The season of love is fast approaching and with it the number of romance novels and movies we’re all consuming. Whether you’re planning a fancy theater date for Valentine’s Day or looking forward to clearing out Target’s candy aisle for a solo movie marathon, you’ll probably notice some patterns in your favorite stories. Tropes are everywhere, for better or for worse, and everyone has a different opinion on them. To prepare for the big day, I’ve put together a list of some of the most popular romance tropes in media. They’re ranked worst to best, and come with some recommendations to help you make this holiday a little sweeter, and hopefully a little less generic.

8. Love at First Sight

If we’re talking about romance tropes, we can’t not talk about love at first sight. You know, the classic look into someone’s eyes and the world lights up. When the characters meet for the very first time and somehow know they’re meant to be. For me, this ranks bottom of the list simply because it leaves little room for development. If the characters fall in love at first sight, we don’t get to come along as their relationship develops. The pacing can easily feel rushed and the idea of an emotion as strong as love, not just attraction, emerging so quickly comes off unrealistic. That being said, if you’re still a hopeless romantic at heart, here are some recommendations that actually pull this trope off pretty well.

Movie Recs:

  • “West Side Story” (1961)
  • “Titanic” (1997)
  • “Aladdin” (1992)

Book Recs:

  • “The Sun is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon
  • “Cress” by Marissa Meyer
  • “Open Water” by Caleb Azumah Nelson

7. Childhood Sweethearts

This trope is the epitome of slow-burn and I do love a romance story that takes its time. It gives the characters more room to breathe and lets them develop as individuals, not just as a couple. The reason it ranks on the lower end of the list is that, when not executed well, this trope can be a miss. Some romance stories throw in a twist childhood meeting halfway through the story to explain the characters’ undeniable connection. Others intersperse a couple flashbacks and call it a day or focus too much on one timeline that the other gets brushed aside. However, these recommendations I offer you strike just the right balance of blooming romance with strong character development, regardless of how many years pass between.

Movie Recs:

  • “Moonrise Kingdom” (2012)
  • “Love, Rosie” (2014)
  • “The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love” (1995)

Book Recs:

  • “Love and Other Words” by Christina Lauren
  • “The Sweet Gum Tree” by Katherine Allred
  • “1Q84” by Haruki Murakami

6. Second Chance

Do you believe in second chances? For me, it depends. Much like the childhood sweethearts trope, this one can be hit or miss. Sometimes second chance stories fall into the trap of relying heavily on an easily avoidable misunderstanding as the root of the characters’ growing apart. However, the best second chance romances come from circumstances that really couldn’t be avoided. Ones where the characters are forced apart by societal expectations, changing perspectives, and the like. The getting back together part only comes after immense growth on both sides and a mutual understanding that leads to a solid relationship we can all root for.

Movie Recs:

  • “Moonlight” (2016)
  • “The Parent Trap” (1998)
  • “Persuasion” (2007)

Book Recs:

  • “Before I Let Go” by Kennedy Ryan
  • “Vampires of El Norte” by Isabel Cañas
  • “The Notebook” by Nicholas Sparks

5. Love Triangle

One of the most classic romance tropes thrusts together three potential suitors and has them vie for attention. Readers are left to pick sides and either be overjoyed or disappointed at the outcome. While some love triangles fall into an endless cycle and simply lead readers to hate certain characters, others expand on each character individually. One of my favorite spins on the love triangle is when one suitor is a close friend with a one-sided (or is it?) crush, putting the familiar comfort of a friend head to head with the excitement of a new flame.

Movie Recs:

  • “Eternal Summer” (2006)
  • “Casablanca” (1942)
  • “Being John Malkovich” (1999)

Book Recs:

  • The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare
  • The Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson (specifically “Oathbringer”)
  • “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens

4. Fake Dating

A performed relationship is a great basis for both serious and comedic moments between characters. Many of these types of stories stem from an attempt to make someone jealous, maybe an ex-lover. Some come from a character wanting to save face in front of family or friends. No matter how it begins, it leads to an interesting dynamic where life begins to imitate art, and what used to be pretend becomes very real feelings between the characters.

Movie Recs:

  • “The Proposal” (2009)
  • “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (2003)
  • “Pretty Woman” (1990)

Book Recs:

  • “Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating” by Adiba Jaigirdar
  • “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” By Jenny Han
  • “Take a Hint, Dani Brown” by Talia Hibbert

3. Friends to Lovers

If you’re the kind of person that roots for the underdog in a love triangle, you probably also love a good friends to lovers storyline. Having the characters start out as close friends makes for an interesting dynamic as their relationship blooms. On one hand, these people know each other like the back of their hands. On the other, they’re starting to see each other in a new light and learn all the new things about each other that come along with it. Usually there’s some aspects of unrequited love, misunderstandings, and coming-of-age thrown in the mix and the outcome is all the more heartwarming because of it.

Movie Recs:

  • “13 Going on 30” (2004)
  • “Your Name Engraved Herein” (2020)
  • “Imagine Me & You” (2005)

Book Recs:

  • “Shadow and Bone” by Leigh Bardugo
  • “The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue” by Mackenzi Lee
  • “On the Same Page” by Haley Cass

2. Forbidden Love

You’ve probably heard the saying that we all want what we can’t have. Turns out, it applies to fiction too. Forbidden love is so appealing because of the added tension that comes from the forced secrecy and danger surrounding the relationship. Of course, “forbidden” can range from more down-to-earth depictions of love scorned by societal or familial expectations to a love that can’t cross the boundaries of time, space, or fantastical classes. But in all cases, the fact that the characters’ are willing to risk so much for each other, keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

Movie Recs:

  • “But I’m a Cheerleader” (1999)
  • “Her” (2013)
  • “The Handmaiden” (2016)

Book Recs:

  • “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab
  • “An Ember in the Ashes” by Sabaa Tahir
  • “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

1. Enemies to Lovers

Taking the top spot in this ranking is the ever-exciting enemies to lovers trope. I love that this trope combines aspects of others on the list. You might get a little forbidden love along the way and some aspects of friends to lovers as the characters reach the point of understanding but not yet romance. There’s a will-they, won’t they that keeps you anticipating each new interaction. The build-up from hate to love also allows the characters time to grow into better versions of themselves. They’re forced to confront their own biases and put themselves in the other’s shoes. Seeing their walls break down as time passes makes the pay-off in the end even sweeter.

Movie Recs:

  • “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
  • “You’ve Got Mail” (1998)
  • “10 Dance” (2025)

Book Recs:

  • “Gideon the Ninth” by Tamsyn Muir
  • “The Cruel Prince” by Holly Black
  • “We Hunt the Flame” by Hafsah Faizal