Ladies, the guy you prefer...

Which guy do you find more appealing in a novel?

The guy who starts off as a douchebaggy jerk. But through growing fond of, and therefore closer to the girl, he softens up and falls in love with her. Think Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice. Or Jace Wayland in The Mortal Instruments series.

OR...

The guy who has always been kind to her. There when she needs him, would do anything for her. His affections are known from the beginning, obvious to the reader, even when not always to the girl. Think Peeta in The Hunger Games. Or Jacob from Twilight series (if he were to have won her affection).

Thanks!

The guy who has always been kind to her. I love that guy.

Not that I have anything against Mr. Darcy! :)

I adore Mr. Darcy! But Mr. Bingley was just as wonderful! So I'm stuck lol

I was never fond of Mr. Darcy, but I'd have to go with the jerk. I love Jace Wayland. :D The steadfast, sweet guys like Peeta and Jacob just annoy the crap out of me. I'm too cynical and pessimistic to like them.

First one, mostly because the guy I fancy at the moment fits the first bill.

Nice guys finish last? Not in my book they don't. Second one all the way.

Jerks aren't my thing. Granted, it depends on the level of jerk, but I'm impatient. I'm not going to wait around for them to soften up on me.

I think I'm leaning towards a more diluted version of the jerk. I think I'm going to make him seem more indifferent than full on cold. I don't know. This is difficult haha

The first one, but only because that's how all of my past relationships have been...

I think the second one... Some one who treats with me respect from the beginning and shows me kindness deserves me in the end... =)

Go with the nice guy. While I love me a douchebaggy jerk, the nice guys get it right.

I say he shouldn't be a jerk, but not be "into her" either. Nice, but in a completely platonic way, and totally with limits on the niceness. Not afraid to tease her, does his own thing and lets her do hers sometimes, and compeltely willing to call her on her crap.

In other words, he starts out thinking of her as a friend or even a "kid sister", then grows into a deeper relationship. Maybe he's even friends with her brother or formerly dated her sister (or friend).

Think Ron and Hermione in HP, Reeve in the Face on the Milk Carton, Brandon in the Hawk and the Jewel.

I feel like although a lot of women prefer the second one they're more attracted to the first. Maybe you shouldn't go for polar opposites. The one interesting thing about Peeta (as I saw it) was that even though he was strong and dangerous (he did kill people in all the books, I hate that people think of him as soft) he was just more tender toward Katniss. And I found it a heck of a lot more interesting that in the third book he hated her and despite being so angry and scared of her that he attempted to kill her that he still ended up in love with her. Basically I feel like a guy can be a jerk to everyone but have a soft spot for a certain girl, y'know?

But that's not the question, so I pick the first one!

Not a lady, but I like menfolk, so I thought I'd add my two cents.

While I like dark and brooding, I think it's possible to have that without making the guy a douchebag. To me, once a douche, always a douche. So... some mix of both, I imagine? A guy that can be soft and loving, but might be a bit reluctant and conflicted with himself and how a relationship might affect his own goals.

For me, it's a tie. I can't help to love Mr. Darcy and Jace, but at the same time; Jacob is "safe" and 100% there, you know?

Between Mr. Darcy and Colonel Brandon, I'd pick Colonel Brandon every time. So definitely the second option.

Darcy.

I'm not a fan of jerks myself. That said, you have to make the nice guy interesting and flawed in some way, too--if their romance is perfect, how boring is that? As long as there's some sort of conflict, interest, and chemistry there, I'm all for the nice guys.

I find both appealing and either of them can work/not work in stories, but for me, personally, I would choose the nice guy. Jerks don't make healthy relationships and they get overused in books and films.

Oh gosh, can I choose neither? XD Peeta was ridiculously insufferable in his undying love for Katniss -- really I was like "Dude, just shut up already! She's not interested." But at the same time I can't stand jerks -- though as long as the jerk isn't also obnoxiously arrogant than I suppose I can tolerate him more -- especially if he really isn't a jerk.

I'm not a Twilight fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I didn't mind Jacob nearly as much as I minded Peeta.