I know that other readers out there will understand me when they read this introduction because, let’s say it, we all do it, and honesty it always pays off, so here I am declaring as the voice of the people that those silly books so unjustly vilified (at least publicly), are necessary. Yes, because inserting them from time to time in our reading order serves to make us take our heads off and experience a pleasant feeling of comfort when we find those types of situations that are always highly predictable but, at the same time, always pleasing.
For example, I’ve finished the fifth book of the “Bridgerton” saga, I’m reading a fantasy in English that I’ve been waiting for a long time, and as my next reading, I have “The Shards” by Bret Easton Ellis. In short, it’s all about balance, which reminds us that being frivolous readers does not mean being second-class readers, but that, on the contrary, we know how to value every type of book and recognize that what matters, in the end, is reading to relax and to feel good about ourselves.
In the continuous search for books of this type, which often match romance titles, that is, romance fiction (but which are not exclusive to this genre), I realized that at the moment, there is a wave of advice on the subject (thanks to the #BookTok) where tropes are put in the foreground, those predictable narrative dynamics that make certain situations and types of couples fall into specific categories.
The limit with the cliché is often extremely subtle, but it is also true that it is precisely the indications such as “enemies to lovers” or “academic rivals” now highlighted on the covers of books that attract us with their songs as if they were sirens. The reason? We are aware of what we like and what makes us distract from reality in a simple and unpretentious way and we constantly seek these dynamics precisely to relive this feeling of peace and well-being. Nothing to take away from classic or “committed” books of course, but giving in to these whims is good, and there is nothing wrong with admitting it.
What better opportunity to analyze the 10 best tropes of romance books and more?
FRIENDS TO LOVERS
The so-called friendzone category, where the protagonists have always been friends (or at least for a long time), often there is already one in love with the other even here for a long time and the other realizes that he feels the same romantic feelings with sometimes questionable timing (great classic for example, on the eve of the wedding). The perfect trope for all those who, in front of a friend or girlfriend, find themselves thinking: “What if we were something more?”. With the hope that there is a happy ending on the horizon!
Reading suggestion: “Romancing Mister Bridgerton” by Julia Quinn, the fourth book in the “Bridgerton” saga that inspired the third season of the Netflix adaptation, stars lifelong friends Colin and Penelope become something more…
ENEMIES TO LOVERS
My favorite trope, the one that is most often found in the fantasy genre for example, sees the protagonists incompatible with each other, or even real enemies, who in reality hide romantic feelings under this apparent hatred. The perfect trope also for historical novels or romances from the past (one above all: “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen), with dynamics such as declarations of love shouted in the middle of a fight, fights with spicy implications, jealousy if one of the two is with someone else … Simply 10/10 every single time!
Reading suggestion: the choice here was really difficult, but “The Cruel Prince” by Holly Black wins, a young adult fantasy trilogy with a folkloric background starring Cardan and Jude, prince of a fairy kingdom and human respectively, enemies to lovers perfect in every respect and, for this reason, unforgettable.
FORBIDDEN LOVE
The obstacle element is precisely the key element of this trope: whether it is because the protagonists are incompatible from an economic, social, “species” point of view or because they are unable by events to be together, this is the perfect trope for those looking for more dynamic stories (often belonging to sagas) that make us hold our breath to understand how we will be able to overcome the obstacle to get to the long-awaited happy ending. Always with the hope that there is one!
Reading suggestion: “These Violent Delights” by Chloe Gong, a retelling of “Romeo and Juliet” set in Shanghai in the 20s where the protagonists, Juliette and Roma, are the respective heirs of two enemy gangs who have always collaborated in secret to defeat a new, powerful enemy. Will they be able to resist the call of feelings?
FAKE DATING
Perhaps the funniest dynamic of all, where the protagonists decide to get together by mutual agreement for different reasons (to make an ex jealous, to prove to the family that they are no longer single, a bet…), going from ignoring/hating each other even to realizing that perhaps there is no need to pretend because little by little a very specific feeling is growing between them…
Reading suggestion: “Funny Story” by Emily Henry, where the protagonists Daphne and Miles, get together after they are dumped by their respective exes who have in turn gotten together and are now about to get married. Fun and smooth, it reminds us that true love is unpredictable and, for this reason, beautiful!
MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE
Similar to the Fake Dating, it sees the protagonists, often at the beginning of the narrative themselves, marry against their will and live together even if they do not know/put up with each other. Needless to say, in being forced into the sacred bond of marriage, they discover more or less soon that they love each other and that yes, they want to be together until death do them part (or even later if there is a fantasy/paranormal element involved).
Reading suggestion: “Serpent & Dove” by Shelby Mahurin, a trilogy where the protagonists, Louise and Reid, by pure coincidence and chain of events, are forced to get married; too bad that she is a witch and he is a Chasseur, a witch hunter unaware of the nature of his new bride… Can there be true love between two such different worlds?
FORCED PROXIMITY
That is when the protagonists are forced to spend time together because they find themselves physically occupying the same spaces, more or less aware, more or less willing of this situation, and end up falling in love. It is not a feeling that arises immediately, there is no shortage of obstacles and not even misunderstandings but it is always as winning as tropes!
Reading suggestion: “The American Rommate Experiment” by Elena Armas, where the enterprising Rosie Graham finds herself having to share a friend’s apartment with the irresistible Lucas, for whom she has secretly had a crush for months. Everything takes an unexpected turn when he proposes to her to experiment together with types of “romantic” dates. Everything is under control. Or maybe, no?
OPPOSITES ATTRACT (GRUMPY X SUNSHINE)
Think of two characters with opposite characters who, for this reason, just can’t stand each other. Impossible for them to fall in love with each other, right? And instead… The most famous declination of this trope is the “Grumpy x sunshine”, that is, the introverted, grumpy, and taciturn character who falls in love with a more exorbitant, smiling, and optimistic person. On the other hand, if it is said that “opposites attract” in reality, there is a reason.
Reading suggestion: “It Happened One Summer” by Tessa Bailey. Here, the beautiful and carefree influencer Piper, finds herself forced to live in the remote village of Westport, where she immediately crosses the path of Captain Brendan, apparently gloomy, unbearable, and irascible. Perhaps, however, what they both need is a change of perspective to learn to love again.
ACADEMIC/WORK RIVALS
You know you’re reading a book of this kind when the protagonists, crossing each other in the corridors of their school/office, call each other by their surname with contemptuousness. Ambitious, dutiful, and hungry for success, they just want to achieve their goals without distractions. Yet, that very rival of theirs could surprise them with an unpredictable move that they would never have contemplated and in front of which they find themselves “weak”, that is love.
Reading suggestion: “Divine Rivals” by Rebecca Ross, where the two young protagonists, Iris and Roman, are rivals at the same editorial office, always intent on doing better than the other to get a promotion. But when a war between gods comes to upset their lives, the two find themselves united by a special bond, unexpected and magical, for real.
LOVE TRIANGLE
“The triangle no, I hadn’t considered it” sang Renato Zero, yet if you embark on a reading of this type, you should know that it will be the focal element of the narrative. Here, the protagonist finds herself sentimentally divided between two people, often opposed to each other, between the lifelong friend and the newcomer, between the kind soul and the dark one, between passion and the desire for stability … I see you shaking your head, but we’ve all been there since the “Twilight” phenomenon (by the way, Team Edward always and in any case).
Reading suggestion: “Shadowhunters. The Infernal Devices” by Cassandra Clare. The Prequel trilogy of the main saga, set in Victorian London, sees the intertwining between Tessa Gray and the two Parabatai Shadowhunters, Will and Jim, who join forces to fight in the darkness an enemy that threatens their worlds and who needs Tessa to complete his work. In discovering the truth, the line between love and friendship between the three becomes thinner and thinner… I tell you right now: from the last pages of the last book, there is no going back.
SLOW BURN
More than an actual trope, this is a dynamic that involves the various categories of romance protagonists mentioned above and refers to those sweaty love stories, which keep us in spasmodic anticipation of the first kiss, the declaration of love, the spiciest scenes … Although we complain every time about the unbearable agony that is waiting for the turning points, we always end up falling back precisely because this type of “torture” is the extra element that we like. Very.
