Stop by there and you can see what was super popular prior to 2022.
Giveaway Alert: Details at the end of this post.
Today, I'd like to give you a list of the most popular romance tropes this year. Some on the list are the same as the list I gave yesterday, but are ranked differently.
For instance, on yesterday's list, the #1 most popular according to research I did, was The Fake Romance. That's on this list too, but not in the #1 spot. So here in order of popularity, as near as I can figure out, here are the...
1. Friends To Lovers
This has increased in popularity, moving up to the #1 spot. These are romances that feature a couple who have always been friends, but the guy or the girl is secretly in love with the other. Afraid to ruin their friendship by making a move, they love silently until something propels them to try for more.
The reverse of this is in the #1 spot. Authors have found that readers also love enemies who discover they're not so far apart in thinking and who find they're really attracted to each other.
3. Fake Romance
This can be fake dating, romance, engagement, or even a fake marriage. Faking together makes the attraction sizzle and the heart grow fonder.
4. Forced Proximity
On my previous list, I actually broke this out into 2 tropes: Snowed In and Stranded Together Somewhere because there were so many romantic stories that featured the couple snowed in and cut off from the rest of the world. However, for this list, I'm just lumping those two things together for any story that forces the couple to be closeted together for whatever reason.
In today's world, most people spend more time at work together than they do waking hours away from work. It's natural for singles to navigate to each other and find love, but it sure can complicate the work life when there are so many restrictions—legal and other pitfalls—against acting on mutual desire.
Conflict of many different types is ineveitable.
In the workplace, this trope usually has the boss and underling in the starring roles.
But equals who share an office or cubicle or work in adjoining cubicles also may share the same trials, challenges, and triumphs—and desire.
My romantic comedy Nobody's Cinderella is a Workplace Romance. So is Cinderella Blue, the second book in this San Antone Duet, with the workplace being the cop shop aka police station.
4b. Roommates
This was a separate category on my new trope lists that I found, but I think it could legitimately fall under Forced Proximity because roommates share the same kitchen, entertainment area, and maybe even the same bathroom. They're together from the time they get home from work until they go to bed at night—until maybe the forced proximity pushes them toward each other. Living with someone, albeit platonicly in the beginning, creates plenty of conflict for the hero and heroine as well as romantic possibilities.
5. Love Triangle
I think this has been popular since the dawn of time, but the vampire book/series Twilight really threw gasoline on the fire. A heroine or hero who must choose between two likely mates. The key is to make both choices appealing, but only 1 really fits perfectly. Great conflict.
6. Single Parent
Yes, the single parent romance is huge, and it's finally on the top romance tropes list. This is just what it says. Single moms and dads need love too.
We all know this trope. He's a city slicker; she's a country girl. She's a rich heiress; he's the gardener's son. He's from Mars or another planet; she's from Venus or Earth or wherever. Yes, science fiction mines this trope too. So does paranormal—he's a shapeshifter; she's human.
My contemporary romance Foolishly Yours mines this trope. She's part Cherokee, Hispanic, White, and African American. He's a blond-haired, blue-eyed hunk. She's a cop. He's a surfer bum. She's from an over-achieving family. He's a wanderer looking for the perfect wave.
7a. Grouchy Curmudgeons / Pollyanna Sunshine
Yes, Mr. Grumpy or Little Miss Sunshine is now listed as an actual trope, but they're really just another version of Opposites Attract. He's the brooding cranky hero. She's the patient optimistic heroine. Or maybe they have reversed those roles.
8. Hidden Identity
I think this is a spinoff from the caper or heist trope and the spy/espionage trope. This trope is all about the lies or secrets one or both characters may hide. Yes, the hero or heroine can be a spy, but maybe he's in Witness Protection, or maybe she's hiding from a stalker.
9. Best Friend's Brother or Sister
Hello, teen world! Longing for your best friend's big brother or big sister is something we may all have done when we were kids. People may not outgrow that feeling though, and that's the premise behind this trope. The heroine has always been in love with her brother's best friend or her BFF's big brother. Or vice versa. Yearning and longing and knowing nothing can be done about it is a hallmark of this trope.
I was actually surprised to find celebrity romance on a top of the heap list.
Long ago when I was traditionally published, my editor said never to write a story with a celebrity as the main character because they were never believable.
Indie self-publishing has turned that edict on its ear. I've read a bunch of celebrity romances in the past year. One might even say the billionaire romance gave birth to this trope. One might also consider this another version of Opposites Attract / Different Worlds, but it's becoming so popular that I put it in its own category. These can be fun and exciting. My Romantic Comedy, Jane (I'm Still Single) Jones, is a Celebrity Romance because Jane is Morgan's high school crush. He was the high school nerd, now he's a billionaire with a stretch limo, an entourage, and a Hollywood starlet who comes to his high school reunion to party with him.
Giveaway Question: What's Your Favorite Trope?
In Comments, tell me your favorite trope—the kind of book you just can't get enough of. Leave your answer to that question along with your email address written out. I'll select one winner by random draw from the qualified comments to receive an ebook copy of Foolishly Yours.
Not a qualified winner, but my favorites are friends-to-lovers and, even though it's not on the list, second chance.
ReplyDeleteI love second chance too. Always popular even though not in the Top 10 this year.
DeleteI love single parent, which is in both of my books. Also love opposites attract, which has been featured in my marriage for many years. Ha. I'm not an eligible winner either but needed to chime in! Love the list and I'll look into your books you've mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input. Hope you find a new book to delight you.
DeleteI'm with Liz, second chance! It adds many layers of conflict. And friends-to-lovers!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting. Sorry for the late response, but I just saw your comment. I love both the tropes you mentioned. This post inspired me to do a regular feature on my own blog https://SlingWords.blogspot.com on Thursdays. You'll find Romancing the Weekend where I spotlight books in a particular trope.
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