Primer: Spotting the Difference Between Alpha & Beta Heroes

November 6, 2013 | News | 1 comment

The hero in romance novels is often possessive, aggressive, dominant and protective—characteristics attributed to the alpha hero.

He is a leader of men and, more often than not, a serial seducer of women who can’t seem to help succumbing to his irresistible charisma. This leading man is often the bad boy until he meets his match in the heroine, who eventually tames him…a little.

Beta characters are usually relegated to the role of best friend in romance novels; they’re the amiable sidekick of the tough-talking, butt-kicking and, often, emotionally-distant alpha hero. There are times, however, when the beta takes center stage and creates a memorable hero for the ages.

Mr. Darcy, from Pride and Prejudice, is the ultimate beta hero. Darcy is quiet, contained, and seemingly arrogant, but we eventually learn he is innately kind and puts the well being of others before himself.

Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in the BBC’s “Pride and Prejudice”

Sebastian, the hero in Tempting Bella, the second book in my Accidental Peers series, is also one of these kinder, gentler leading men. He is decent, honorable and essentially selfless. He’s also complex, virile and very sexy.

While I love a good alpha hero, there is something undeniably alluring about a beta hero, too. Here’s a little primer on how to spot the difference between an alpha and a beta:

The alpha hero can have a little bit of a jerk in him.
The beta hero is a nice guy.

The alpha hero doesn’t always start out treating ladies with respect.
The beta hero treats a lady with the respect she deserves.

The alpha hero goes after what he wants.
The beta hero usually puts other people’s desires before his own.

The alpha hero loves sex and has lots of it with a variety of women…until he meets his true love, the heroine, and then sex becomes meaningful and monogamous.
The beta hero loves sex but is often not as sexually experienced as an alpha male, so intimacy is more meaningful to him.

The alpha tries to impose his will on the heroine, at least in the beginning.
The beta refuses to impose his will on the heroine; he prefers using gentle persuasion.

The alpha hero is never a wimp and he’ll kick plenty of butt to prove it.
The beta hero is never a wimp, but he often operates behind the scenes to achieve the outcome he desires.

The best alpha hero has a bit of beta in him.
The best beta hero has a bit of alpha in him.

The alpha hero is the guy you love to read about in books.
The beta hero is the guy you want to marry in real life.