5 Romance Tropes and Why Fans Love Them!

Beloved Romance Tropes

Every romance fan has their favorite romance tropes that they enjoy to read, the tropes they return to again and again no matter the book or author. Who can blame them? We're all drawn to different things that make us happy and feel fulfilled when we read.

There are dozens upon dozens of romance tropes, but some are more popular than others (friends-to-lovers, anyone?), but they're all enjoyed by someone. This list from All the Kissing podcasts discusses the top ten romance tropes according to the Romance Writers of America.

In this article, we're going to talk about our own favorites, the tropes we enjoy seeing in romance books. Keep reading to learn more and to get some great reading recommendations!

1. Friends-to-Lovers

There's something very sweet (and potentially very sexy) about falling in love with someone you already care about. You already feel comfortable with them, but sudden or not-so-sudden feelings for a friend provides a nice dose of drama to a romance novel. And there's always the internal conflict of whether or not to tell your friend about your feelings because, if they don't feel the same way, it could change or even ruin the friendship.

Some examples of friends-to-lovers romances include:

• The A to Z of Girlfriends by Natasha West

• Inseparable by Brenda Jackson

• Tracking You by Kelly Moran

2. Fake Relationship

Fake relationships are always a lot of fun to read about in romance novels. It doesn't matter if the couple already has feelings for each other when they enter into the fake relationship or they develop feelings along the way - fake relationships create the perfect amount of drama for the novel's couple. Having to appear loving and intimate around other people and knowing it isn't real while having feelings for the other person is just so painfully good to read about. Especially once they finally get it together!

Some examples of fake relationship romance novels include:

• The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

• Marriage of Unconvenience by Chelsea M. Cameron

• Faking It by Cora Carmack

3. Secret Millionaire/Billionaire

People love reading about leading lads and ladies who turn out to be filthy rich. The relationship may start out great, but it becomes apparent that they're holding back, that they have a secret. What is their secret? They're rich, the heir to a corporation, or perhaps royalty! Sometimes the protagonist knows they're a millionaire/billionaire going into the relationship, but has been the first person to see past their money, name, and status. The secret millionaire/billionaire trope can make for a really interesting story.

Some examples of secret millionaire/billionaire romance novels include:

• The Neighbor's Secret by Kimberley Montpetit

• Good Time by Jana Aston

• Royal Scandal by Marquita Valentine

4. Forbidden Love

Ah, forbidden love. There isn't much more dramatic in romance than loving someone you aren't supposed to love. The most famous forbidden love story is probably Romeo and Juliet, though thankfully most modern romance novels don't end in tragedy. In the forbidden love trope, it's sad because, despite whatever feelings two people have for each other, something keeps them apart. Whether that is a family feud, social status, or anything else that could separate people, forbidden love is so satisfying once the couple finally does end up together.

Some examples of forbidden love romance novels include:

• Five Moon Rising by Lise MacTague

• Wrong to Need You by Alisha Rai

• An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole

5. Enemies-to-Lovers

While friends-to-lovers is a great trope, so is the opposite: enemies-to-lovers. It is always incredibly satisfying to see two people begin as rivals or enemies and slowly fall in love over the course of the book. For whatever reason, the two characters loathe each other at the beginning of the book - maybe it was due to a misunderstanding, maybe it's because of a family feud - and by the end, come to truly care for a person they once hated.

Some examples of forbidden love romance novels include:

• Down by Contact by Santino Hassell

• The Heart of Texas by R.J. Scott

• Kiss the Girl by Melissa Brayden

Let's Keep the Conversation Going...

What is your favorite trope to read in romance novels?

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