The Romance Genre Specialist

Tropes! Whether you're just dipping your toes into the romance genre or have been a long-time reader and fan, you've probably heard of them. 

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But what exactly are they?

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Tropes are plot devices that are used to affect one of a few things in a romance novel:

-one or more beats—key scenes—in the romance plot. For example, the bodyguard trope might influence the meet-cute, if the first time the main characters meet is when 

-some or all of one or more main characters' internal conflicts, i.e., the reason they're reluctant to fall in love 

-one or more beats—key plot points—in development arc (narrative) of a main character

 

Tropes can broadly be broken down into three types: relationship tropes, character tropes, and setting tropes. Below is a list of each type. Most of the tropes are self-explanatory, but for those that aren't, I've included definitions to save you the Googling! 

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This is a "living" list of tropes, which means that as new tropes appear, I'll add to that list, so check back here regularly for updates! 

 

Relationship Tropes 

Afraid to commit

Already married

Arranged marriage

Age gap-older man younger woman

Age gap-older woman younger man

Age gap-older woman younger woman

Age gap-older man younger man

Bargain

Bang it out

Beta in the streets/alpha in the sheets

Beauty and the Beast

Blackmail

Blind date

Boss and nanny

Boss and secretary

Brother's best friend

Coach’s daughter

Childhood enemies

Childhood friends

Cinderella

Chosen One

Class differences

Damsel in distress

Doctor and patient

Enemies to lovers

Epistolary

Ex's brother

Fake relationship

Fake engagement

Fairytale retelling

Fated mates

FFM-two women in a relationship, exploring a sexual and/or emotional connection with a man

Fish out of water

Forbidden love

Forced proximity

Found family

Friends with benefits

Friends to lovers

Grumpy/sunshine

Guardian/ward

Hades and Persephone

Harem

Homecoming/return to hometown

Hurt/comfort

I hate everyone but you

Instalove

Kidnapped

Left at the altar/Jilted bride/groom

Lesbian toaster oven-When one half of a couple in a queer romance is straight at the beginning of the romance, but realizes, through getting to know the love interest, that they’re queer.

Long distance relationship

Love triangle

Mail order bride

Marriage of convenience

Marriage in trouble

Matchmaker

Mentorship

Mistaken identity 

MMF-two men in a relationship, exploring a sexual and/or emotional connection with a woman

MMMF-three men who may or may not be in a relationship with each other, each exploring a sexual and/or emotional connection with a woman

MMMMF-four men who may or may not be in a relationship with each other, exploring a sexual and/or emotional connection with a woman

Nursed back to health

Off-limits

One night stand

Only one bed

Opposites attract

Partners in crime

Pen pals

Polyamory

Rags to riches/royalty

Rejected mate

Relationship coach

Reunion

Revenge

Reverse harem/why choose

Rivals

Road trip

Roommates

Second chance

Secret admirer

Secret baby

Stranded

Surprise baby

Slow burn

Taboo

Teacher/student

Teammate’s sibling

The one that got away

Touch her and die

Trapped

Trauma bonding

Unrequited love

Vegas wedding

Virgin auction

Workplace romance

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Character tropes

Actor/actress/celebrity

Alien

Alpha, human

Alphahole

Alpha, shifter

Antihero

Athlete

Babysitter/Nanny/Manny/Governess

Bad boy/girl

BBW/Curvy heroine

Beta, human

Beta, shifter-A shifter who is below the alpha in the pack hierarchy and might not be able to impregnate their mate (this depends on the rules of the paranormal world used in the book). Only occurs in paranormal/fantasy romance.

Billionaire

Bisexual hero/heroine

Blue collar

Bluestocking-A woman who is intellectual, opinionated, and is usually spurned by society for being so (the term is often used in a derogatory manner in books, though many heroines reclaim the word and use it with pride). This trope is exclusive to historical romance.

Bodyguard

Boss/CEO

Bully

Celibate hero/heroine

Character with a disability

Chef/bartender/brewer

Cinnamon roll

Compromised heroine (historical romance)

Cop/sheriff

Cowboy/rancher

Criminal/reformed criminal

Daddy 

Demon

Destitute hero/heroine

Devil

Escort/courtesan/sex worker/cam girl

Fallen woman

First responder (EMT/firefighter/mountain rescue)

Gamer

Golden retriever

Grumpy

Highlander/Scot

Himbo-A character, usually a man, who, like a golden retriever, is loyal, happy-go-lucky, and excited about life.

Ice Queen-A woman who initially seems cold and unfeeling, but slowly warms as the characters get to know each other.

Lady’s companion (historical romance)

Laird

Maid/janitor/cleaner

Mail order bride

Mafia boss

Mary Sue

Military

Monster (orc/centaur/minotaur)

Morally grey hero/heroine

Motorcycle club member

Mountain man/lumberjack

Navy SEAL

Obsessive hero

Omega shifter-A shifter who is neither alpha nor beta, is often described as submissive and gentle. They are usually able to be impregnated by an alpha, even if they are masculine (this depends on the rules of the paranormal world used in the book). Exclusive to paranormal romance.

Orphan

Over-the-top (OTT) hero

Pirate

Politician

Possessive

Priest/nun/imam/rabbi/vicar

Professor/teacher

Rake/Playboy

Rockstar

Royalty

Socially awkward

Scientist/STEM/Steminist

Shifter

Snarky 

Sibling’s ex

Single parent

Soft boy

Stalker

Step parent

Step sibling

Spy

Sunshine

Ugly duckling

Viking

Virgin

Witch/Wizard

Wounded main character

Writer/author/librarian

Wallflower-A character, usually a woman, who is shy and doesn’t interact much with potential love interests at social gatherings. Most common in historical romance.

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Setting tropes

Alien planet

Archaeological site

Bar

Beach resort

Beachside town

Bed and Breakfast/Inn

Boarding school

Bookshop
Big city (we're talking cities, fictional or real, with big personalities; think New York, Paris, London, Tokyo, Bangkok)

Brewery

College campus

Fantasy/magical academy

Farm

Military station
Pub

Ranch

Reality show

Restaurant kitchen

Small town, non-magical

Small town, magical

Start-up

Summer camp 

Vineyard

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