Romance Tropes I can’t stand
As I am only just embarking on my journey of genre discovery and widening my purview when it comes to books, it means many of the topics I can readily discuss are romance-related.
So, let’s talk about Romance Tropes! I can dive deep into romance tropes I am obsessed with. I’m a sucker for an arranged marriage or marriage of convenience, give me a grumpy MMC, a forbidden romance? Inject it straight into my veins. I will regularly search for romance (especially black romance) of my favourite tropes and read everything that is recommended. Nothing makes me FEEL like these tropes do.
HOWEVER, this post is not about that! I want to have a rant about the book tropes I CANNOT STAND. Now, there are some downright disgusting tropes out there, the abuse/graphic side. I wouldn’t even dignify the stories that glorify such things. This is more for annoying romance tropes that get on my nerves not because I don’t like them but because I find them so ridiculous and infuriating. In some cases, I might even end up enjoying the book, but they will never have the highest rating just because of one thing that muddied the waters for me. I will be recommending some books as well so you can see what I mean and decide if you’re just as annoyed as I am, or if you end up loving them.
Damsel in Distress
When I say damsel, I’m not talking about the women who need saving… that’s another area altogether. What I mean are the women who are characterised to appear pathetic. Bare with me because I’m not saying all women should be and appear a certain way. However, if most things in your life are otherwise ok and put together, why do you always look raggedy??? It is always shown in this woe is me, I am not like other women, I just don’t have the time – how do other women even have the energy to put on all that makeup? Those types. Now, of course, Not all women have to wear makeup, but you can brush your hair!!! You can leave the house in something other than joggers. I recently read the Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren, which overall was a cute read, and I did enjoy it, but in the first 2% of the book, I was pissed off because the FMC was actively choosing not to present herself well. Not necessarily because other stuff is going on, i.e. mental health, poverty, etc., she acknowledged at every opportunity how haggard (author’s words, not mine) she appeared yet chose to do nothing about it. I lost it when she attended a meeting in jeans a jumper and vans. Yeah turn it off, I’m done here. This is such a common theme in ChicLit, and it bugs me because I hate the way it portrays women in such a self-deprecating way. I know how this makes me sound but I stand by it.
The Unnecessary Love Triangle
This trope comes in two parts.
- When the main couple is not together or taking a break for whatever reason and decide to explore other connections. We all know that this will amount to nothing, and now you’ve dragged that poor, unsuspecting person into whatever game you are playing with your significant other knowing fully well that your feelings lay firmly elsewhere. I hate it. I think it’s mean and unfair and also not needed. I firmly believe You don’t need to date someone else to clarify your feelings. It’s giving Love Island. Stop It. In Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan, this exact thing happens and now I’m also left hating this side character because they’re getting in the way of a reconciliation, and it isn’t even their fault.
- The second side to this, and this one grinds my gears, is when usually the MMC has a woman friend who has probably been around longer than the FMC, but clearly doesn’t like her and is also in love with the man. Now this is not a hatred of girl best friends (lol) in general, but the ones who actively push boundaries and are disrespectful. Not only that but then the MMC never sees it for what it is or is being purposely obtuse to keep the peace, now your girl is outside looking crazy. I recently read a book called Love’s Truth by K Lashuan which utilises this exact trope, and it pisses me OFF. You cannot possibly be that blind especially when your girl is clearly stating how this affects her and the relationship but you’re acting like she’s overdoing it. Now you look stupid and you’ve angered readers. Stop doing it!
Family Betrayal
This is not just any betrayal, but one that is done by a close family member usually a sister/cousin. I’ve now read several books where the significant other of the FMC cheats on her with said family member and proceeds to have a full relationship, marriage, baby the works. As if this isn’t enough in all these cases, the wider family/parents actively SUPPORT the relationship in extreme cases even taking the wrong side! The FMC is then expected to not just get over it but make nice with the couple or risk being ostracised. Excuse me? I cannot speak for everyone and their family dynamics. Some people are definitely capable of horrible things but I refuse to believe that they are supported! You can’t possibly hate your daughter so much that you not only expect her to deal with such betrayal but also suppress her feelings and move on accepting the circumstances. Even if that is the case, I don’t want to read it! A very strong example is Reel by Kennedy Ryan, I love this book so much but I hated that plot point.
Miscommunication
Now as a dedicated lover girl, Nothing infuriates me more than a miscommunication trope.
I could be having the best time with a romance. We are in love; things are going well and our families love each other. I’m 80% into the book and about to sit back, relax and enjoy my much-awaited happy ending. Then all of a sudden, One overheard conversation, a conveniently interrupted confession, now everything has scattered—why do authors love making their characters suffer unnecessarily? I love it when a couple is emotionally intelligent and has good communication so for the author to undo all of that in a few sentences right at the end is always frustrating. For one, it feels like lazy writing. A big miscommunication as the final book climax is not only easy to insert but also to resolve, it doesn’t take much depth or thought. If you are going to decide that there is a major plot point that breaks up the characters so close to the end, please let it be worth something. It does a disservice to the characters you have spent chapters developing. It’s even worse when the entire plot actually hinges on a simple misunderstanding that could be cleared up in five minutes, now I want to throw the book across the room, as this is clearly not worth reading.
Some of these book tropes can be done well and serve to teach us bigger things about social interactions, and human behaviour, but please let it be done well! This is also very much a personal preference, so let me know, does this annoy you just as much as it annoys me? What are your least favourite or even most favourite tropes?
I always want to hear your thoughts!
Until next time,
Signed,
A Mo-tivated Reader ☺️
OMG the miscommunication with 5 chapters to go is so annoying! Why ? What was the reason?