduced you to some new-to-you authors, titles, or characters you’ll enjoy as much as I have.
Since I’ve already gone on long enough, I’ll summarize what kind of complicated characters I enjoy writing. In Whatever Comes Our Way, the hero and heroine face traumatic pasts, grief, guilt, anxiety attacks, and the aftermath of loved ones’ drug use. In What Makes a Home, prickly Jobie’s colorful lifestyle catches up to her as we come to understand why she chooses to live the way she does (until she meets Jesus!). In Adrift, (which is always free) Erin still experiences grief after losing her husband too young. Now, not all of my characters are over-complicated. Some have it pretty easy, so I like to put them in challenging situations instead. My heart is to create realistic characters who are flawed and, yes, complicated but eventually figure out what it is God wants to work out in their lives.
So there you have it. Probably should have narrowed it down and maybe dug a little deeper into each character, but I’m a more-is-better kind of girl. Ha ha!
For the last part of my post, I’d like to reveal the cover to my newest book out this week, which just so happens to be FREE to all subscribers to my email newsletter. It’s a bit different from my usual contemporary Christian romance fare, as it’s a dual-POV in first person with two heroines. Each has her own story line with her own love interest/romance, but their friendship takes center stage in this novelette. Lauren’s a steady presence for Kimbrye, who just might be one of the most hurting of all the heroines I’ve written so far.
I can’t wait to read in your comments below any recommendations YOU have for favorite complicated characters. I’m always on the lookout for my newest book bestie! Take care and enjoy the rest of your week, especially with our upcoming BIRTHDAY BASH!!
Complicated is what we all are, and that is why charade who are complicated are such a pleasure to read.
Wow! Jaycee,
You had a really great list of books and authors! I can see your name being added to the list! Your characters are also strong, real and yet, in some cases needing healing. I really liked Kimbrye and Lauren’s friendship. I love books that make me have deep emotions for the characters. Yours does exactly that! Thanks! This is a great book and can’t wait for others to read it.
Aw, thank you Marylin! You made my day. 😍
Like you I enjoy reading complicated characters. But not all the time. After reading an emotionally intense book I tend to always read less complicated less intense book.
Me too! And during stressful periods, it’s probably 2:1 fluff to substance. LOL!
Oh, for complicated characters, you need to read Heather Blanton’s Defiance series! Also, Jo Grafford’s Lost Colony series! Both have a character I’d like to have killed off, but both survived!
Sounds interesting. Thanks!
I love complicated characters, because the ways in which they are complicated make them all the more real and relatable to me even if their struggles are different from my own!
I love Toni’s and Melissa’s books, too, and The Carpenter’s Daughter is one of my all time favorite books! I recently read Leaving Oxford by Janet W. Ferguson and really enjoyed it, I have copies of The Art of Rivers and Star Rising and am super excited to read them!
A couple other favorites of mine are: The Heart Between Us, and Tge Secrets of Paper and Ink both by Lindsay Harrel, and When He Found Me by Victoria Bylin!
Yes! I completely agree with all of your comments. 😆
Thanks so much for the shout-out, Jaycee. I love to both read and write complex characters, and you named so many of my favorite authors here–plus a few that are new to me. Adding those to my TBR! Love the cover for Just Say Yes!
My pleasure! I always live adding to people’s TBRs, especially when those books are indies. 🙂 I love my trad pub friends and author faves, but any time I can support other indies, I will! Thank you on the cover. 😊 I had fun designing it.
Well, I’m torn. I certainly enjoy richly complex characters. I highly recommend Dawn Lee McKenna’s “See You” and everything I’ve read so far by Becky Doughty (Gustafson Girl’s series, Seven Virtues Ranch Series, Elderberry Croft). I also enjoyed Valerie Bodden’s Hope Springs (read 1, rest on TBR). The other side of the coin, though, is that I’m an empath. I understand what you said about being torn up after reading a particular story. My connection, though, is too direct. I haven’t figured out how to keep it from messing up life in general, LOL! I know I’m a sensitive guy but Jeez Louise! Anyway, I also have a deep appreciation of characters who are less complex, especially when I’m looking for a story to provide a sense of escape.
That’s the wonderful thing about story, isn’t it? We can escape and there are thousands of different books that we can choose from depending on the kind of escape we need.
I also have strong empathic tendencies, but I find fictional characters make it easier to separate the depth of transference I feel compared to real life. Thanks for commenting!
I love the cover for “Just Say Yes”. It’s beautiful! I think Karen Kingsbury does a good job writing characters who are complicated and/or struggling with challenging circumstances.
Awesome and thank you! I haven’t ready anything of hers in years. May have to pick her up again.
Thank you for all the amazing book recommendations. And what a beautiful cover!
Thank you so much! 😍
I have to agree with you on all of those choices, Jaycee, as I also loved those characters… including yours! It’s so hard to make a list, I could be here for days talking about the amazing authors I have read!
Right?! I scheduled this post and immediately thought of at least a dozen more. Sigh. Lol!