The 5 WORST Romance Novel Tropes
I’ve mentioned it before, but I love romance novels. They’re the perfect escape from reality, and probably have given me unrealistic expectations about love. Regardless of my adoration of these books, some of their common themes are problematic AF. Let’s explore some of these common tropes featured in romance novels that really, really suck.
1. The guy who takes what he wants.
I get it. A lot of us have a fantasy of being with a dominant. Fifty Shades normalized that BDSM fantasy, but in a completely screwy way. I hate when I’m reading a romance novel and they guy isn’t just dominant, but domineering. I’m talking about a romantic lead who does things without the heroine’s consent, from forcing a kiss to buying her gifts that make her uncomfortable. It’s 2019. Romance writers, do better.
Book with a dominant who is far from domineering: Mastering the Marquess by Lavinia Kent
2. The virginal woman.
How come the girl is almost always a virgin? I read a lot of historical romance novels, so you would think it makes sense, but it doesn’t. I’ve read historical books about widows and even women who were already married are somehow virgins in these books! What the hell?! Why is virginity so important in a woman? And then how does she proceed to have amazing sex with the guy with no prior knowledge as to how things work? Uh, no. She’s gonna be a little awkward and fumbling sometimes!
Book that busts the trope: The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day
3. Sexy Billionaire Man falls for Regular Girl.
I get the fantasy. I really do. But come on! Also, it’s 2019! Where are the Sexy Billionaire Women?! Also, how come the sexy billionaire almost always is a dominant? I feel like people who are in charge in their daily life probably want to let go a little in the bedroom, right?
Comment with your favorite romance novel that plays on this trope in a unique way!
4. Friends to lovers.
This trope is adorable when executed correctly, but so often it makes no sense. Usually the guy looks at the girl one day and notices she has ~a woman’s curves~ now. Give me something more enticing than that! Give me some actual sexual tension!
Series with some awesome sexual tension, culminating in the finale: The Willowmere Series by Candace Camp
5. Series spans years, only one couple.
I know some people meet “the one” early on, but I like some variety! At twenty-seven, I’ve had my share of boyfriends, and when I read about modern heroines, I expect the same. I get that romance readers want real development and meaning within relationships, so shying away from flings and focusing on serious relationships might have more appeal. Still, most of us have more than one serious relationship in a lifetime!
Series where our girl falls in love more than once: Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot
Are there any common themes that I missed? Let me know in the comments!
Tagged with: Romance Novels, Tropes
Your comments on each of those books are so funny. I wish the authors must take a look at your page:)
Thank you! 💕
I love how most modern romance novels combine the first three as well. I loved this post it made me laugh, definitely all true – I hate the love at first sight nonsense to tbh. An instant connection after just a short conversation with someone can be believable but this eyes meeting across a crowded room bull isn’t love it’s sexual attraction, call a spade a spade.
Ooh, that’s another annoying one!
I don’t mind those tropes, for me it is about the woman being equal in the relationship, passion and more going on than a 1 on 1 romance.
Those are totally all important factors. 💕
Great post! It gave me a bit of a giggle. I actually like the friends to lovers trope although it’s a little overdone. What’s my favourite romance trope? The second chance at romance: when the female goes back to her old home town (always after a disastrous breakup) and finds her old heart throb still there. He is always divorced/widowed/broken. Love it!
Second chance romance is so romantic! And some of my favorite romance novels are friends to lovers, but they have to be done correctly!
Great post! I agree with the majority of these.
Thank you!
I cannot stand these:
I have to leave them for their own good
They deserve better than me
Secret babies
I love them but will never tell
I hate the secret babies one!! And yes, seperation tropes that make no sense are annoying.
Yes, especially #3. Ugh, and they always portray the woman’s job as low-paying and the like – why can’t she also be successful?! Or be successful in the job she chose, because that is what she wanted to do (not focusing on how much she is getting paid)…ugh. You have clearly hit a button 😉
Yessss. I want more women billionaires and bosses!
Totally spot on!!
🙂
These are all great! Except maybe the last. I met my husband at uni when I was 19. We married the summer after graduation at 22 and had our first child at 24. (Well… add a year to each of those for his ages, ha!) I enjoy reading about people who meet young and continue to make it work and still find love with the same person years down the road traveled together.
That’s so sweet! My friends met around then and are getting married in a few months. I’m just a little jaded and like to read relationships that I relate to a little more. 😀
Yes, I agree to most of them. I don’t tend to mind the series and one relationship throughout though.
I think there are times I’m fine with it. I just think it’s important to represent that love doesn’t always work that way! 🙂
Great post and list, thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.
Thanks for reading! 🙂