Romance Tropes are plot devices used to bring lovers together. Several romance books use a combination of tropes for a unique plot, depending on the length of the book. One that I recently used was Best Friend’s Sibling which I combined with Forbidden Love in Tangled Bloom. As far as “forbidden love” goes, it can be forbidden in the character’s mind, not necessarily in society’s thinking. I admit I haven’t really looked at tropes, haven’t even been too much aware of them until recently.
I decided to look them up and found this wonderful list on Mindy Klasky’s site. I think this list will help me to know what tropes I use to help me pick tags and write blurbs. And I think it will be fun to consciously pick out tropes when I start plotting, which will keep my writing fresh. Here is a list of tropes:
- Accidental pregnancy – our heroine’s pregnancy may be the result of a one-night stand, a longer-term fling, or a long-term relationship.
- Alpha hero – our hero defines “Type A” – he’s driven, assertive, and in control of the world around him, except where his lover is concerned. This is a fun hero, one that I have in all of my books, which is so much fun. To see an assertive, in-control man suddenly unsure as to how to win over the heroine is a blast to write.
- Amnesia – a blow on the head, a drug interaction, or for some other reason – our lover doesn’t know how s/he got where s/he is, but now s/he needs to fit into a new family, workplace, etc.
- Arranged marriage – family expectations, cultural traditions, or religious beliefs bring our lovers together or try to keep them apart.
- Athlete – sure, there are the big four – baseball, basketball, football, and hockey – but there are plenty of other sports around for one or both of our lovers to play.
- Best friend’s sibling – usually, the heroine is the younger sister of the hero’s best friend (but other combinations are possible!) The sibling has always been taboo, but true passion upsets the status quo.
- Billionaire – usually an alpha hero, this character can buy anything s/he wants, except for true love. I have one like this already written, but I’m waiting to publish it until I have a trilogy.
- Blackmail – one lover knows a secret about the other, and s/he seeks a big payday.
- Class warfare – one lover comes from money and social status, the other lacks both, but sparks fly once they meet. This is a trope I’m working on now, which I’ve combined with the alpha hero and marriage of convenience along with the Fish out of Water one described below.
- Consanguinity – the lovers are cousins, step-siblings, or other relatives close enough to know each other but distant enough to flame a romance.
- Cougar – a classic May/December relationship, but the older lover is a woman.
- Cowboy – sometimes an alpha hero, a cowboy can be historical or contemporary, in his element (e.g., on a ranch) or out of his comfort zone (e.g., in New York City).
- Cyrano – a lover woos another for a friend, only gradually realizing that s/he is falling in love her/himself. Rugged Bloom fits this trope, one I wasn’t familiar with.
- Disguise – one or both lovers pretends to be something s/he isn’t – an expert in the workplace, a member of a family, etc. – but s/he falls in love while in disguise and is forced to continue the ruse. This is a delightful trope. Very fun!
- Enemies to lovers – our lovers are enemies (business rivals, part of a family feud, law enforcement and criminal, etc.) until they realize the depth of their romance. Another delicious trope!
- Fairytale – a traditional fairytale is retold in an alternate cultural or historical setting.
- Fake engagement – in order to solve an exterior plot problem, our lovers pretend to be engaged, often with a set of elaborate rules and limitations for their relationship. Ha!! I love this one, too!
- Fish out of water – one of our lovers doesn’t fit in a social or professional environment, but that doesn’t keep him/her from proving him/herself and winning the heart of the one s/he loves. I haven’t tried this one, but I’m already getting ideas, especially with a time-travel. On second thought, yes I am using this trope in my current WIP.
- Fling – our lovers intend their relationship to last for a short time (from one night to a specific longer period, such as a vacation or a work project), but their relationship grows beyond those limitations.
- Friends to lovers – our lovers have been friends for some time, but only now are discovering that they want something more from their relationship. Tangled Bloom is a Friends to Lovers trope.
- Forbidden love – some outside force (cultural, familial, social, etc.) is determined to keep our lovers apart but they’re willing to fight for the relationship they desire.
- Gay for you – our hero or heroine has been strictly heterosexual, but finds him/herself falling for a person of the same gender.
- Guardian/ward – a guardian and his/her ward realize they have romantic feelings for each other (difficult to make work in contemporary romance, given the usual age difference).
- Jilted bride – our heroine is left at the altar, but she discovers true love with the hero. I also call this A Woman Scorned. This also shows up in Tangled Bloom.
- Kidnapped – a criminal kidnaps a victim and both parties realize they have romantic feelings for each other.
- Law enforcement – at least one of our lovers works in law enforcement (bounty hunter, FBI, police, etc.)
- Love triangle – one lover must choose between two potential matches.
- Maid – one lover (usually female) is a housekeeper (maid, janitor, etc) for the other.
- Mail-order bride – one lover (usually male) requests a spouse through print or electronic services.
- Marriage of convenience – our lovers are determined to marry but they feel no love for each other; rather, there is some business or social reason that compels their relationship.
- Matchmaker – a matchmaker unites two lovers. This story can either be about how the two lovers make their relationship work, or it can be about how the matchmaker falls in love with one of the matched lovers.
- May/December – our lovers have a substantial age gap. When a woman is the older lover, this is often called a “cougar” relationship.
- Military – at least one of our lovers works in the military (Army (including Special Forces), Navy (including Seals), Air Force, Marines, etc.)
- Mistaken identity – one of our lovers is assumed to be someone s/he is not, and s/he perpetuates the misunderstanding for reasons best known to him/herself. This is another fun trope I would like to use.
- Office romance – our lovers work together, either as co-workers or as employer/employee.
- On the road – our lovers are on a road trip (or boat trip or plane trip or whatever), out of their element, encountering new experiences as their relationship grows.
- On the rocks – our lovers are united as the action of the story begins, but their relationship is going through hard times. I’m not sure about this one … at least, for myself. It sounds too much like real life and I need it to be upbeat and humorous. Although I can usually find humor in situations.
- Opposites attract – our lovers seem to be opposites in everything they think matters (vegetarian/carnivore, Democrat/Republican, city/country, etc.), but they discover that love unites them in ways beyond those differences. Now this one I’ve seen done, and the ones I like is the story that brings out humor, of course!
- Orphan – one of our lovers is an orphan, either literally (both of his/her parents died when s/he was young) or figuratively (s/he was in the foster care system or otherwise deprived of ordinary familial love.) I wrote a romantic suspense years ago with this as one of the tropes. Now I want to look for it and see if it’s any good … something I can spruce up!
- Parent/childcare worker – one of our lovers is a parent; the other is hired to care for his/her child(ren) as a nanny, tutor, or governess.
- Performer – one of our lovers is an actor or a musician, with the temptation of other people in his/her field, often with the challenges of frequent travel.
- Playboy – one of our lovers has a reputation for playing the field, seeking out sexual relationships without any emotional attachment – until s/he meets his/her one true love. Love this! Rugged Bloom also had this trope in it. Coltrane Bloom was definitely a Playboy until he met the heroine!
- Politics – one of our lovers is a politician, works on a political campaign, or works in a government office, frequently under the scrutiny of media and with need for an impeccable reputation.
- Protector – one of our lovers is determined to protect the other’s safety, usually as a bodyguard or law enforcement agent, but a protector might be hired to protect reputation instead of physical health. Rugged Bloom and Tangled Bloom also has this in the stories, although the heroine’s aren’t very cooperative!
- Redemption – one of our lovers has committed wrongs in the past (either against the other lover, or against someone or something else) for which s/he must atone. Yes, I’ve used this one too. Scheduled to be released next spring.
- Return to hometown – one of our lovers returns to his/her hometown, either willingly or unwillingly, for a short time or with the intention to stay permanently. Ooh, this is Hope Floats with Sandra Bullock, one of my favorite movies!
- Reunion – our lovers knew each other in the past and generally had some romantic relationship back then (at least a one-night stand, possibly a long-term relationship.) Fun, fun, fun! And the past relationship most of the time ended badly. I’ve read a lot of Harlequin books with this trope. Dearly Beloved by Mary Jo Putney used this trope and the book is my all-time favorite!
- Revenge – one of our lovers is determined to get revenge for a real or imagined wrong in the past. That wrong might have been committed by the other lover or by his/her relative or close friend. Seduced by Amanda Quick comes to mind, another great book that’s on my “To Keep” shelf.
- Royalty – one of our lovers is descended from royalty (or nobility); this trope includes sheikhs, princes, etc.
- Runaway bride/groom – one of our lovers gets cold feet on the eve of his/her wedding, but discovers in the course of being chased that s/he can truly love another. Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.
- Scars – one of our lovers lives with physical or psychological scars from the past and overcomes the pain of those scars with the help of the other lover. I really love this trope. I also have heard it called Tortured Hero/ine.
- Secret baby – our heroine is or was pregnant with the hero’s baby, but he does not know the child is his.
- Secret/lost heir – one of our lovers is the secret heir or lost heir to a great fortune (which s/he may or may not know s/he will inherit.)
- Sex worker with a heart of gold – one of our lovers works regularly exchanging money for sex, but once s/he meets the other lover, s/he’s ready to give up that profession.
- Sibling’s ex-spouse – one of our lovers falls in love with his/her sibling’s ex-spouse.
- Stranded – our lovers are stranded together, with the forced environment kindling their relationship. They might be stranded on a desert island, in an airport after a flight cancellation, in a motel on a road trip, etc. Love this, too!
- Sudden baby – one of our lovers discovers or inherits a child s/he never planned on nurturing.
- Time travel – one of our lovers travels backward or forward through time to reach the other.
- Tortured hero(ine) – one of our lovers has a dramatic, often secret past that causes him/her to live in emotional agony, cut off from the common joy of a loving relationship.
- Ugly duckling – one of our lovers is not conventionally beautiful, but in the course of falling in love either becomes conventionally beautiful or discovers that conventions are immaterial.
- Unrequited love – one of our lovers has long wished for a romantic relationship with the other. This is a wonderful trope, too!
- Virgin – one of our lovers has never consummated a sexual relationship.
- Widow(er) – one of our lovers has lost his/her spouse. The widow(er) might have been happily married, or s/he might have been unfulfilled in his/her marriage.
- (Wo)man in peril – one of our lovers is in physical peril from some outside person or organization; the other lover rescues him/her.