[Note from Frolic: We are so excited to have Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward playing a game of This or That on the site today! Their new novel, Happily Letter After, is out now!]
Let’s play This or That!
Enemies to Lovers OR Friends to Lovers?
Vi
Enemies to Lovers! There is nothing I love writing more than a sassy heroine and a very pissed off hero. The banter, the explosive chemistry they try to deny…it’s my absolute favorite to both read and write!
Penelope
Friends to Lovers! A love story that evolves from a level of friendship and trust has so much depth. There is also something so attractive about unrequited love that builds off of a friendship, especially where one of them might be unattainable initially. I love stories that span several years and really show the slow burning growth of their connection.
One Bed OR Fake Dating?
Vi
Fake dating! Although this trope can often be extra “tropey,” I’m still a sucker for it. Each and every time it’s the same—two characters come up with some scheme to pretend to be a couple and then…whoops, they fall in love for real. I think the thing I like best is the bond the two form while fake dating and watching that grow into something more.
Penelope
One bed! I love those scenes especially during road trip books where a couple who barely knows each other might be forced to share a bed. It’s always fun to see how they sort it out, whether they opt to just go for it—and what might evolve from that!
Older Brother’s Best Friend OR Second Chance?
Vi
Second Chance! I adore a story where a couple reunites after a long period of separation. A second chance story is usually an emotional book because the couple has a lot of history and heartbreak that they need to heel.
Penelope
Older Brother’s Best Friend! There is something so forbidden about this trope. It’s one I’ve yet to tackle, but one I can assure you that you’ll be getting from me in the future.
Grumpy Hero OR Grumpy Heroine?
Vi
Grumpy hero! I love reading and writing about a man who is grumpy or bitter and then watching him develop throughout the pages as he falls in love. The grumpier, the better for me!
Penelope
Grumpy heroes are the best. I think a hero who is too nice is often perceived as a doormat. It’s much more fun to watch a grumpy man slowly show his nice side. Then you can appreciate both sides of his personality.
Mistaken Identity OR Marriage of Convenience?
Vi
Marriage of convenience! This one is actually my favorite in historicals! Two people, often ones that can’t stand each other, get married for non-altruistic purposes, such as to gain an inheritance or ward off some kind of business takeover. I think I like this one because of the inherent friction built in and that it usually entails some sort of hate-to-love situation.
Penelope
Mistaken Identity! There’s a lot of opportunity for humor in this trope, especially when a character has to improvise quickly. It can be a tricky trope to write, since the characters pretending to be someone else ultimately have to redeem themselves.