My favourite tropes
As a reader, there are tropes that will make us instantly grab a book from the bookshelf and read it. Here are some of my favourites for you to get to know me better:
1. Enemies to lovers
As a Romantasy lover, this one is a no-brainer! I absolutely love and NEED the tension, banter, and intimacy of two main characters who hate that they’re growing on each other despite being enemies. This can come in many forms, usually a female main character with either a villain, archnemesis, morally grey MC, someone from the opposition etc.). The gradual growth and development between the two characters is what makes Romantasy an enticing and swoonworthy genre.
2. Slow burn
This one is another favourite! The burn and tension need to be slow and gradual for me; it creates anticipation and makes the eventual romance between two characters rewarding. The slower the burn, the more painful and satisfying it is for me. Yes, I love it when it hurts!
3. Forbidden love
After reading and watching the adaptation of Romeo and Juliet in secondary school, this trope will always make my heart ache. The inherent conflict between two opposing sides raises many emotional stakes for the main characters involved (which again, makes everything hurt as a reader), but keeps the story interesting and engaging. There is something special that comes with the longing in forbidden love too, a yearning that is prohibited but incredibly powerful and irresistible.
4. Found family
This trope is a warm hug to me — it’s cosy and so comforting when characters come together to be a family. There is a sense of belonging among all parties involved, allowing for deep emotional connections to form between individuals, and in turn, being able to find solace and strength in one another. I love that this trope promotes diversity and inclusion as well, reflecting a range of backgrounds and demonstrating you can have a family that isn’t just biological.
5. Strong female main characters
Who doesn’t love a strong female MC? They are an embodiment of empowerment, resilience, and independence, which always inspires me to embrace my power and confidence. In many ways, they’re role models for me, whether that’s being courageous, intelligent, or determined in the face of adversity. They are nuanced and flawed too, making them multi-dimensional and with complex backstories that are satisfying to watch evolve. Strong female characters come in many forms, appearances, and personalities, but one characteristic they all have is agency; they actively pursue their own goals and make choices that drive their story. These are the stories I really enjoy reading about!
6. Villain/anti-hero protagonists
I don’t often talk about this, but I secretly love books where the main character is the villain or morally ambiguous. I was first exposed to this trope when I read ‘The Young Elites’ by Marie Lu in secondary school; it made me realise that not all main characters needed to be good or a hero for a narrative to take place or progress. Adeline Amouteru, the female protagonist in the book above, is complex. Whilst she isn’t a traditional villain, most of her story involves learning to embrace darker aspects of her personality and using her powers for revenge and self-preservation, which I find really cool. I haven’t read much of these types of books since and feel like it’s time to reimmerse myself back into them again. If you have any recommendations, please let me know!
What are some of your favourite tropes? Email or DM me a message to let me know!
