My Top Favorite Romance Tropes
There are quite a bit of romance tropes out there, some better than others depending on who you ask. Me, there are a handful that as soon as I read the summary, I’m buying the book. Unfortunately, there are too many to choose from, so I had a hard time narrowing it down. Fortunately for you, I chose to pick my top five favorite romance tropes based on my recent reading and my TBR (to be read) list. Enjoy.
Office Romance - This type of romance trope consists of two characters falling in love in a work environment or setting. This could mean two co-workers who have worked in close proximity and developed a relationship. (i.e Jim and Pam from The Office) This could also mean two people who end up on a project, they don’t normally work together or even for the same company, but are required to work together for the foreseeable future and develop a bond as they get to know each other. (Ben and Leslie from Parks and Recreation). There’s even the scenario where two people meet; either have a one night stand, dating, or even break up and next thing you know, they end up bumping into each other at work. Now they have to figure out their relationship while working together.
Book Recommendations:
Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey
The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
How To Fail At Flirting by Denise Williams
Forced Together - Our potential lovers are made to be around one another whether they want to be or not. And oftentimes it’s not. There are a multitude of ways this tropes manifests, often with our potential lovers snowed in, staying late at the office, forced to travel together or even an arranged marriage. No matter the circumstances, the longer they are trapped together, the more they fall in love, eventually developing feelings and a relationship.
Book Recommendations:
Along For The Ride by Mimi Grace
Holding Up The Universe by Jennifer Niven
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Friends to Lovers - Usually life long friends but can be people who’ve recently become friends and that friendship begins to shift into the romantic sphere. With life long friends, either one or both parties have pined for each other but the timing was never right. With new friends, they meet and decide not to pursue anything despite the obvious attraction. A very popular trope not only because of its real life implications, but because of the build from friends to lovers. Whether life long or recent friends, there was time to get to know one another, thus establishing an emotional connection. And when the romantic aspects come into play, it’s satisfying to see these friends/lovers get their happy ending.
Book Recommendations:
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Enemies/Rivals to Lovers - Certainly an exciting and explosive trope; two people who do not care for one another or are in competition with one another until an inciting incident causes them to see each other differently. As their dynamic changes, the two come to an understanding and an appreciation for one another, ultimately coming to love the other person.
Book Recommendations:
What’s Not To Love? By Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
Fake Dating - I think this trope has become my most favorite in the past year. Two people enter into a fake relationship in order to save face or to help each other out. However, as the fake-ship continues, real feelings begin to develop and soon the two have to decide if they want to turn this fake relationship into a real one.
(Sidenote: I put four on this one because I couldn’t decide.)
Book Recommendations:
10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon
The Dating Playbook by Farrah Rochon
If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
Make A Scene by Mimi Grace
As I mentioned, there are quite a lot of romance tropes across a few different genres and sub-genres. These are my top favorites. To review more romance tropes, click the reference links below. But if you just want to review lists, check out Goodreads lists linked below as well.
Reference Links:
Goodreads Lists:
