Kate here, your resident romance connoisseur, spicy book author, and chaos whisperer. Let’s talk tropes.
You know the ones. The delicious setups that make you whisper “oh no” with a grin before flipping the page you’re trying to win a gold medal in emotional masochism. Tropes aren’t just formulas—they’re foreplay. And in my world, we respect the classics and the cracky chaos.
So here it is:
The Top 5 Romance Tropes That Keep Us Ferally Clicking “Next Chapter” at 2am
(Literally me earlier this week with book five in the Plated Prisoner series. No. Joke.)
...featuring cameos from my own lovable disasters, Rayann & Max and Brynn & Jerrick!
1. Enemies to Lovers
AKA: I hate you. I loathe you. I would climb you like a tree.
This trope is peak tension, peak banter, and peak denial. Nothing tastes better than a slow-burn built on snark, misunderstandings, and enough sexual tension to short-circuit a smoke alarm.
See also:
Max “Emotionally Constipated Navy SEAL” Harrington vs. Rayann “Sparkles in High Heels” Wilder.
Their foreplay? Arguing over who owns the real estate between seats in business class.
Their love language? Mutual trauma and sarcastic nicknames.
Their vibe? “Let’s make out in a castle library but pretend it didn’t happen.”
2. Forced Proximity
AKA: There was only one bed. And it’s king-sized. And someone sleeps naked.
This gem shoves two people into a space that clearly violates all personal boundaries. Cabin. Cottage. Tiny stone hut in a rainstorm (looking at you again, Max and Rayann). Cue the shared glances, sexual frustration, and one person muttering “this is fine” while aggressively not fine.
See also:
Rayann and Max, tucked away in a romantic cottage after nearly burning down a castle.
And Brynn? Oh, she ends up co-hosting a billion-dollar pitch panel with her literal rival after waking up hungover. Nothing bonds two enemies like tequila, a co-ed cabana, and questionable swimwear.
3. Grumpy x Sunshine
AKA: Why are you like this? Also, please don’t stop.
One of them is emotionally reserved and broody. The other is chaos incarnate with a glitter problem. Together, they spark. The sunshine pokes at the grump. The grump broods harder and looks sexier the more he broods. And then—just when they least expect it—the grump catches feelings and combusts internally.
Max? Full-blown grump with a tactical plan for everything.
Rayann? Emotional hurricane with a purse full of Skittles and sass.
Jerrick? Stoic black belt with a deep voice and a grudge.
Brynn? Loud, sparkly, unpredictable. Like a confetti cannon in a war zone.
4. Rivals to Lovers
AKA: I will destroy you. Also, your jawline is rude.
This is Enemies to Lovers' spicier cousin. There’s competition, sabotage, and full-contact flirtation disguised as business warfare. The stakes are high, the banter is weapons-grade, and the tension? Nuclear.
Brynn Wilder vs. Jerrick Thorne
They’re both brilliant, competitive, and dangerously attractive.
They once shared an sooo close hot night and then ghosted each other like emotionally avoidant professionals.
Now they’re sharing a panel and trying not to combust. Spoiler: They fail.
5. The “Oh Sh*t, I Think I Love Them” Moment
Not a trope on its own, but we all LIVE for it.
There’s always that one scene.
He sees her comforting a kid.
She watches him protect her family.
One of them wears a towel wrong.
Suddenly, it’s not just a fling. It’s feelings. It’s “oh no, I’m in trouble.”
It’s I’d throw hands with the universe to keep you safe.
Rayann’s moment? Watching Max risk his life for strangers and realizing he’s not just her protector—he’s her person.
Max’s moment? Whispering “Jesus Christ” under his breath as she takes command of a crisis like an absolute goddess.
Brynn’s? It’s complicated. She might be mad at Jerrick. Or mad that she’s in love with him. Or mad that she can’t stay mad because his jawline is doing too much.
Jerrick’s? He’s been in love with her since chapter three and he’s furious about it.
Bottom line?
Tropes are like comfort food—with spice, of course. They give us structure, swoon, and serotonin.
And let’s be honest… we don’t want realism.
We want yearning. We want slow burns. We want the moment someone says “just tell me to stay” and you SCREAM into your throw pillow.
What’s your favorite trope? Drop it in the comments and let me know if you prefer grump-melting or rivals-make-out-in-a-jungle levels of chaos.
Until next time,
Kate 💋
P.S. If you haven’t met Max and Rayann yet… get ready to jump in on September 10th!
P.P.S. Brynn and Jerrick are coming in hot this October. 🔥 You’ve been warned.