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Ever notice how in books, the grumpy-but-secretly-soft hero always falls for the quirky sunshine protagonist? Or how a fake relationship inevitably leads to real sparks? Those, my fellow Book-Lovers, are the glorious, sometimes cheesy, but oh-so-addictive book tropes! They're like the comfy slippers of storytelling – familiar, reliable, and they just feel right. We gobble them up because they're the promises romance makes: enemies will kiss, best friends will realize they're soulmates, and even the most disastrous meet-cutes can lead to happily ever after. It's the literary equivalent of comfort food, a delightful dance we know the steps to, but still thrill to watch unfold!

Below is a list of the most common Book Troupes!

Book Tropes

Trope Name
Trope Meaning
Example Book
Trope Abbreviation
Secret Identity/Mistaken Identity
One or both characters are hiding their true identity, leading to complications and eventual revelations that affect the romance
Accidental Pregnancy
An unplanned pregnancy forces characters together or complicates an existing relationship, often leading to deeper feelings.
The Bonus by T.L Swan,
AP
Age Gap Romance
A romance between two people with a large age difference.
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas, Hopeless & Heartless by Elsie Silver:
Amnesia
One character loses their memory, and the other helps them rediscover themselves and their love
Forget Me Not by Julie Soto, If You Stayed by Brittainy Cherry
Arranged Marriage
Where people are forced to marry one another, and then find love.
King of Wrath by Ana Huang, The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Bad Friend
A character who pretends to be a friend but behaves deceitfully or betrays the protagonist.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Best Friend's Sibling
A classic trope that plays with forbidden feelings and family dynamics.
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey,
Billionaire Romance
features a wealthy, powerful protagonist falling for someone from a different socioeconomic background
Bodyguard Romance
Romance that develops between a person and their bodyguard.
Childhood Sweethearts
Characters who have known each other since childhood rekindle their connection and discover romantic feelings.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune, Wildfire by Hannah Grace
Childhood Sweethearts
Characters who knew each other as children and later develop romantic feelings.
Choice:
A significant decision a character must make that will dramatically alter the course of their life, the plot, or both.
Dark Warrior
Dark Warrior
A heroic character who adopts a brooding, ruthless persona often struggling with inner demons.
The Dark Tower by Stephen King
Enemies to Lovers
Characters who initially dislike or hate each other find themselves falling in love. Often involves witty banter and tension
Fake Dating
Characters pretend to be in a relationship, often to achieve a specific goal, but eventually develop genuine feelings for each other.
Fake Dating/Relationship
Fake Relationship
Two people pretend to be in a relationship for various reasons (e.g., to make someone jealous) and develop real feelings
Forbidden Love
xternal circumstances (family rivalry, social class differences, etc.) make the romantic relationship difficult or impossible.
Forbidden Love:
A relationship that is prohibited by social norms, family, or other obstacles.
Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman,
Found Family
Characters who are not related by blood but form a close, supportive family-like bond.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Found Family
Friends to Lovers
A close friendship evolves into romantic feelings, exploring the risks and rewards of changing the dynamic
Grumpy/Sunshine
One character is brooding and negative, while the other is bright and optimistic. The contrast in their personalities leads to romantic tension.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry, Things We Never Got Over"by Lucy Score
Holiday Romance
Romance that develops during a holiday season, often with a magical or festive atmosphere.
One Day in December by Josie Silver, In a Holidaze" by Christina Lauren
Insta-Love
Characters experience immediate and intense attraction and fall in love very quickly
Insta-Love
Love Triangle
Three individuals are romantically entangled, creating conflict and difficult choices for the protagonist
Love Triangle
One character is torn between two potential love interests. This trope creates tension and drama as the character struggles to make a choice.
Love Triangle
Marriage of Convenience
Characters enter into a marriage for practical reasons, such as financial security or social status, rather than love.
Getaway Girl by Tessa Bailey,
Mary Sue
A character who is overly perfect and lacks flaws, often seen as an idealized version of the author.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Mary Sue
Meet-Cute
A charming or humorous first encounter between the characters.
Beach Read by Emily Henry, The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Mistaken Identity
Characters are confused for someone else, leading to unexpected romantic entanglements.
A Fate of Wrath and Flame by K.A. Tucker, Stealing Her by Rachel Van Dyken
Morally Grey Love Interest
One Bed
Forced proximity situation, often due to travel or circumstance, that throws the characters together in close quarters.
Only One Bed
Characters are forced to share very close quarters, and often one bed
Flawless by Elsie Silver, Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
Opportunity Missed:
Opposites Attract
Opposites Attract
Characters with seemingly contrasting personalities, backgrounds, or lifestyles find an undeniable romantic connection.
Protector/Protected
One character takes on the role of protecting another, leading to emotional intimac
Souls Unfractured Tillie Cole
Reformed Bad Boy/Girl
A character with a troubled past changes for the better because of love.
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, The Risk by Elle Kennedy
Regret:
Rivals to Lovers
Similar to enemies-to-lovers, but often with a professional or competitive edge.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, The Hating Game" by Sally Thorne
Runaway Bride/Groom
A character flees their wedding, often to find true love.
Powerless Elsie Silver, Runaway Love Melanie Harlow.
Second Chance Romance
A previously failed relationship gets another opportunity, allowing characters to address past mistakes.
Seven Days in June by Talia Pearl, Happy Place by Emily Henry
Second Chance Romance
Characters who had a previous relationship that ended get another opportunity to rekindle their love
Secret Identity
Secret Identity
Secret Identity
One or both characters have hidden identities that add complexity and intrigue to the relationship.
Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas, A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
Secret Identity/Mistaken Identity
Single Dad
Slow Burn
Slow Burn
The romantic relationship develops gradually over time, often with significant emotional build-up.
Small Town Romance
Love stories set in close-knit communities where everyone knows everyone else, often highlighting the charm and challenges of small-town life.
Small Town Romance
Soulmates/Destined Lovers
The belief that two people are meant to be together, often with fate, destiny, or a strong sense of recognition playing a role
Soulmates/Fated Mates
Characters are destined to be together, often with a sense of inevitability.
Sports Romance
The "Chosen One"
One character is destined for greatness, and their love interest plays a crucial role in their journey
The "One That Got Away"
Characters who were once in love reconnect after a period of separation, realizing their feelings never faded.
The Accidental Meeting
A chance encounter that sparks a connection, often in an unexpected place or situation.
The Alpha Male/Female
The Alpha Male/Female
A dominant, assertive, and often natural leader.
The Antagonist
The primary opponent or villain who creates conflict for the protagonist.
The Antagonist
The Anti-Hero
The Anti-Hero
A protagonist who lacks conventional heroic qualities but may still do the right thing in their own way.
The Best Friend
A close confidante and ally of the protagonist.
The Best Friend
The Byronic Hero
A brooding, rebellious, and often emotionally scarred hero with a hidden soft side.
The Byronic Hero
The Caregiver/Healer
A nurturing and empathetic character who often prioritizes the well-being of others.
The Caretaker/Healer
One character nurtures or heals the other, fostering emotional intimacy.
The Chosen One
An ordinary character destined for extraordinary things, often to save the world.
The Chosen One
The Damsel in Distress
A vulnerable character, often female, who needs to be rescued.
The Damsel in Distress
The Everyman/Everywoman
An ordinary, relatable character that the audience can easily identify with.
The Everyman/Everywoman
The Femme Fatale
The Femme Fatale
A seductive and dangerous woman who uses her allure to manipulate others.
The Fish Out of Water
One character is placed in an unfamiliar environment, and the other helps them navigate it.
The Foil
A character who contrasts with the protagonist, highlighting their specific traits.
The Foil
The Forbidden Love:
The Genius
A character with exceptional intelligence or skills in a particular area.
The Genius
The Grand Gesture
The Grand Gesture
dramatic and often public display of affection to win someone back, declare love, or prove commitment.
The Innocent
The Innocent
A pure, naive character who is often morally good and untainted by the world's harshness.
The Jester/Trickster
The Jester/Trickster
A character who uses humor and wit, sometimes to disrupt or challenge authority.
The Lost Boy/Girl
A character who is emotionally immature or struggling to find their place in the world.
The Lost Boy/Girl
The Lost Love Reunited
Characters who were separated by circumstances beyond their control find their way back to each other.
The Love Interest
The Love Interest
The character the protagonist is romantically involved with or develops feelings for.
The Manic Pixie Dream Girl
An eccentric, quirky female character whose primary purpose is to liven up the male protagonist's life.
The Manic Pixie Dream Girl
The Meet-Cute
The Meet-Cute
The often charming, funny, or unusual first encounter between the two main love interests.
The Mentor
A wise, experienced character who guides and advises the protagonist.
The Mentor
The Outsider
A character who doesn't fit in with the dominant social group or setting.
The Protector
A character whose primary motivation is to safeguard others.
The Rebel
A character who defies societal norms and authority.
The Rebound Romance
One or both characters are fresh from another broken relationship, and find comfort in each other.
The Redeemed Villain
An antagonist who undergoes a significant change of heart and becomes good.
The Redeemed Villain
The Reluctant Hero
The Reluctant Hero
A character who is forced into a heroic role despite their initial hesitation or desire to avoid it.
The Reverse Harem
One female character has multiple romantic interests.
The Road Trip Romance
Characters embark on a journey together, and their shared experiences lead to romance.
The Secret Admirer
One character admires another from afar, and that admiration is eventually found out.
The Sidekick
A loyal companion who supports the protagonist, often providing comic relief or different skills.
The Sidekick
The Small Town Romance
A romance that unfolds in a close-knit community, where everyone knows everyone else.
The Strong Silent Type
A character who is stoic, reserved, and communicates more through actions than words.
The Survivor
The Survivor
A character who has endured significant hardship and possesses resilience.
The Time Travel Romance
Where one or both characters travel through time to find love
The Tragic Hero
A protagonist with a fatal flaw that ultimately leads to their downfall.
The Unreliable Narrator
A narrator whose credibility is compromised, intentionally or unintentionally.
The Unreliable Narrator
Time Loop
Time Loop
A narrative where characters relive the same period repeatedly until they can change an outcome or learn a lesson.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Unhinged Book Boyfriend
Unrequited Love
One character loves another, but the feelings are not reciprocated.
Wallflower/Popular
One character is shy and overlooked, and the other is very popular.
Workplace Romance
romantic relationship that develops between colleagues.
Workplace Romance
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