To explain a little about what this post will be about, I’m taking the intro I did for the last one: In every romance book you read there are tropes or archetypes. You can also see them in shows, movies, plays, etc. Romantic tropes are everywhere, and they are fabulous. I adore them and I always tend to find my favorite ones in romance books so I can enjoy them more. I decided to do a sort of Trope Tuesday piece where I will be talking about many tropes and recommend you all some of my favorites that fit.
What is a trope? Urban Dictionary explains it best I think: “Despite the erroneous definitions already published here, trope on the interwebs really refers to an often overused plot device. It can also be described as another variation on the same theme. TV shows, movies, comics, games, anime’, & books are full of tropes & many rabid fan-sites now name & track said tropes with a self-explanatory title for each one.” We can name a few: accidental pregnancy, best friends to lovers, sibling’s best friend, marriage of convenience, and so many more for sure. Your favorite couples? They probably got a trope too! It’s always so nice to realize or find out your favorite romance trope and keep searching for books with the same theme.
One of my all time favorite romantic tropes is the grumpy x sunshine pairing dynamics. This dynamic is basically: a grumpy character falls for a sunshine character. This means that we will have an icy person meeting and falling in love with their complete opposite, which will be a very joyful and energetic love interest. It’s so fun to see this dynamic work and to read it in a romance novel. Most of the time (probably always!) the grumpy one is stoic for the world, for people who aren’t close to them, but for that sunshine-y character who they fall in love with, our grumpy smiles and shares their deepest fears and feels safe when they are with this ray of sunshine.
Down to Ash by Melissa Blue
I can’t stop recommending this book. Down to Ash is the first book I pick up by Melissa Blue, but I have known her books for so long now. I’m a slow reader!!!! What drew me in to pick up this one was the grumpy/sunshine pairing that is featured inside the pages of this book.
Nerdy Victor and Ashley have been friends for so long. And crushing on each other for longer. Victor is her brother’s best friend so he’s off limits. And so is she. But this attraction has to combust at some point… and it does. Melissa Blue made me go through an emotional roller coaster of a journey that gives us kisses, groveling, sweet actions and two characters that will make your heart hurt for a little while but the ending will be so worth it.
Third Son’s A Charm by Shana Galen
Shana Galen has written some amazing historical romances so if you haven’t checked her out, do it. Third Son’s A Charm is a good intro to Shana’s backlist. If you’re into the bodyguard trope, this one’s for you, my friend. It also has a heroine that goes for what she wants, so her father worries sick for her and then hires her a bodyguard, aka our hero, to prevent her on eloping with the guy she wants. (This other guy is awful!). Ewan is a man with few words who takes his job seriously. While Lorraine is so very wild and trips and falls very often. A perfect grumpy/sunshine pair.
The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai
The Right Swipe is out right this second! You’re in luck, you don’t have to wait any second longer to read this one because IT’S AMAZING. I fell in love so quickly with this new romance series by Alisha Rai with no one’s surprise. Alisha puts everything in the right spot and gives us a romance story for the ages!
Rhiannon is the CEO of a dating app business. Once upon a time, she tried it and had an extraordinary night with this beautiful handsome guy. The next day? He ghosted her. Months later she finds herself face to face with the same guy: Samson, a former football player now working for the company she wants to buy!
The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare
Tessa Dare keeps enchanting more and more with each new book. The Wallflower Wager is her best book… right now (because it’s very possible her next one is going to top this one)! She keeps giving us amazing content and this one doesn’t fall short. Coming out next week (8/13), this new historical romance has every trope you want: next door neighbors, grumpy/sunshine pair, Slytherin/Hufflepuff trope, only one bed, and so many animals.
Pretty Face by Lucy Parker
I’m a huge fan of Lucy’s books and you can definitely find this pairing dynamic in each of them. Pretty Face is my go-to romance book when I’m in a slump. I can always trust it to give me back some joy and happiness when I’m down. I reread it like three times every year and no joke, I love it more and more every time I do.
Theatre, a director falling for his actress, age gap, hate to love, and more, this book will give you a very good evening and won’t let you stop until you’re done reading it.
