Favorite Romance Tropes
I never liked the word “trope” as it refers to romance novels because it implies—well, bad writing. It implies cliché. It implies laziness.
But your English teachers very readily used the word “theme,” didn’t they? And plenty of works of literary merit had themes similar to one another: redemption, man vs. nature, clashes between socioeconomic classes. I prefer to think of “tropes” as themes: a common element at the heart of the conflict.
Fact: My books are going to look nothing like Jessica Hawkins’s books, even if you gave us the same exact plot outline to work with. Themes, or tropes, are even more general. If I set out to write a book about unrequited love and so does she, you’ll get two very different books. (Jessica Hawkins writes absolutely lovely books, by the way. I read four in five days last summer!)
My point is that authors using “tropes” doesn’t mean you’ll get repetitive books. You’ll get many different variations on a theme.
That said, there are tropes in romance that I love, that I’m drawn to, that I’ll happily part with my money for every time. They are:
Friends-to-lovers. Oh, how I love watching a sensitive and deep friendship turn into something more, and how I love watching the emotions simmer and boil over. I love the complications that arise in taking a chance on changing the parameters of a relationship, and how it’s all resolved. I love this theme so much that you see it in three—count ’em, THREE—of my own novels: “A Perfect Pair,” “Secrets of a Good Girl,” and “A Little Change of Plans.”
Athletes and artists. Many years ago, when I was at the beginning of my romance writing career, I distinctly recall editors and agents telling us NO SPORTS BOOKS. Sports books don’t sell, they said, with very few exceptions (see Susan Elizabeth Phillips). Ditto, they said, for books about musicians, ballet, artists. What a bummer for me—an athletic, artistic woman with a classical music background. I couldn’t “write what I know.” Well, publishing changes all the time, and guess what? That stuff sells now, and sells like crazy. Books about soccer players, American football players, baseball players, hockey players, rugby players; and rock stars, pop stars, country stars—all have devoted readers. And by the way, I love an athletic hero, but give me an athletic heroine and I’m all over it. The manuscript I just finished featured a former pro soccer athlete hero and an obstacle-course racing heroine pitted against each other in a race they both need and want to win. As for dancing—”Tiny Pretty Things” is a hit for a reason. Gimme more.
Enemies-to-lovers. What’s hotter than two people who truly hate one another—with good reasons—falling in love? Practically nothing. There’s a fine line between love and hate; it’s all fiery-hot passion. “The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne is one of my favorites.
Geeks. I never mind saying I’m a smarty, and I want to read about other smarties. I like reading about geniuses, especially socially awkward ones who are fully capable of changing the world but completely flummoxed when it comes to their own happiness—until they meet that right person.
“Fake relationship” and marriage of convenience. It’s old fashioned, it’s silly—it’s one of my favorites! In a fictional world, nothing can create real feelings more than two characters going through the motions, pretending for show that they have feelings.
Amnesia. I’m no doctor, but I’m guessing most fictional amnesia cases are not very similar to real-life cases. I’m also guessing that the actual occurrence rate of amnesia is far less frequent than romance novels and made-for-Netflix movies and soap operas would have us believe. I don’t care; I’m here for it! And for that moment when the character remembers everything…
Which tropes do you love? Which tropes do you love but want to see more of? Which tropes haven’t you read and would like to try?
