8 popular romance tropes to inspire your writing
BY Emily Powter-Robinson
8th Feb 2024
Whether you’re writing a Bridgerton-style regency romance or a contemporary Bridget Jones-esque rom-com, getting to know the tropes of the romance genre will help you to write a story that readers will fall in love with.
What is a trope?
- A literary trope is a common, often conventional, theme, motif, or style of writing that is seen so often that it becomes synonymous with a genre.
Below are eight popular romance tropes with examples to inspire your own writing.
Enemies-to-lovers
The term 'enemies-to-lovers' refers to a story which follows the trajectory of two characters who start out as adversaries but end up in a romantic relationship by the end of the story.
More often than not, one or both parties will form false conceptions about the other, fueling their mutual hatred. At a pivotal point in the story, an event or interaction will make the two characters realise that their initial preconceptions were incorrect... maybe they're not so bad after all!
From a harmless rivalry to a deadly feud, the exhilarating idea of falling in love with someone you’re supposed to hate is a much-loved trope in the romance world.
Passionate hatred can be a great way to add sparks of tension to a scene, and so many dedicated romance readers love to witness that burning flame of hatred turn to lust, and then love.
Popular examples of this trope include Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood and Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. Romantasy books often use this trope to great effect to up the stakes of the plot, look no further than BookTok phenomenon Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
Friends-to-lovers
The 'friends-to-lovers' trope involves two people in an established friendship becoming romantic partners. Perhaps they were childhood neighbours or friends from university, whatever the case, the shift from platonic to romantic relationship between two characters occurs when there is a change in the way they perceive one another. Risking their friendship in the pursuit of love, this slow-burn trope is another firm favourite amongst romance readers.
A popular example of this trope and a #BookTok favourite is You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry.
Romance tropes can also work brilliantly in other types of fiction from contemporary to historical fiction. David Nicholls' iconic, bestselling novel One Day is an excellent example of a slow burn friends-to-lovers story that build slowly, capturing the hearts of readers. We can't wait to watch this heartbreaking love story unfold on screen in the new Netflix adaptation. Join our five-week online course Writing Fiction with David Nicholls, to learn how he imbues his fiction with stories full of unforgettable characters and sparkling dialogue.
Workplace romance
The workplace romance lends itself to a number of well-loved tropes, most obviously, enemies-to-lovers. With two characters who see each other regularly in the workplace, the potential to build conflict and tension can make for a steamy story.
An example of this trope is The Break-Up Clause by Niamh Hargan, former three-month Writing Your Novel student.
Forced proximity
There are plenty of variations on the 'forced proximity' or 'stuck together' trope, which is why it makes such a fun jumping off point for your own romance novel. Think: two people trapped in a snowed-in cabin, a road trip, they book into a hotel and there's only one bed!
However it happens, this trope will trap two characters—whether they’re sworn enemies or already attracted to one another—in a situation where they're forced to confront their feelings for one another and break down the physical and emotional barriers that have been keeping them apart.
One of my favourite examples of this trope is The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary.
Fake dating
Maybe they’re tired of always being asked 'how's your love life?' at family functions, or they need a-get-out-of-jail-free card for an awkward social situation. Whatever the situation, what begins as a fake relationship quickly turns into true love.
Popular examples of this trope include To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han, The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas, and Honey & Spice by Bolu Babolola.
Second chance
Can someone find happiness a second time around? Perhaps there's a former love who they've never gotten over or they're re-entering the dating scene after a divorce. The 'second chance' trope sees two characters who missed their chance to be together the first time around about to encounter a second attempt.
A brilliant example of this trope is The Way Back to You by James Bailey, former Writing Your Novel student.
Love triangle
A love triangle occurs when three characters are competing for each other’s love. When done well, this trope is a great way to weave tension into your story and leave the reader guessing who will end up with who. Which characters will couple up and who will be left heartbroken?
This trope has experienced a resurgence lately due to the success of romance series like The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (with the ongoing debate amongst its fandom: Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah?)
Small town romance
The 'small town romance' is an absolute classic. A trademark in Hallmark Christmas movies, it's a trope we'll all be familiar with: The strong-headed professional swaps their big city life for one in a small close-knit town. They're initially disgusted at the idea of living a quiet, rural life ('what do you mean, there's no Uber here?!') but all it takes is a charming local to change their mind.
If you're looking for an example of a small town romance, no one does it better than bestselling author and tutor of our six-week online Writing a Romance course, Jenny Colgan. I'd especially recommend checking out The Bookshop on the Shore.
Learn more about how to write an irresistible, heartfelt romance on our six-week online Writing a Romance Novel course with teaching videos, notes and writing tasks presented by Jenny Colgan.
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