Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Tropes
I decided to take part in a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. I may not do this every week, but I quite liked today’s prompt.
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We seem to spend more time criticising poorly done tropes (at least, I do) than we do highlighting the ones we like. So today, it’s time to celebrate the good things (purely subjective, of course). Here goes.
FRIENDS TO LOVERS
This is probably my favourite romance trope. It feels more genuine when the characters already know each other so well. And when it’s an HEA, I can almost believe it’ll last.
“NORMAL” PEOPLE DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS. Not Batman, though. I dislike Batman.
You know what’s even more badass than Fae and dragons? Ordinary people. Regular folk. Muggles. Doing great things, and not because they are the chosen one, or have some watered down wizard blood in them. Also not because they are rich and have access to technology that’s light years ahead.
ARRANGED MARRIAGES
Especially the ones that work out at the end of the day. And I don’t mean forced marriages; I mean two people who don’t care enough to go out and find a spouse by themselves, so allow themselves to be matched with strangers.
NICE VILLAINS, “AFFABLY EVIL” CHARACTERS, AND ANTI VILLAINS.
There’s something about characters with rotten souls that say please and thank you, and are not always out for revenge. I don’t need them to turn to the good side, I just need them to stay confusingly evil. This is why Thanos does it for me. He’s just so… honourable. And that adds some complexity to his evilness.
RETELLINGS
I don’t know if this counts as a trope, but I love myths and folktales, so a good retelling is one I’d always be down for.
AFTER-THE-HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER
I didn’t know what to call this trope, but I’m referring to stories that focus on after the big, cliché love story has already happened. I’m sceptical when it comes to stories that fade into the sunset with the lovers embracing, even though I like happy endings. But a story that shows how the characters later had their struggles and dealt with them is one I’d happily read.
SIBLINGS
In all forms: opposite-gender, same gender, large age gap, twins, thick-as-thieves, distant-but-not-because-they-hate-each-other, hate each other, etc.
REVERSE HAREM
Not threesomes or ménages. Not erotica either. Just normal romances that end with a character staying with all her love interests because #whychoose.
NICE LEADING MALE
Can you tell that I just like nice people? Besides, the alpha male just sounds like an overbearing caveman.
AWKWARDNESS
Not in a second-hand embarrassment type of way (I realise I’m asking for too much). Just awkward. Maybe adorably so, preferably obliviously so.
What are your favourite tropes?
15 Comments
Heather @ The Frozen Library
I really like friends to lovers too. It just seems way more believable! I love normal people doing awesome things too! And underdog stories! Underdogs are the best, I’d never get tired of them. 😀 And retellings! And awkwardness! And I LOVE reading about sibling relationships too because I’m an only child and I’ve always found it so fun and interesting. XD
Ibukun
It’s so fun to root for underdogs!
Jessica at Booked J
All of your picks are fantastic! There are so many tropes I love. I agree about ordinary people doing extraordinary things–it’s always so… intriguing? Complex? Warm and fuzzy? I don’t know how to explain it, but I love seeing all the ways that it can be explored and what not. It’s a different brand of heroic and I’m always here for it.
Ibukun
Thank you! Not all heroes wear capes indeed.
DB's Guide to the Galaxy
VIllains are honestly my favourite characters, but they have to be the right type of villains – the ones that have a distinct personality other than just being there to wreak havoc and destroy the hero’s lives.
Siblings!! I think it’s due to my having an older sister and growing up with a ‘brother’ (family friend who was always around), I super relate to any siblings in books and can tell when authors are writing siblings from experience.
Awkwardness!! in characters is my jam!! I love to sit there, lightly screaming at the characters because they’re off doing something idiotic again, like give me those characters, please, I love them so much.
Enemies to lovers is one of my faves, though. But it has to be done right – like not bully enemy, just banter enemy – you know?
Ibukun
I have an older brother, so I love seeing siblings in books too. I’m not particular about enemies to lovers, but if it’s more about the banter than actual bullying, I’m down for it!
Haley
I love arranged marriage tropes, and adore enemies to lovers, especially if it’s slow-burning lol. I think I tend to like tropes more often than not in a good few cases…and omg yes to the retellings!!!
Ibukun
I’ve never been particular about enemies to lovers, but lots of people seem to love it. Maybe I should broaden my horizons a little.
Anthea
I totally agree with some of these tropes. Sometimes the straight “great love story with the HEA” annoys me so seeing the struggles after the love story and how they dealt with it is great. I recent read one of these (When you were mine by Lisa Swift) that totally fits into this!
Anthea
I need to correct my book recommendation! I actually mean Rewrite the Stars by Emma Heatherington!
Ibukun
I haven’t heard of that, but know that you’re responsible for my TBR being one book longer!
Sammie @ The Writerly Way
Oh no, you dissed Batman. 😮 For shame. Hubby loves Batman. But I get your point. I don’t think he counts as a “normal” person anyway. I love normal people acting as the “heroes”. Especially when they don’t want to. So much yes about the villains! I thought they treated Thanos really well in the movies. Because obviously, I don’t agree with his cause and he’s going about it all wrong … but at the same time … I kind of see his point? Confusing. Plus, he’s not even doing it for a selfish reason. He thinks he’s the hero saving a universe that will never thank him and is incapable of saving itself, which I love. Give me more nuanced villains like that!
Here’s my TTT post.
Ibukun
Exactly! We kind of feel sympathy for villains like that, but have to stop ourselves from being too understanding, because they’re still evil.
Lydia
Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! It’s a wonderful community. I’m glad you decided to join in on the fun this week. (And tons of blogs only participate occasionally/when they have the time, so you’re definitely not alone there. 🙂 )
I love sibling relationships in books, too. It’s so interesting to see how they get along and what they might have in common with each other.
My TTT
Ibukun
Thank you!