Poll: Romance Tropes – Which are Your Favorites?
*Inspired by Dear Author’s recent poll on love triangles.
I’m reading Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh at the moment and one of the subplots has me yearning for another couple’s book just as much as what I’m getting from Mercy and Riley at the moment (which is rrrowwrr, by the way). And it got me to thinking about my most favorite romance trope: the younger character pursuing the older and vice versa. This can be a younger man and an older woman or a younger woman and an older man. So long as both are clearly of adult age and consent, of course. I don’t know how to explain it. I simply find such pairings to be hot for the most part.
One example is one of my most favorite contemporary romances of all time, One Summer by Karen Robards. Johnny Harris has carried the memories of his teacher, Rachel Grant, with him through some truly troubled times. Now he’s back in town and pursuing the one woman who still shows him compassion after all he’s been through. It’s not the best book I’ve ever read, but it hits my personal romance reading trope warm and fuzzies every time I re-read it.
So what are some other common tropes we run across in romance?
There’s the best friends-turned-lovers scenario. A great example: Anything for You by Sarah Mayberry.
The list could go on and on, and a few others are: secret crushes; one character is physically unattractive/disabled; lovers reunited after long separation; love triangles; arranged marriage; enemies- turned-lovers;heroine in man-drag (Lady of the Knight by Jackie Ivie); the secret love; the secret baby; governess to wife; and so. many. more!
What are your favorite tropes in romance? What are some titles that you go back to again and again to read said tropes? Feel free to vote for your favorite in the new poll on the top right sidebar. And if you don’t see your favorite, let me know and I’ll add it to the poll.
*Special thanks to all those that helped me remember the different tropes on Twitter the other day! “Man-drag” © Ann Aguirre.
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First to vote! Reformed Rake my friend is the best one and my favorite. Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas comes to mind.
It’s *shocking* that Devil in Winter would come to mind, Ana. :wink:
I love this poll. I have a few, but forgot to vote for one, of course. I think my love for the “governess to wife” trope started with Jane Eyre, so now I can’t resist it. One of my favorites is The Secret Pearl by Mary Balogh, but I’ll definitely take a look at the book if that’s the storyline, lol!
I love, love, love the older man/younger woman thing. I can definitely relate there *g*… especially if there’s a secret crush involved with it (forgot to vote for secret crush). Now I have to go looking for a book I have by Nora Roberts that I love, but can’t quite remember the name of it ATM… too many of them, and I’m senile.
The other two I like are “friends turned lovers” and “reunited lovers.” I’ll always take a look at those. ;)
Hmm – well I guess in my romance reading career I must have read every trope going and some more besides.
I do enjoy physically unattractive/disabled stories – they make a nice change from all the beautiful hero’s and heroines out there in romance-book-land. I just read Jennifer Ashley’s The Madness Of Lord Ian Mackenzie which was fab, as was Megan Chance’s The Portrait and one from long ago was Justine Davis’ Morning Side of Dawn.
Ones I don’t like and that put me off to the point of not reading the book are friends to lovers and reunited lovers. Sometimes an author can spend too much time imho filling the reader in on the backstory of a couple, why they broke up etc, to the detriment of the story NOW. Or conversely NOT spending enough time on the backstory . . .
As for ‘currently reading Branded By Fire’ that was just mean. Mean. Mean. Mean *grin*
After some thought, I don’t think I have a favorite. I have one I like least (disguise in any form) but other than I like the rest all the same. As long as the attraction is there, plenty of tension and STEAMY interaction!
Sure, sure rub it in! I so need BbF!
Sucker for May/Decemeber romances and when character is less than perfect, whether it be a physical problem or an emotional one.
I personally love Plain Jane romances, but I HATE those that are fixed with cheesy makeovers or miracle cures for the disabled.
I also have a thing for reunion romances, I like the ones where one party has done the other wrong. I just hate when the injured party doesn’t make the other grovel enough and just forgives them. Where’s the fun in that ?
Then there’s the love I have for truly unconventional heroes and heroines. I just read a M/M romance where one of the heroes was a prostitute who was a sex addict and his lover was a Cop on the vice squad. It was awesome :)
Even though I wished she finish the series, the DEADLY ones by Brenda Joyce with Francesca Cahill, Rick Bragg and Cadler Hart. I love the series, but would love some closure to it that triangle of a plot I enjoy reading but wished the HEA there!
I enjoy the friends to lovers stories. That step that they go over to take that chance and not lose that friendship if it did not work out.
I also like Plain Jane romances…and, like KB said, those romances in which one of the characters has an emotional issue to overcome. Blue-Eyed Devil springs to mind for that one.
I’m reading Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh at the moment.
I echo Aymless – cruel….so cruel. Six weeks or so to go. Hey, it can be my present to myself if I pass my dance exam. Hey, who am I kidding? It can be my present to myself if I fail miserably as I’ll need cheering up :)
Sweet – what was the name of the m/m book you just read please? I love unconventional characters!
Orannia: LOL I think you should reward yourself for just attending dance classes!
Sweet: I 2nd Orannia’s request. Sounds intriguing.
The book is Dancing in the Dark by Jamie Hill, from phaze. It was short but totally worth it. Its the first book of a trilogy about 3 gay friends who are cops. I’m also enjoying the second book.
Thank you sweet! I’ll look it up tonight!
I went with arranged marriage. I think it was all the harlequins/sillouhette’s I read in the 80’s, which has left me with a soft spot for them. Close seconds, though, are governess to wife and friends to lovers. Another fave is the May/December, but mostly if it’s older woman/younger man.
One that I hate is revenge plot.
Can’t wait for BbF!! Yes. Cruel. :-P
BTW, that Rosemary and Rue looks good!
It was a tough call ’cause there are a few I like, but I ended up voting for Older man/younger woman or vice versa – although for me it’s only older woman/younger man. And you are right!!!! One Summer is one of the big reasons why. It’s not the best book I’ve ever read. They mystery part is terrible, but the sparks between Johnnie and Rachel is off the charts!! Another excellent example of this theme is Fallen From Grace by Laura Leone.
Reformed rakes ftw , lol . My 2nd fav is scarred heroes can’t get enough of the ” Taming the beast” trope.
I love a reformed rake story. How many of those have I read?? I never tire of them:)
I can’t wait for Branded by Fire!!!!!
So many choices! Can I write in one? My favoritest trope is “My Best Friend’s Little Sister” OMG. LOVE it!
I also do love May/December romances and the Ugly Duckling story.
But hey, don’t trust me, I love a good secret baby story too. I’m hopeless.
I voted for friends to lovers but I have to say that one of my favs that isn’t posted is the one that got away. Otherwise known as Going back to the hometown and falling in love. Now they don’t necessarily need to have been lovers…well maybe that would fall under secret crush? IDK! lol
Oooooh – it’s quicker to tell you what I don’t like. Not so keen on the friends to lovers or BF’s little sister. Everything else I LOVE.
*slaps forehead* DUH! How could I have forgotten arranged marriages! (Thank you Renee!) Definitely my favourite :)
OK, in order of preference from your poll:
#1 Secret Crush
#2 One character physically unattractive/disabled
#3 Enemies turned Lovers / #3 Friends turned Lovers {it’s a tie}
#5 Arranged marriage
The rest get about the same response from me after that – depends on the writing. :D