Why Likable Characters Are Overrated

(And What Readers Really Want)

Not every character needs to be lovable—but they do need to be memorable. Here’s why likability is overrated, and what really makes readers connect.

Writing Likable Characters in Fiction: Why It’s Not the Point (And What Is)

There is this debate amongst writers about whether your characters should be likable or not. It can vary between genres–you probably want the reader to like your lead in a romance novel and in a hard-boiled crime thriller it’s less important. But really, fiction doesn’t require likable characters. It requires alive ones.

In this article, we’ll explore where the likability debate comes from, how it affects different writers (especially women), and what actually makes a character compelling to readers.

The Problem with “Likable”

As I mentioned, there is a strong debate around likability in characters.

In the literary world, “likable” has become something of a dirty word—particularly among authors aiming to write serious or literary fiction. In this context, “unlikable” becomes shorthand for complex, ambitious, or highbrow.

But it isn’t as simple as that. Just because your character is arrogant, condescending or just an asshole, that doesn’t make them a good character.

However, the reverse is the same. Your character could be a great person. Someone the reader would love to be friends with. But that doesn’t mean the reader will care about them. And that is the main thing to take away—readers need to care about your characters, not necessarily like them.

The Gender Divide

The likability debate isn’t just a literary preference—it has gendered implications too.

Female characters are more likely to be judged harshly for traits like anger, ambition, or emotional coldness. Male characters can get away with being morally grey or deeply flawed (think Hamlet or Don Draper), but women are often expected to be warm, relatable, and forgiving.

This bias can also be extended to writers as well. Commercially successful women writers are often dismissed as “too likable” or not “serious enough,” while male writers get more credit for writing dark or difficult characters.

This creates a double-bind: write palatable characters and risk being seen as lightweight, or write morally complex ones and be criticised for writing people readers “can’t connect with.”

Now I admit, as a male writer that writes crime thrillers with a stereotypical dark and edgy male lead, I’m not the most qualified to talk about this. So for a more qualified take, please see this article.

What Readers Want vs. What Writers Defend

Getting back to likable characters—of course, some readers do want to like the characters they spend time with. And that’s okay. After all, one of the two main reasons a reader will read a book is that they care about the characters and want to see what happens to them.

Readers looking for emotional connection or companionship in fiction shouldn’t be dismissed. Wanting to relate to a character, or to feel seen by one, doesn’t make a book less valid.

So the question becomes: how do we balance those desires as writers?

Caring vs. Liking: A Better Framework

A reader caring about a character is far more important than them liking a character. And this is what writers should be striving for. If anything, you should ignore the likable question. People are complex, and your characters should be too and will appeal to some readers, and not to others. But that complexity is what will make a reader care about them, regardless if they like them.

You need to make your main character deeper, more interesting, more difficult and the reader will respond.

Unlikeable characters can still be compelling. The key is to use their unlikeable traits to make them compelling. You want the reader to empathise, not necessarily sympathise, with your characters.

A reader may not agree with your character’s choices, but they need to understand them. That’s what creates the sense of connection between the reader and the characters.

Final Takeaways

So how should you approach character building as a new writer?

  • Don’t confuse likability with depth. Nice is not the same as compelling.
  • Focus on making your characters specific, flawed, and emotionally true.
  • Ask what drives them. What do they want? What are they afraid of?
  • Especially when writing women or marginalised characters, push past the pressure to please.

At the end of the day, the real question isn’t “Would you be friends with this character?”

It’s: Do you understand them? And do you care what happens next?

If the answer is yes, you’re on the right track.