Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme that was originally created and hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books starting in August 2019, and was then cohosted with Dani @ Literary Lion from May 2020 to March 2022. Book Nook Bits has hosted since April 2022, with Dini at Dini Panda Reads as co-host from February 2025.
Oh what a perfect prompt for Valentine’s Day! And I love romance books – I definitely found since reading more I do have a fondness for particular tropes, too, so I’m really excited for this topic.
Let’s Talk Bookish February 14:
Favourite Romance Tropes & Book Recs
(Aria)
Prompts: Happy Valentine’s Day! What are your favorite romance tropes? What books would you recommend that have those tropes? Are there any books with those tropes on your TBR? Do you have any least favourite romance tropes?
Ah, romance tropes. In general, I do love (well handled) romance tropes – tropes are present in all genres, of course, but too many seem to feel ‘trope’ is a dirty word. Not so in romance, where tropes are embraced and encouraged, and often used as an excellent marketing tool! They’re very handy, too – they can help you find books you’re more likely to enjoy!
As for me, I haven’t come across a whole lot of romance tropes that I dislike. But I do particularly like rivals/enemies to lovers, though feel I haven’t read nearly enough of it. I enjoy second chance romances, forbidden love, fake relationships, rakes and loveable rogues, grumpy x sunshine, and pretty much most retellings. I’ll also start giggling and kicking my feet when there turns out to be only one bed!
As for my recommendations with these tropes…
Rivals/enemies to lovers – Saga Graphic Novels, This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone, The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling
Second Chance – #The Leftover Bride by Elodie Nowodazkij, The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
Forbidden Love – These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
Fake Relationships – Say You’ll Be My Jaan by Naina Kumar, Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Rakes/Loveable Rogues – To Steal a Heart by K.C. Bateman
Grumpy/Sunshine – Becoming Human by Holly Gray, Humbug by Amanda Radley
Retellings – Her Princess at Midnight by Erica Ridley
There are, of course, more, but I think these are good to start if you also enjoy these tropes. I do have some books with these tropes on my TBR, but I usually like to remain a little ‘distant’ from them, at least until I dive into the book, if that makes sense? So I won’t name the TBR books here, but if you have suggestions for me please share.
As for least favourite…I’m not sure, to be honest. I don’t think there’s a whole load of tropes out there I’ve actively disliked, or hugely avoided. I don’t lean too much towards things like mafia or billionaire romances, but I might still try them occasionally if one catches my eye. In general, I think most tropes can be handled well, in the right author’s hands!
Let me know about your favourite (or least favourite!) romance tropes, too, and any books you think handle them really well!
Unwrapping Words 
Great post! I’m a big romance reader but I also don’t have very many tropes that I dislike but I also don’t necessarily have one favourite because there are just too many that I enjoy. I also find more and more that there are multiple tropes in one romance so it’s kind of hard to categorise. I do think that enemies to lovers or hate to love is superior but I love grumpy sunshine/opposites attract, fake dating, marriages of convenience… The only thing I can’t stand is really the miscommunication trope, which still happens far too often in romance for my liking, lol. I get it adds to the angst factor but oof, the way one honest conversation could change everything just gets to me, haha.
Thanks for participating in LTB today! 💜
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Ooo yes I agree – miscommunication is one of those things that when it’s done WELL, I can really love it, but too often it’s just frustrating. I feel like I’m still working through a lot of the tropes, too. And no problem – it was a really fun topic, but they usually are!
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