Romance Trope List
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
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 (kink)
Demon
Destitute hero/heroine
Devil
Escort/courtesan/sex worker
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)
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 hero
Pirate
Politician
Possessive
Priest/nun/imam/rabbi
Professor/teacher
Rake/Playboy
Rockstar
Royalty
Socially awkward
Scientist/STEM/Steminist
Shifter
Snarky
Sibling’s ex
Single parent
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
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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