Reading the romance

Tropes!

One of my college professors wrote a book called Reading the Romance and taught a class on romance novels. I did not take that class, sadly, because I think it would prove very helpful to me now!

My next novel, Your Mileage May Vary, is definitely not a romance novel per romance novel tropes. What are some popular romance novel tropes? I’m glad you asked!

• Enemies to lovers

• Fake romance turns real

• High school / college sweethearts reunite after many years

• Various and sundry love triangles

• Mistaken identities

• Only one bed!

• Happily ever after (HEA)

• Epilogues where someone usually gets engaged

Here are some things Your Mileage May Vary does contain:

• Workplace romance

• Interfaith romance

• Love triangle in the female main character’s head (the two guys do not know they are in a love triangle—is this a thing??)

• Coming of age at any age

Here’s what I don’t want to read in romance novels:

• Anyone “wrecking” or “being wrecked” or saying “you wreck me” in a sexual way—just stop using the word wreck in this way

• Someone being reverent or reverential with someone else or being treated with reverence in a sexual way—just stop using the word reverent in this way

• Calling the outer edge of one’s ear a “shell”

• People (usually the man) being completely emotionally unavailable and yet that is considered a good thing

Here are some of my favorite adult romance novels or romance-adjacent novels that I’ve read over the past few years, if you are interested in checking them out. Just be warned that some of the above tropes, good and bad, are likely present! And probably lots of sex!

• Deep End, by Ali Hazelwood

• Beach Read, by Emily Henry

• People We Meet on Vacation, by Emily Henry

• Get a Life, Chloe Brown, by Talia Hibbert

• The Matzah Ball, by Jean Meltzer

• Normal People, by Sally Rooney (TBH, if it weren’t Sally Rooney, this would be YA or new adult)

• Business or Pleasure, by Rachel Lynn Solomon

And some of my favorite YA romance novels or romance-adjacent novels, some of which I list in the back of my YA novel, Acts of Lovingkindness:

• Emergency Contact, by Mary HK Choi

• Saint Anything, by Sarah Dessen

• Nantucket Blue, by Leila Howland

• Jessica Darling Series, by Megan McCafferty

• Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell

• Today Tonight Tomorrow, by Rachel Lynn Solomon

• The Sun is Also a Star, by Nicola Yoon

What are your favorite and least favorite romance novel tropes?