Most Popular Romantic Tropes {with Examples!}

What is a Romance Trope?

Readers love romance novels because they know exactly what to expect from the story when they first pick up the book.

While predictability may be an issue in other genres, romance readers love that the story will feature a guaranteed happy ending, also known as an HEA (happily ever after.)

How our two love birds find their way to one another may mean the author relies on other well-known plot devices called "tropes."

These constructs offer readers another way to zero in on the books they know they'll love most. How an author applies the trope leaves plenty of room for creative expression that makes each romance unique even within its predictable plot trope.

A romance trope is different than a romance subgenre because it is a specific plot construct that can be mixed and matched across several genres. Books within a subgenre often share a setting, theme, or overall focus.

Let's explore some of the most popular romance tropes featured in our book club books from throughout the years:

Friends to Lovers

When two characters have been friends for a long time and finally realize they have deeper feelings for each other, you've got a solid Friends to Lovers romance.

This trope is a fun one to read because the falling in love part usually includes funny or awkward scenes as the realization hits.

Books that Use the Friends to Lovers Trope:

• Done and Dusted
• Lovelight Farms

Enemies to Lovers

Our two main characters meet and immediately despise one another. There is rivalry and tension before they finally come to terms that those fiery emotions are masking deeper romantic feelings.

Books that Use the Enemies to Lovers Trope:

• The Hating Game
• The Love of My After Life
• The Christmas Fix
• The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
• The Crimson Moth Duology: Heartless Hunter and Rebel Witch
• Nora Goes Off Script

Forced Proximity

When our two romantic leads are forced to spend time together because they are stuck in a situation they cannot escape. Perhaps there's a snow storm, they have to take a trip together for work or personal reasons, they work in the same office or own neighboring businesses.

This forced time together requires that they get to know one another and allows for the opportunity for feelings to develop.

Within the Forced Proximity trope, you may also encounter the popular microtrope: "one bed." When the characters are traveling or away from home, there is only one bed and they have to decide whether or not to share it.

Books that Use the Forced Proximity Trope:

• The Christmas Tree Farm
• The Ex Talk
• You, With a View
• First-Time Caller
• Thank You for Listening

Grumpy - Sunshine Romance

When one romantic lead is a grump and the other romantic lead is an optimistic beam of hope and our opposites attract, you have a "Grumpy Sunshine" romance.

Books that Use the Grumpy Sunshine Trope:

• The Love of My After Life
• The Christmas Fix
• The Highland Fling

Age Gap Romance

When our two main romantic characters have a significant age gap between them that is mentioned in the plot. One character likely has concerns about the age gap while the other one thinks it is no problem at all.

Books that Use the Age Gap Trope:

• Part of Your World
• The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

Pretend Relationships

The plot demands that the two main characters pretend to be a couple when they're not. It may start as a single event like a wedding but the lie expands and they are forced to keep up the ruse beyond the initial agreement.

As they continue to "pretend," real feelings develop and the relationship becomes authentic.

Books that Use the Pretend Relationships Trope:

• The Paradise Problem
• Lovelight Farms
• The Love Hypothesis
• The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

Suddenly a Parent

The plot demands that the two main characters pretend to be a couple when they're not. It may start as a single event like a wedding but the lie expands and they are forced to keep up the ruse beyond the initial agreement.

As they continue to "pretend," real feelings develop and the relationship becomes authentic.

Books that Use the Suddenly a Parent Trope:

• Ready or Not