Common Romance Tropes We Just Can’t Get Enough Of

There is something about this time of year, when the air takes on a chill, that makes many people, like myself, look for something to warm our hearts. Whether it's a romance novel, film, or a love song, most of us enjoy exploring the themes of love in some form. The holidays come with an assortment of expressions on these themes, but in this post, let’s look at the romance tropes themselves.

What is a trope? Simply put, a trope is a commonly utilized plot device or recurring motif. There are many frequently used tropes in the Romance genre, but today we will discuss some of my favorites: Opposites Attract, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Fake Relationship, Forbidden Love, and Love Triangle. Read on to learn what the trope is and to discover a recommended book, movie, or TV show, and a song title from an album from our collection that all exemplify it!

• Opposites Attract: Whether it be Grumpy and Sunshine, Shy and Outgoing, City and Country, Messy and Organized, or another example, opposites do attract in fiction and reality, oftentimes resulting in hijinks along the way and a partnership better balanced by the alternative perspective.
• Book: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang: Stella, a successful and super smart woman with Autism, decides that she wants to learn to be more successful with men, so she hires a male escort to give her relationship and sex advice. Romance and comedy ensue.
• Screen: WALL-E is a wonderful story of a lonely robot finding love and adventure when he meets another robot named EVE and follows her across the galaxy; perfect for romance fans of all ages!
• Song: “My Same” by Adele explores the concept of opposites attracting with lyrics like, “Walking with each other, think we'll never match at all / But we do, but we do-do-do-do.”
• Enemies to Lovers: they love to hate each other, and then eventually that love grows to be something more.
• Book: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston is a delightful love story of America’s First Son falling for one of England’s princes, that is, after they get over being each other’s nemesis first.
• Screen: Pride & Prejudice could define the genre of Enemies to Lovers; whether it is through Jane Austen’s masterpiece or one of the many excellent film adaptations, this reader and viewer cannot recommend them enough. 
• Song: “Love It When You Hate Me” by Avril Levine explores a toxic relationship, which can be an unhealthy extension of the Enemies to Lovers theme. 
• Forced Proximity: this premise is built upon the concept of two people thrust into close quarters, which forces them to discover each other or their feelings for each other.
• Book: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren follows two people who can’t stand each other, forced into going on an all-expenses-paid fake honeymoon when the rest of the wedding party gets sick. This book is Enemies to Lovers meets Forced Proximity in a love story you won’t forget!
• Screen: Outlander begins with the necessity of Claire marrying Jamie after being transported back in time; this forced proximity is just the start to their epic love story.
• Song: “Accidentally in Love” by Counting Crows captures the inescapable nature of love and was created for
• Fake Relationship: these stories are built upon a lie, but ultimately the lie turns into the truth.
• Book: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center follows a female bodyguard to a Hollywood star as she pretends to be his girlfriend so that his family does not discover that he is being stalked; perfect for readers who like emotional depth in their love stories.
• Screen: Easy A explores the impact that making a business of fake relationships has on a high school student played by Emma Stone in a hilarious and heartfelt way.
• Song: “Scared to Be Lonely” by Martin Garrix & Dua Lipa navigates a relationship built on the fear of being alone, which holds a kind of falseness to it, indicative of the trope.
• Forbidden Love: they cannot be together, yet destiny, fate, or perhaps coincidence thrust them together; who can’t help but root for what cannot be yet?
• Book: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare encapsulates forbidden love and portrays how tragic it can become. Don’t remember? Maybe it is time to revisit the classic as either book or film; we have many versions of both.
• Screen: Brokeback Mountain stunned audiences twenty years ago with Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal’s captivating performances in this forbidden love story.
• Song: “Layla” by Eric Clapton, be it the raw original or the soulful unplugged version, conveys the urgency and need born from a forbidden romance. This classic will always be a favorite of mine. 
• Love Triangle: these stories reveal the messiness of being torn between desiring two people, or another version of a love triangle can be one person wanting someone who desires another.
• Book: Throne of Glass is the series opener by Sarah J. Maas that has ensnared many lovers of Romantasy. The book does follow the love triangle trope which readers love or hate, or maybe love to hate.
• Screen: Bridget Jones Diary has become a modern classic story of one woman striving to get to happily ever after when caught between two very different men.
• Song: “You Belong with Me” by Taylor Swift captures the angst of wanting someone who wants another.

Whether you enjoy these titles from the physical collection in our branches, or through the Libby app for e-books and audiobooks, or Kanopy for films, we hope that you enjoy discovering wonderful love stories, and that perhaps you spot a common trope while you do!

~Bekka, Lawrence (Headquarters) Branch