Learn Your Lovers: A Guide to Lover Tropes

Learn Your Lovers:

A Guide to Lover Tropes

BY DORI GRAY PHOTOS BY PROVIDED

Protagonist and Soon-to-be Love Interest begrudgingly drag their luggage into their shared hotel room — the only suite conveniently remaining after the hotel accidentally overbooked the weekend. Looking forward to sleeping after the stressful day, they both take in their surroundings and simultaneously groan. … There was only one bed.

Merriam-Webster defines a trope to be “a common or overused theme or device.” MasterClass states that tropes are plot devices or character attributes “used so commonly in [a] genre that it’s seen as commonplace or conventional.” The romance genre, in particular, is notorious for its novels’ tropes, though romantic tropes exist outside of the genre as well. The “there was only one bed” trope is a plot device used to push a couple toward realizing their feelings for each other via forced proximity, and the feelings realized often range from pure lust to true love.

No matter how overused, romance tropes are both useful for writers and an excellent source of entertainment and serotonin for readers — do not fact-check that last part. The following are five fanfavorite novel tropes used to bring two characters together, sometimes for forever.

***Writer’s Note: Please be sure to research and read both content and trigger warnings pertaining to the provided trope-y titles before enjoying. Certain novels may contain content some readers may find distressing and/or offensive.

ARTHUR is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it. BEN thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things. But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them . . . ? Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated. Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited. But what if they can’t nail a first date even after three do-overs? What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work and Ben doesn’t try hard enough? What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play? But what if it is? What if it’s us?

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story. Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us. The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

A trope many debate the real-life possibility of, love at first sight is articulated in multiple ways: eyes meet in passing and a character is mesmerized; a chance encounter at a coffee shop turns into a first date; a werewolf imprints on an unsuspecting human. They are all basic concepts, really.

Example: “What If It’s Us” by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

“The Sun Is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon

FRIENDS TO LOVERS

There are levels of friends to lovers. Level one is classic friends to lovers. Level two is best friends to lovers. Level three, the big one, is childhood best friends to lovers. There is something intrinsically nostalgic about this trope, bringing forth early 2000s Taylor Swift-esque memories of wondering whether or not the classmate who lives next door is soulmate material.

Example: “My Life Next Door” by Huntley Fitzpatrick

“Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase’s family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a knowit-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not quite—dying, she’s come up with seven directives to help her “Get a Life”, and she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamorous family’s mansion. The next items? Enjoy a drunken night out. Ride a motorcycle. Go camping. Have meaningless but thoroughly enjoyable sex. Travel the world with nothing but hand luggage. And... do something bad. But it’s not easy being bad, even when you’ve written step-by-step guidelines on how to do it correctly. What Chloe needs is a teacher, and she knows just the man for the job. Redford ‘Red’ Morgan is a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and more sex appeal than ten-thousand Hollywood heartthrobs. He’s also an artist who paints at night and hides his work in the light of day, which Chloe knows because she spies on him occasionally. Just the teeniest, tiniest bit. But when she enlists Red in her mission to rebel, she learns things about him that no spy session could teach her. Like why he clearly resents Chloe’s wealthy background. And why he never shows his art to anyone. And what really lies beneath his rough exterior…

Millie Quint is devastated when she discovers that her sortof-best friend/sort-of-girlfriend has been kissing someone else. Heartbroken and ready for a change of pace, Millie decides to apply for scholarships to boarding schools . . . the farther from Houston the better. Soon, Millie is accepted into one of the world’s most exclusive schools, located in the rolling highlands of Scotland. Here, the country is dreamy and green; the school is covered in ivy, and the students think her American-ness is adorable. The only problem: Mille’s roommate Flora is a total princess. She’s also an actual princess. Of Scotland. At first, the girls can’t stand each other, but before Millie knows it, she has another sort-of-best-friend/sortof-girlfriend. Princess Flora could be a new chapter in her love life, but Millie knows the chances of happily-ever-afters are slim . . . after all, real life isn’t a fairy tale . . . or is it?

ENEMIES TO LOVERS

In stark contrast to meet-cutes in love at first sight origin stories, enemies to lovers often begins with a “meet-ugly.” The couple could be sworn rivals in school, bickering coworkers vying for the same promotion, or even a mob boss and the FBI agent assigned to infiltrate and dismantle the mobster’s empire. But, the saying “it’s a thin line between love and hate” proves to be true with this trope, as the former enemies become lovers despite their differences. “I would never fall for someone like him,” a character may profess. Spoiler alert: the character falls … hard. Example: “Get a Life, Chloe Brown” by Talia Hibbert

“Her Royal Highness” by Rachel Hawkins

SECRET RELATIONSHIP

Secret Relationship is a trope with many subtropes: family member’s friend, best friend’s family member (cue “Best Friend’s Brother” by Victorious Cast ft. Victoria Justice), office romance (frequently in tandem with enemies to lovers), and more. Secret relationships often take place because of another trope, forbidden love. There is a certain je ne sais quoi about lovers sneaking around that has the ability to easily draw a reader in — it’s spicy; it’s thrilling; it’s fun. Will the novel’s main couple get caught making out in a supply closet at their mutual friend’s birthday party? Keep reading to find out.

Example: “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

“The Wedding Party” by Jasmine Guillory

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career. Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways. Maddie and Theo have two things in common: 1. Alexa is their best friend. 2. They hate each other After an “oops, we made a mistake” night together, neither one can stop thinking about the other. With Alexa’s wedding rapidly approaching, Maddie and Theo both share bridal party responsibilities that require more interaction with each other than they’re comfortable with. Underneath the sharp barbs they toss at each other is a simmering attraction that won’t fade. It builds until they find themselves sneaking off together to release some tension when Alexa isn’t looking, agreeing they would end it once the wedding is over. When it’s suddenly pushed up and they only have a few months left of secret rendezvouses, they find themselves regretting that the end is near. Two people this different can’t possibly have a connection other than the purely physical, right? But as with any engagement with a nemesis, there are unspoken rules that must be abided by. First and foremost, don’t fall in love.

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once? Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

FAKE RELATIONSHIP

The relationship could be fake for paparazzi cameras, a wedding date, or to convince someone’s parents they are mature and deserve their inheritance. For some reason, two people have decided to fake a relationship. Of course, hijinks ensue. Eventually, deeper feelings are uncovered, despite the relationship’s fraudulent premise. Example: “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” by Jenny Han

“First Comes Like” by Alisha Rai

Beauty expert and influencer Jia Ahmed has her eye on the prize: conquering the internet today, the entire makeup industry tomorrow, and finally, finally proving herself to her big, opinionated family. She has little time for love, and even less time for the men in her private messages — until the day a certain international superstar slides into her DMs, and she falls hard and fast. There’s just one wrinkle: He has no idea who she is. The son of a powerful Bollywood family, soap opera star Dev Dixit is used to drama, but a strange woman who accuses him of wooing her online, well, that’s a new one. As much as he’d like to focus on his Hollywood fresh start, he can’t get Jia out of his head. Especially once he starts to suspect who might have used his famous name to catfish her.... When paparazzi blast their private business into the public eye, Dev is happy to engage in some friendly fake dating to calm the gossips and to dazzle her family. But as the whole world swoons over their relationship, Jia can’t help but wonder: Can an online romance-turned-offline-fauxmance ever become love in real life?

For those who caught the vinyl collecting bug and have no idea how to get started, Thread explains the numerous ways to get organized and start off right.

CREATE A LIST OF FAVORITE ALBUMS:

Before figuring out where and how to start collecting, take some time to think about what records you want to find. Having a simple list can help with organization and prevent frantic feelings while searching. Take the list a step further by ranking the albums from must-haves to albums that would simply be nice to own. If something is found that is not on the list but the purchase feels right, go for it. However, sticking to the list can help prevent impulsive — and later, regrettable — purchases, as well as help save money.

Before starting the hunt: A simple online search of “records for sale” or “vinyl near me” can pull up shops nearby that sell used records, online sale listings, and ads for yard/garage sales that will include used records. Depending on which source feels most comfortable, the following are some tips for all three locations.

QUALITY CHECK:

Learning how to check the quality of a record is important information to grasp. The condition of the record sleeve can be very telling of how well-cared for a record was, and in turn, whether or not it is a playable find. Carefully pull the record out of its sleeve

IF DAMAGES ARE MORE DRAMATIC, SUCH AS WATER DAMAGE, A LACK OF INNER SLEEVE, AND LARGE SPLITS IN THE OUTER SLEEVE, FEEL FREE TO INSPECT THE RECORD AS PER USUAL, BUT THE CHANCES OF IT BEING PLAYABLE ARE SLIM TO NONE.

back of the closet and thoroughly examine it for severe scratches, chipping, and other blemishes. Even with minor blemishes and/ or dirt and dust, a record can still play and sound completely normal. Lightly use a fingertip or fingernail to feel for a scratch or dent; if neither is present, the record is more than likely going to play just fine. A brush or record cleaning solution can remove any light debris. Feel around for deeper scratches that intersect or are alongside the grooves, which will cause popping noises or the needle to get stuck, respectively. To check for warping, hold the record flat and slowly rotate it at eye level. Other mild causes for concern are if the outer sleeve and/or inner sleeve are bent or lightly split. There is still a good chance that the record is fine and just well-loved, but take a mental note of it. If damages are more dramatic, such as water damage, a lack of inner sleeve, and large splits in the outer sleeve, feel free to inspect the record as per usual, but the chances of it being playable are slim to none.

USED RECORDS:

If in a record store, thrift shop, or antique store, the key is making sure to have enough time to be there for a while. Employees try their best to keep the sections sorted alphabetically, by genre, etc., but things still end up in the wrong spot or people hide their “maybe” purchases so they can come back and buy them later.

It can feel tedious, but bring a friend or listen to something while searching. The chances of finding an original Beatles record mixed in with Beethoven or Purple Rain in the jazz section are low, but never zero.

We are still living in a pandemic, so if venturing into the real world does not feel safe, online hunting is a great alternate option. Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Depop, Mercari, and Poshmark are great sites to check out. Prices tend to vary a bit more based on sellers’ knowledge of records’ values, but it is still possible to score good finds. The downside, unfortunately, is that scamming is much easier online. Make sure to read as many reviews of sellers as possible to determine whether or not they are trustworthy. Generally speaking, if they have a decently large amount of reviews and a majority of them are positive, the purchase should be okay. Be even more vigilant if spending a large sum of money on a record. Additionally, try to use PayPal to pay and select the “goods and services” option to have the ability to get a refund in a worst-case scenario.

Garage and yard sales are a more sporadic source for used

record hunting. Unless buying the records of someone who genuinely listens to every genre, expect a selection likely limited to the specific music taste of whoever lives there. It is a fun gamble of whether or not you will end up at a sale put on by someone with a similar taste in music or end up empty-handed. Overall, just trust your instincts and trust that the more time

OVERALL, JUST TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS AND TRUST THAT THE MORE TIME SPENT SEARCHING, THE BETTER THE RECORDHUNTING SKILL WILL BECOME.

spent searching, the better the record-hunting skill will become. Very soon, you will know the best places to look for and how to find good quality records. Then, it will be time to start crossing off all the albums on your wishlist. Happy collecting!