While I agree with @snowmachine about writing what you are passionate about, a romantic interest of some kind seems to make a work fly. Look at what people read, and you usually find the romance or some type of love interest. It is sort of a universal. Does not have to be an all out "romance" to carry a few elements. I would advise adding it in and seeing if it works. If it works, keep it. If it does not work, you still learn something.