As a romance author and avid reader, I’ve always been fascinated by the recurring themes that make our hearts flutter and pages turn. These recurring themes, known as tropes, are familiar yet endlessly adaptable. Tropes are the backbone of many love stories we cherish, and I use them liberally in all of my romances. So let’s delve into the top ten (or eleven) beloved tropes, exploring why they captivate us and how they continue to evolve.
Romance Fiction Tropes we love
- 1. Enemies to Lovers
The banter. The tension. The moments of “I loathe you” that slowly morph into “I’d die for you.” This trope sizzles because it’s emotional whiplash in the best possible way. This is an all-time classic trope that is also a huge reader favorite.
Why we love it: Watching characters let go of grudges and fall into something real gives us all the butterflies. - 2. Friends to Lovers
Soft, sweet, and deeply satisfying, this one reminds us that the strongest romances often start with friendship. The slow shift from platonic to romantic relationships is such a joy to read… and to write.
Why we love it: The slow-burn realization that love’s been there all along? Pure magic. - 3. Fake Relationship
They agree to pretend—maybe to get through a wedding, dodge nosy family, or help someone save face. But it turns real, fast. I love the thin line that exists between the fake and the real, especially when the reader figures it out before the hero and heroine!
Why we love it: The tension, the fake PDA that suddenly doesn’t feel so fake… it’s a trope that brings both swoon and sparkle. - 4. Second Chance Romance
Love lost. Then found again. This one tugs at every heartstring. I tend to write a lot of second chance romances because I love them so much. I love stories that try to tempt fate, and second chance heroes and heroines tend to laugh in fate’s face… until fate takes control and gives them a story they can’t escape.
Why we love it: There’s something achingly beautiful about forgiveness, growth, and rediscovering love when the timing is finally right. - 5. Forced Proximity
Trapped in a cabin during a snowstorm. Assigned to the same inn renovation. Partnered up on a stakeout. The setup varies, but the sparks are guaranteed. These stories aren’t just about staying together for a short period of time, it’s about the intimacy and tension these romances offer that make them so addicting.
Why we love it: With nowhere to run, characters are forced to confront their feelings—and we get a front-row seat to the fireworks. - 6. Grumpy Meets Sunshine
One is broody, gruff, and emotionally constipated. The other? A ray of chaotic, cheerful light. Sparks ensue. And I have to add that I recently wrote a novella where the heroine is the grumpy one and the hero is the one who loves life. It’s called Luke’s Last Hot Summer and it’s found in the Finding Forever wedding romance anthology.
Why we love it: Watching the grump melt under the warmth of sunshine is one of the greatest joys in romance. - 7. Forbidden Love
Whether it’s rival families, feuding best friends, or an inconvenient vow, something is standing in their way—and that something makes the romance even more delicious. The thing I love about this trope is that it depends upon external pressures to keep the hero and heroine apart. And when two people can push against these pressures, and find their HEA, readers know their love is meant to last forever. Again, with another shameless plug for my own books, my romantic suspense novel Every Deep Desire is a retelling (and redemption) of Romeo and Juliet. That’s how much I love this trope!
Why we love it: The yearning. The secrecy. The courage to love anyway. - 8. Marriage of Convenience
They say “I do” for practical reasons—inheritance, visa, mutual gain. But hearts don’t play by contract. The thing I love about this trope is that it is no longer just found in historical romances. It’s now found in contemporary romances, including the next book in my Deadly Force Series, A Promise at Midnight (coming soon).
Why we love it: The journey from obligation to real, deep love is always a joy to witness. - 9. Secret Identity
A hidden past, an assumed name, or a job undercover… the reveal is coming, and we can’t look away. These kinds of stories can be found in historical romances (The Phantom of the Opera), contemporary romances (secret billionaires!), paranormal romances (any vampire novel you can think of), as well as other genres such as romantasy and mafia romances. These are hugely popular with readers and are some of my favorite stories to read and write.
Why we love it: The tension and high stakes make the eventual truth—and acceptance—even more satisfying. - 10. Found Family
The best romances often come with a side of community—a ragtag group of misfits, neighbors, coworkers, or friends who become something more. This trope can also be the basis for a single book as well as entire series (think The Black Dagger Brotherhood, Reapers MC, and Virgin River, just to name a few out of many). Readers love the larger casts, intertwining stories, and the settings (like small towns, small businesses, etc) that remind them of home. My Kingsmill Courtships series is based on this trope, as is my Deadly Force series.
Why we love it: It reminds us that love isn’t just romantic—it’s about connection, belonging, and choosing each other. - BONUS: Secret Baby
Oh yes. You knew it was coming. The twist that launches a thousand page-turns. Maybe she had to run. Maybe she didn’t know how to tell him. Maybe he’s been searching for them all along. Whatever the backstory, when that surprise child shows up, hearts break—and heal—all over again. And I happen to be writing one of these right now!
Why we love it: Because nothing says high stakes like the revelation that your past love… is now a parent. Cue redemption, reconciliation, and baby giggles at the epilogue.
