Let’s talk about romance tropes.
You know what I mean—those storylines that show up again and again in our favorite books. The fake relationship that turns real. The childhood best friends who finally see each other differently. The grumpy hero who melts for the sunshine heroine.
Look, I get it. Some people hear “trope” and think it’s the same story over and over. Some people roll their eyes at tropes…”predictable,” or “its all the same.”
But here’s the truth: tropes aren’t the problem. Bad writing is.
When done well, tropes give us exactly what we’re craving—a specific emotional experience delivered in a way that feels fresh and satisfying. They’re comfort food for the soul, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Here are five romance tropes that never get old, no matter how many times we read them.
1. Fake Relationship (That Becomes Very Real)
The Setup: Two people agree to pretend they’re together—to fool their families, make an ex jealous, secure a business deal, or get someone off their back.
Why We Love It:
- The “oh no, I’m catching feelings” moment is chef’s kiss
- Watching characters pretend while secretly falling? Delicious tension
- The moment they stop pretending and start for real? Pure magic
What Makes It Work: The best fake relationship stories show us two people discovering each other in an unexpected context. They’re not trying to impress. They’re just… themselves. And somewhere along the way, that becomes everything.
Examples Done Right:
- The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (fake dating to win over the boss)
- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (fake honeymoon with your nemesis)
- The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas (fake wedding date across the ocean)
2. Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
The Setup: Two people who’ve known each other forever suddenly see each other in a whole new light.
Why We Love It:
- The history is already there—no need to build connection from scratch
- The “how did I not see this before?” realization hits hard
- The stakes are HIGH because you could lose your best friend
What Makes It Work: Great friends-to-lovers stories show us people who already know each other’s worst qualities and love them anyway. There’s no pretending. No performing. Just two people realizing that the person they’ve been looking for has been right there all along.
Examples Done Right:
- Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter (YA but so good)
- Just Friends by Tiera Skovbye
- Happy Place by Emily Henry (friends + fake dating!)
3. Grumpy/Sunshine
The Setup: One character is perpetually grumpy, guarded, or cynical. The other is warm, optimistic, and sees the good in everyone—including Mr. or Ms. Grumpy.
Why We Love It:
- Watching the grumpy one soften? swoon
- The sunshine character doesn’t change them—they just help them remember who they used to be
- The contrast creates natural comedy and tension
What Makes It Work: The best grumpy/sunshine romances show us that opposites don’t just attract—they balance each other. The grumpy one learns to open up. The sunshine one learns they don’t have to be “on” all the time. They make each other better.
Examples Done Right:
- Beach Read by Emily Henry (sunshine meets grumpy in the most meta way)
- The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata (ultimate grumpy hero)
- People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (grumpy + sunshine + road trip)
4. Second Chance Romance
The Setup: Two people who were once together (or almost together) get another shot at love.
Why We Love It:
- The emotional stakes are massive
- We get to see characters who’ve grown and changed
- There’s history, regret, and the question: can we do it right this time?
What Makes It Work: Second chance romances work when both characters have genuinely evolved. It’s not about going back to who they were—it’s about becoming who they needed to be to make it work. The best ones show us that timing matters, but so does growth.
Examples Done Right:
- It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
- Regretting You by Colleen Hoover
- Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
5. Forced Proximity
The Setup: Two people are stuck together—same house, same job, same road trip, same small town—and can’t escape each other even if they wanted to.
Why We Love It:
- Nowhere to hide = all the tension
- They see each other at their worst AND their best
- The slow burn builds naturally because they’re together 24/7
What Makes It Work: Forced proximity works because it strips away all the barriers. You can’t ghost someone when you’re sharing a cabin. You can’t avoid feelings when you’re eating breakfast together every morning. It forces intimacy, and intimacy breeds connection.
Examples Done Right:
- The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood (fake dating + forced proximity at work)
- The Roommate by Rosie Danan (ultimate forced proximity)
- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren (stuck on an island together)
Why Tropes Matter
Here’s the thing people miss about romance tropes: they’re not about the plot.
They’re about the emotional journey.
When I pick up a fake relationship book, I’m not wondering what will happen. I know they’ll fall in love. That’s the whole point.
What I’m wondering is how.
How will this author make me believe it? How will these specific characters navigate this familiar situation in a way that feels fresh and real and true to who they are?
That’s where the magic happens.
Tropes give us a framework. Great writing brings it to life.
Which Trope Is Your Favorite?
I’d love to know—what romance trope can you read over and over without getting tired of it? For me, it’s fake relationships every single time. There’s something about two people pretending that just gets me. (And yes, my free novella The Billionaire’s Fake Girlfriend features exactly that trope. You can grab it here if you want to see how I tackled it!)
What about you? Childhood friends? Second chances? Grumpy/sunshine?
Drop a comment or shoot me an email—I love talking about this stuff.
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