This post was inspired by Swetlana @ Reading Through the Night. I was reading about her favourite tropes and it made me think about some of my favourites as well! It is so easy to think about all the tropes that I absolutely hate (love triangles anyone?) but it is not often that I reflect on ones that I love! I am providing examples of books that have these tropes so there might be a few spoilers but nothing major! Swetlana and I share a trope that we both love so I will start with that one first…
#1- Hate to Love/Enemies to Lovers
I have read romances like this many times over and I never tire of it! I just love the tension that develops between two characters who hate each other but will inevitably end up together. I live for that moment where they realize that hate has turned in to love!
Example: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
#2- Will They or Won’t They
I love reading stories where you know the characters both love each other, but they do not realize that the feeling is mutual. I enjoy reading about the tension that is built up. I know that the characters will end up together but I don’t care that it is predictable!
Example: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
#3- Fake Dating
This is when the characters pretend to be in a relationship for whatever reason, and of course eventually fall in love for real. Cheesy? Sure! Predictable? Definitely… but I love it!!
Example: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
#4- The Chosen One
I know this trope is so over done but if it is done well I truly enjoy it. There are many books that I have read like this and I am not ashamed to admit that some of them have become favourites! I love to see a character fulfill their true destiny!
Example: Harry Potter
I know that some of you will disagree with me and I love that! I love hearing everyone’s opinion and how they are all different! I would really like to know what you think! What are your favourite tropes?
I totally agree lol, I’m a sucker for all these tropes
Yes! That makes me happy to hear! 😀
All of these could’ve and should’ve ended up on my list too because I love them a lot! I think out of the ones you have on here that I didn’t talk about, Will They Won’t They might be my favorite trope – especially in tv shows and when it is dragged over seasons with little moments thrown in here and there. I LIVE for that trope. Even though I will get frustrated about it I still love it a lot!
I love that trope in tv shows as well! A lot of times I actually enjoy the show less when they finally get together!
I love the post a way too much 😎
Haha thank you! 😊
I like The Chosen One!!! That’s the best! But I also love love/hate tropes. The slower the progression, the better✨💗
Yes slow progression is a must!!! 🐢
I’m glad you feel the same way 🙂
I was just thinking about #1 the other day, that is literally my favorite type of YA romance and I don’t care how cliche it is!!!!
It’s an amazing trope! I would read about relationships like that all day long!
Yesss I love the fact that you know they’re both secretly into each other! That tension is super and I love the build-up more than when they are together :-). Last one I read was Until It Fades by K.A. Tucker btw :-).
Ohhh thanks for the suggestion! Adding that to my TBR asap!!! 😊
Fake dating is my absolute favorite trope. And I also really enjoy hate-to-love. It just makes for such fun banter!
Yes the banter is really what I love about it!
I’m a little fed up of the chosen one trope I have to admit. I kind of prefer the ordinary person flung into extraordinary situation.
I was literally just thinking about an hour ago about how much I love the fake romance stories.
I can totally see how the chosen one trope is overdone!
I don’t know what it is about fake romances! Just so fun to read!
Ah I love the fake dating trope! I mean, you KNOW they’ll end up together in the end, but it’s so fun to read about the characters getting to that point haha. I like that you included examples for each trope. Very helpful 🙂
Thank you! I was reading To All the Boys when I realized I adore that trope!
Close to number one, I really like when enemies become friends, or maybe more like acquaintances. You can tell they’re never really going to trust one another, but they have each others’ respect. That really gets me.
I also love the Chosen One. I think this could be re-ignited for a lot of other people if they put a little spin on it once in a while. Does the chosen one always have to be least likely person in all of the land? Lol
I haven’t read a lot of enemies to friends. Any suggestions? That is something I’d love to read about!
Yes it would be great to see more chosen one trope done in a different way! I enjoy that trope a lot but only when it plays out in a unique way!
It’s probably there more than you think, and more than I can remember.
The Demon Cycle by Peter Brett is a good one for it. The relationship between Arlen and Jardir is always shifting, but there’s a respect that remains throughout.
It’s always happening in Game of Thrones as character move from being scum to hero, and vice-versa. And really, Harry and Draco almost reached this kind of relationship. Almost.
And of course, it’s always happening in comic books.
That is really true about Hardy Draco!
I have not read The Demon Cycle but I will definitely add it to my list. I read the first GOT book and have only seen the first season so I really need to get on that!
It’s amazing how many different tropes are out there.;-) any everyone has their favorites!! I think #1 and #2 are some of my favorites as well. The sexual tension can be quite fascinating.
That’s what I enjoy about those tropes! They are like the opposite of instalove!
Oh please, let’s forget that insta love exists 😉
Lol I love fake dating!! It’s so fun, and I love the conventions of fake dating. And enemies to lovers. Both of those are so much fun and have so many possibilities for great romantic tension.
Romantic tension is one of my favourite things to read about or watch on tv! I love watching it all play out!
Same here!!
Totally agree with number one, it’s the main reason I actually carried on reading a particular book once!
I don’t blame you! It is a great trope!
Same… I’m a sucker for the hate to love trope. 😂
It is so good!
I love the “hate to love” trope as well.
Insta love and Love triangles both annoy me greatly. I also enjoy all the tropes you mentioned in this list, and I’m sure there are others but I cannot think of them at this moment.
I was raking my brain trying to come up with other tropes I love but was drawing a blank! If I think of any more I will probably make another post like this!
Glad to know I’m not the only one blanking on coming up with tropes, lol.
The “Hate to Love” trope is so good! Also the “will they/won’t they”. But I have to admit that I do not like “the chosen one” anymore. XD
I knew the chosen one would not be as well loved! I totally can see why!
Love this post!! I want to do something similar as well 🙂
I recently bought Carry On and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and I am so excited to read them.
I also love the enemies to lovers trope 🙂
I would love to see your post if you make one! I find it so interesting to read what tropes people like!
Ahhh I love the hate to love trope!! Carry On is one of my favourites. And I’m totally a sucker for the fake dating trope as well! 😍 Loved this post.
Haha thank you! I am so happy so many people agree with me!
Fake dating is the best trope. I love it so much
I know! I need to read more books like this!
I agree with all of these! I know some are cliché but I that’s what makes them so enjoyable ☺️
Yes! Sometimes cliches became popular for a reason!
Hmm, the only “fake dating” trope I’ve seen in novels is the one in Jenny Han’s.
Regardless, I think that all tropes can be super fun to read if they’re done well!! I mean, they’re probably all just tropes because they were so popular. And sometimes, I’m just in the mood to read a super cliche book, ya know?? XD
I totally get it! Clichés become popular because they are fun to read if done well!!
I love fake relationship and hate-to-love stories!
They are so good!
I like all these tropes as well. Honestly, I’m on board with MOST tropes as long as they are necessary to the character and not just used as a way to create tension in the plot.
I agree! I can get behind almost any trope if it makes sense for the character!
Exactly! 🙂
I never get tired of the Hate to Love trope!!! I also love the “sweet sinnamon roll” trope hahaha
I had to look up what the trope was but I totally enjoy it as well! That is a good one!! 😂
I loved this! I also can’t get enough of The Chosen One AND Fake Dating tropes – there’s a reason why they’re so popular haha 🙂
It is so true! There is something addicting about reading stories like that!
I like Hate to Love/Enemies to Lovers books, too. The tension and situations just make them good reads!
It is so true!
I love the “hate to love trope.” Those books always have so much tension and witty banter.
I like the “friend to love trope,” too. I completely relate to the oblivious best friend(s).
I don’t see the fake dating very much, but I like the cliché when they get together. It could also be interesting if the couple fake dated, and didn’t end up together. I guess it depends on how it’s written. If you are looking for books with fake dating -> real dating, try When It’s Real by Erin Watt. I also believe that The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West has a pretend boyfriend/girlfriend element.
Happy reading!
Jessica @ Pore Over the Pages
Awesome thank you for the recommendations! I have seen the book When It’s Real around but hasn’t realized that it had that trope! Definitely going to have to read it now! I don’t know why I didn’t put it together that Fill In Boyfriend is about faking dating but that totally makes sense! Thanks again! 😊
I have A TON of favorite tropes. I love Hate to Love like you said (my favorite book with it being Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai).
I also enjoy tropes revolving around fate and family similarities (ex. Generation Xerox).
Oh I have not heard of that book! Thank you for the recommendation! 😊
Hah, I love all of these! 🙂 Even when they’re predictable, I still enjoy them. One of my favorite “fake dating” is Catch a Falling Star, by Kim Culbertson. And my favorite love to hate is of course Pride & Prejudice.
Ohh thanks for the recommendation! Pride and Prejudice is truly the best book with that trope!