Romance Book Tropes
Hi Bookish Besties!!!
One of my favorite parts about reading the romance genre is how a writes can take a basic structure with a predictable ending and morph it into a book that keeps me invested till end. Writers are able to do this by utilizing some many different tools, but one of the most important ones is the vast amount of different tropes. If you do not know, a trope is a recurring theme or idea that can be seen throughout the genre, such as Enemies-to-Lovers or Second Chance. Writers will use tropes to help give a diverse range to the formulaic structure and set up a reader’s expectation of how the book will progress. As an anxious girly, I love knowing that I am reading a Friends-to-Lovers book, because even though I know a third act breakup is most likely inevitable, in the end the couple will push through and end up together.
I figured it would be a good idea to break down some of the most popular tropes for those new to the genre or for those like me who just love getting recommendations.
Love Triangle
A love triangle is an extremely common trope in the romance genre where three characters become romantically entangled with each other resulting in some type of emotional conflict and difficult choice. Normally, one character finds themselves torn between two love interests. These interests will usually offer different qualities and connections such as security versus unpredictability and stability versus passion. A great example of this is Twilight - Bella falls for both Edward and Jacob and must choose who is right for her. Edward would be the unpredictable and exciting character whereas Jacob would be the familiar and secure choice.
Love Triangles are an easy way to hook a reader and keep them reading until the last page.
Recommended books:
Twilight (Amazon)
Throne of Glass (Amazon)
The Selection (Amazon)
Second Chance
The Second Chance romance trop revolves around a rekindling of a romantic relationship between two characters who have history. Usually, their past relationship ended due to a misunderstanding, mistake, or external factors that drove the characters apart. Despite their demise, the characters will find themselves brought back together giving them a second chance to explore their feelings for each other. It provided them an opportunity for forgiveness or redemption proving that people can evolve over time and true love has the ability to withstand challenges and obstacles.
Second Chance adds emotional depth and complexity to a normal romance novel.
Recommended Books:
Second Chance Ex (Amazon)
Happy Place (Amazon)
It Ends With Us (Amazon)
Enemies-to-Lovers
The Enemies-to-Lover trope is one of the most popular themes in romance novels. It revolves around two characters who initially dislike each other due to a conflict, rivalry, or misunderstanding. Despite the tension between them, they find themselves having to spend more time together and their hate for each other starts to disolve. When the animosity dissipates, romantic feelings start to blossom from their electric chemistry and witty banter. An emotional and romantic connection becomes apparent despite their initial hostility.
Ultimately, the enemies-to-lovers trope demonstrates that love can arise. from unlikely circumstances including the most bitters adversaries can find a meaningful connection.
Recommended Books:
Fourth Wing (Amazon)
The Spanish Love Deception (Amazon)
Beach Read (Amazon)
Love on the Brain (Amazon)
Friends-to-Lovers
Similarly to Enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers revolves around two characters who have been friends for quite some time and gradually start to develop romantic feelings for one another. These characters usually spend a lot of time together confiding in each other about their hopes, dreams, and fears. Usually, one friend will start to become aware of their romantic feelings leading to confusion, jealousy, and want disrupting the platonic relationship. When the two characters are able to be honest and communicate their vulnerabilities and feelings, they will make the jump from a platonic to a romantic relationship which comes with its own ups and downs.
The friends-to-lovers trope embodies the idea that the best romantic relationships can stem from great friendships and shows the excitement of falling in love with your best friend.
Recommended Books:
People We Meet on Vacation (Amazon)
The Cheat Sheet (Amazon)
Hook, Line, and Sinker (Amazon)
Forced Proximity
The forced proximity trope can be extremely captivating to the reader as it revolves around two characters who are forced to be together by circumstances beyond their control for extended period of time, such as sharing living quarters, working together on a progect, or finding themselves stranded together. As these characters spend more time together, they start to develop of deeper connection discovering each other personalities and forming a stronger bond than initially anticipated.
The forced proximity trope demonstrates how unexpected circumstances can bring two people together creating a meaningful relationship despite the original circumstances.
Recommended Books:
Twisted Games (Amazon)
The American Roommate Experiment (Amazon)
Things We Never Got Over (Amazon)
Fake Dating
The Fake Dating trope, in my opinion, is one of the best tropes a romance novel can have. This captivating trope revolves around two characters who enter into a mutual beneficial fake romantic relationship to achieve a specific goal. As the story progresses, the characters must navigate the complexities of their pretend relationship such as physical touch and affection in public while keeping their feelings platonic or detached for each other. Despite their agreement, the characters will typically start developing real emotions for each other and the lines will start to blur between what is fake and what is real.
Ultimately, the fake dating trope explores how what was meant to be mutually beneficial for both characters’ personal goals can actually lead to unexpected emotions and a genuine romantic relationship.
Recommended Books:
The Love Hypothesis (Amazon)
Truly Yours (Amazon)
The Deal (Amazon)
Forbidden Love
The Forbidden Love trope centers around a romantic relationship between two characters who face significant obstacles such as cultural expectations, familial obligations, or other external factors that prevent them from being together. Often, the characters navigated the challenges of forbidden romance secretly and face opposition or judgment from society or family. Despite the consequences, they are drawn to one another and risk adversity to be together.
The forbidden love trope highlights that sometimes all it takes is courage and resilience when following the heart to find true love.
Recommended Books:
Twisted Games (Amazon)
Fourth Wing (Amazon)
Red, White & Royal Blue (Amazon)
Grumpy/Sunshine
The Grumpy/Sunshine trope is a captivating romance of two characters who have contrasting personalities. One character is pessimistic, cynical, or broody while the other is cheerful, optimistic, or outgoing. Regardless of opposing personalities, grumpy and sunshine individuals are drawn to each other. Even with initial misunderstandings, the two develop a romantic connection where they start to learn and understand each other on a deeper level.
The grumpy/sunshine trope shows a heartwarming romance that defies expectations and transforms both characters for the better.
Recommended Books:
The Hating Game (Amazon)
Twisted Love (Amazon)
Things We Never Got Over (Amazon)
Marriage of Convenience
The Marriage of Convenience trope, much like the fake dating trope, centers around two characters who enter into a marital union for a practical or strategic reasons. These characters agree to marry to fulfill an obligation, secure stability, or acheive a personal goal. As the story progresses, the characters must navigate the complexities of their marriage. Despite their agreement for personal gain, the characters will typically start developing real emotions for each other forcing them to confront these feelings.
The marriage of convenience trope will show how what was meant to be mutually beneficial for both characters can actually lead to unexpected emotions and a genuine romantic relationship.
Recommended Books:
The Bourbon Bride (Amazon)
Bride (Amazon)
Brutal Prince (Amazon)
Slow Burn
The Slow Burn trope revolves around a romantic relationship between two characters who experience a gradual progression of their feelings. Unlike many fast-paced, passionate romances, this trope emphasizes the slow and steady development of emotional intimacy and attraction. This trope can be seen with others like Friends-to-Lovers and Enemies-to-Lovers as the characters usually start out of friends, acquaintances, or enemies. Regardless of how they begin, the characters begin to spend more time together which deepens their understanding of one another and starts to spark a romantic relationship.
Ultimately, the slow burn trope celebrates the journey of falling in love over time and true love is worth waiting for.
Recommended Books:
Archer’s Voice (Amazon)
A Court of Mist and Fury (Amazon)
Six of Crows (Amazon)
While I described and broke down ten of the most popular tropes, there are so many more that exist in the romance world. Some other popular ones include age gap, billionaire, sports, and small town. You may find that many romance books will contain more than just one of these tropes. For example, when you read a friends-to-lovers book, the theme of second chance will often accompany it. Another example would be faking dating combined with Grumpy/Sunshine.
My personal favorite tropes are Enemies-to-Lovers and Fake Dating. I will always pick up a book if it contains one or both tropes.
I hope you found this post helpful and will let me know what your favorite tropes are in the comments!
Lots of Love,
Kylie
