February – Booklist
Romantic Tropes
February 2025 Booklist
A trope is a common plot theme or device that is used in storytelling. All genres use them. Think of those moments in a horror movie when the group gets separated, or the car won’t start. This month as we celebrate love and relationships, let’s explore some of the tropes in what could be called the “tropiest” genre of all, the romance.
The Meet Cute
A special, over the top moment when a couple first meets that drives the story.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Anne, an eleven-year-old orphan, is sent by mistake to live with a lonely, middle-aged brother and sister on a Prince Edward Island farm in Canada. There she proceeds to make an indelible impression on everyone around her, including the young Gilbert Blythe when she breaks a slate over his head.
Enemies to Lovers
An exploration of the fine line between love and hate.
DB018825,
The African Queen by C.S. Forester
A courageous English spinster and a tough Cockney team up to destroy a German boat, but first they must make a long, perilous trip on the river through the African jungle. Although the film version amplifies their animosity, the characters in the novel have plenty of differences to overcome.
Forced Proximity
What happens when our characters are forced into a small space or unexpected situation?
When in Rome by Sara Adams
A stressed-out pop star takes a break off the beaten path in Rome, Kentucky. When Noah Walker finds her in her broken-down car on his front lawn, against his better judgement he lets her stay in his guest room. What do a small-town pie baker, and a burned-out pop star have in common? They have until her car is fixed to find out.
Childhood Sweethearts
First crush to forever love.
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
In this classic novel Raoul and Christine meet at the seaside as children and form a strong bond. Their love story is complicated by a demented musician hiding in the labyrinth of the Paris Opera House who masterminds a series of mysterious and terrifying events to further Christine’s career, but true love prevails in the end.
Impossible Love
A love story that faces an insurmountable obstacle.
Twilight
After seventeen-year-old Bella moves in with her dad in Washington state she falls in love with high school senior Edward Cullen. Bella discovers that Edward and his adoptive clan are vampires. Though they feast on wildlife rather than humans, Bella is still in danger.
Fake Relationship
Fake it till you make it! These stories start with an arrangement or façade that turns into something real.
A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanne Raybourn
In this fourth installment of the Veronica Speedwell mysteries our heroine is whisked off to a remote island off the tip of Cornwall for a house party when the brother of her enigmatic colleague, Stoker calls in a favor. When she arrives Veronica is roped into playing the part of fiancé to Stoker’s brother and things are not what they seem. Strong language and some violence.
Happily, Ever After
Is this a trope, or just the way a good romance novel should always end?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A comedy of manners, first published in 1813, concerning two of the five Bennet sisters, Elizabeth and Jane, and their courtships played out in the drawing rooms of Regency England. Elizabeth and her proud suitor, Mr. Darcy, spar verbally about their relationship and social circumstances. The sisters’ comments on each other’s romance help convey the author’s views on life and love.
Image Description: An open envelope floats over a light blue background. Red, pink, and blue hearts burst out of the envelope.