The other day a friend and I were talking about our recent celebrity crushes. I admitted to still lusting over Josh Holloway (Sawyer from LOST). Then it’s her turn, and she says, “At the moment, I’m into Andy Samberg and Seth Rogen.” She then said she would totally hop into bed with either of them if they so much as said hi.
Andy Samberg
Still, the conversation got me thinking about why women want the men they want. I know far too many people who don’t give two hoots what a guy is like, as long as he’s attractive. Some don’t even seem to care if he’s a jerk to them, as long as they can flip open their cellphones and show pictures of their hotties to whoever pretends to care.
Last year, I was in line at the grocery store and eavesdropping (sue me! I eavesdrop when I’m bored!) on two girls in front of me, who were flipping through a gossip magazine. The magazine mentioned these two couples:
Yes, we’ve got two gorgeous women dating two nice-looking, but no Brad Pitt, men. And these girls are going on about how Evangeline and Heather could do sooooooo much better and wondering what’s wrong with them.
I wanted to point out that, hey, maybe what’s wrong is that they’re not superficial and have found men who are more than just a walking Calvin Klein ad. And maybe THEY find these men attractive. Attraction is subjective. And hasn’t anyone ever seen Beauty and the Beast? It’s what’s beneath the exterior that matters, or at least that’s what I think.
Then again, would anyone buy a Blaze with David Spade or Dominic Monaghan on the cover? It makes me sad to realize that no, not a lot of people probably would. But I would!
So, my question is, and be honest, what do you care more about in a man—looks or personality? Any current celebrity crushes who aren’t on People’s Sexiest Man Alive list? And would you ever like to see a non-Fabio type on a romance cover or do you think only the sexy ones will sell books?
Elle
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Great post! I think that in the real world, the man’s personality and character win hands down. On a romance book cover, Blaze in particular? I hate to say it, but the guy has to be hot. And if his shirt is off and he has on a cowboy hat? All the better. After all, the author will do a stand up job of showing how wonderful the guy is on the inside
Devon, I’m a sucker for a cowboy hat. In fact, a cowboy might be the only type of man who might make me forget my personality before looks belief. I’ve always wanted to meet a cowboy!
WOW Great question! I fell for my hubby because at the time he had long curly hair and I had never dated a guy with long hair but the thing that I noticed first was his beautiful smile and those OH so brown eyes that twinkled when he smiled. The thing that hooked me the most though was his laugh. He was happy all the time. I think we all look at the exterior first then fall for the mush underneath once we get to know them.
My celeberty crush is a little strange….I like Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day. Yeah I know! LOL He is oh so sexy in those tight pamts! LOL I did have a thing for the drummer of the same said band, Tre Cool. Tre is funny and he always leaves you guessing what the heck is going on inside his head! LOL
I don’t think either will EVER be on ‘THE LIST” but thats okay because to each his or her own right?
As far as the cover of romance novels goes…Well I like to see a great looking guy on the cover! One that captures your imagination and makes you want to get to know the soft side under the tough oh so rugged exterior!
Sexy definatlt for the cover and a little mix ib real life!
Patsy, I love your story. A good laugh is definitely a draw-in for me too. I went out with a guy who had the worst high hyena laugh, and though I like to think myself more mature than that, I think that was part of the reason we broke up! LOL!
Chris and I have been together for 18 years now and now we laugh together! ;o)
A smile and a good sense of humor can go a long way. He was also a gentleman and opened car doors and other doors for me! You can’t go too wrong with a gentleman! LOL
Elle, I hope you found YOUR gentleman!
OOOO I should have prookread huh? LOL Sorry!
Sure looks may draw you in, but if you can’t make me laugh then Bye-Bye. So personality rules over looks. IMO.
A non-Fabio guy would be nice to see on a cover. Some of those guys with their well-cut abs seem unreachable/unattainable to me, so they don’t draw me in and make me buy the book.
I think Jeffrey Donovan from Burn Notice is a hottie. If he isn’t on People’s list – he should be!
My current crush is Damian Lewis on LIFE, though it might be his character of Charlie Crews that I’m crushing on.
Alison, sometimes I never know if it’s the character or the actor I’m crushing on. Like Josh Holloway, I have no idea what he’s like in real life, it’s Sawyer who gets me going–gotta love those bad boys!
I am so NOT interested if they don’t have a brain and a sense of humor and can carry on a decent conversation. Celeb crushing? Can’t deny Daniel Craig (and I don’t even like blonde men) or Gerard Butler (although I wasn’t hooked until I saw 300 so I think it’s mostly that character). Now here’s one for you that will NEVER make People’s Sexiest Man Alive list — Dave Matthews. I totally dig him because I think his music is briliant. However, the exception to all of the above is David Beckham.
Great topic! Go Dominic and David! I admire Heather and Evangeline, too–shows they’ve got more going on than just being a pretty face.
In real life, yes, I’d probably be more tuned in to one of those guys. But I will confess that on a romance cover, especially a Blaze, I like a nice bod. Doesn’t have to be shirtless to work for me–doesn’t have to have a great face. In fact, pretty boys who wear more product than I do aren’t a turn-on. But I do like a nice bod. On my upcoming Intrigue cover–I LOVE the guy because he seems more realistic than most. He has a sprinkling of hair on his chest and he’s a tad on the beat-up side. He’s not ripped as if working out takes up most of his waking life, but he is nicely put together
Probably my most non-pretty boy I’ve crushed on? And I have for years–I love him more as he ages and gets even less stereotypic Hollywood hottie… Tommy Lee Jones. Randy Quaid does it for me, too. Not Dennis, but Randy. Go figure.
Maybe it’s the eyes? The fact they can convey intelligence? intensity? humor?
Sean Bean, Gerard Butler and Hugh Jackman (as Wolverine, or Curley in OKLAHOMA) are more traditional hotties who do it for me.
Why is it that ALL the cover guys on romance novels are bare chested? I like a man with a hair roughened chest, But you never see that. Glad to see that your book may change that norm a little! ;o)
I’m actually loving that more “real men” are showing up on Harlequin covers. No skinny, hairless, beautiful model types for me…I like virile, masculine guys way better than handsome ones (in pictures, I mean.)
In real life, I do love a man who doesn’t take himself too seriously!
I’ll go for virile and masculine covers–but not too hairy. Too much chest hair will guarantee I do not buy the book because I’ll never be able to stop picturing the hero’s chest forest. I’ve written many blogs on my chest hair stance LOL!
Oh, PS: I actually met my biggest celebrity crush, Hugh Jackman. Frankly, he’s very attractive, but maybe not as much in person as he is on TV or in the movies. (Definitely not as much as in his Wolverine costume…yummmmm!) He actually has a really big nose.
BUT, that said, he was incredibly charming, with a great laugh and a fabulous twinkle in his eye. A definite
In real life–personality. It doesn’t matter as much if I’m never likely to meet the guy. As for book covers, I like the ones without people. I’ve read so many books with covers that don’t match what the book was about. The cover has a tall dark hero and the hero in the book is an average sized blond.
Honestly, you only need a personality type on a cover once to really appreciate the Fabios.
LOL, Heather, well said.
Personality and character, hands down! I don’t pay much attention to the covers, so it doesn’t matter to me.
Wow – great question, Elle. I’m honestly more about personality than looks, although I admit to currently crushing BIGTIME on Chris Pine, the new “baby Kirk” in the Star Trek prequel. One guy I’ve always thought was totally hot was Donnie Wahlberg, not in his NKOTB incarnation (wow, am I OLD), but as a detective in Boomtown, a series than ran on NBC for far too short a time. Something about his emotional vulnerability really got me, and good!
As for covers…I don’t buy books by them, so it wouldn’t matter to me. I do like the slightly more natural looking guys more than Fabio.
For real life – personality
For Day Dreaming – Sawyer
Book covers are creating the fantasy so I would stay with the hunks.
Cool thoughts, Elle! I think good looks get a man noticed, but they won’t keep me looking if there’s nothing there to back it up. I mean, I can’t help noticing a walking Calvin Klein ad ;-). But if a man has no substance or sense of humor, I won’t be looking for long! Sense of humor is a fabulous indication of a man’s cleverness and quick mind. So I think there’s a reason women go for this. You remember Jessica Rabbit, right? She stayed with Roger because “He makes me laugh.”
Dude, I would looooooooove to see some sexy nerd covers to go with smart, sexy nerd books.
OTOH, I think this is another reason why we’ve seen so many decapitated heroes on our covers. Attraction is subjective, and sometimes I see a face on a cover that just makes me think douchebag! Even though the writing could be stellar.
So I’m sure that’s why Harlequin et al stick to the bland, objective sexy. But heck yeah, I’d love to see them mix it up in a while.
LOL. If he makes me laugh I’m hooked. In real life I’m more into smart funny, but in fiction I kind of run the gamut. Let’s just say I’m an equal opportunity luster.
I would buy a book if Dominic Monaghan was on the cover, he was the reason I watched Lost. The guy could be the hottest thing ever, but if he was jerk there would be no way I would want to date him. Yes he does have to attractive, but looks aren’t the only attractive elements in a man. Plus someone may be attractive to me and not someone else.
Coming to the party a little late, but I love this question. My biggest celebrity crush at the moment (and has been for a long time) is Jon Stewart of The Daily Show. He is cute, but he’s no poster boy. And, you know, he’s kinda short. But it’s his courage and wit that I absolutely worship. And – best thing – my partner has a man crush on him, so we sit side by side in bed going “awww” together. Perfect! I think everybody has something beautiful about them, but some people’s attributes are more obvious than others. As for covers…well, Blazes are about fantasy, right? I’m more than happy to look at those fantastic chests, hair, no hair, whatever. Grrrr.