My favorite and least favorite romance book tropes (with recommendations)

I read a lot of romances so I’ve been through a lot of different book tropes. Some I love, some I absolutely despise. So, we’re going to go through some of my top loves and hates, in no particular order with my ratings on them. Let’s get started.

Enemies to Lovers: Let’s start off with the one everyone goes crazy for in the book world but I believe it's justified. I used to be a big fan of Enemies to Lovers, especially in Fantasy novels when it’s done right, it's fantastic. But, I think it does get a little tiresome when you read it constantly. For a while, it felt like authors were pumping out tons of books with these tropes and I got sick of it. I think it’s a trope I will eventually go back to though so 8/10.

Recommendations: A Touch Of Darkness series by Scarlett St.Clair, Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Unrequited Love: No, this one makes me either angry or cry, there is no in between. I don’t need to feel the heartache of an unrequited crush. Why can’t the author just make them love each other? If it’s part of a bigger picture and the main character is going to find someone better, I’ll read it. But, if it's just the character pining over a love they’re never going to get, I can’t. I refuse to purposely pick one up. 3/10.

Accidental Pregnancy: Okay, hear me out, in real life, this is terrifying but in book form… It's intriguing. I can’t explain why I like this trope except that most of the time, they end up getting happy endings. It can be really cute how the characters make different lives for themselves when this happens! 7/10.

Recommendations: Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Grumpy/Sunshine: I don’t care what anyone says, I LOVE this trope. Grumpy Guy and sunshine girl (and vice versa), it’s so cute and it warms my little heart whenever I read it. I’ll read this any day. 10/10.

Recommendations: People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry, Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert, Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey, Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (For Inej and Kaz)

Faking a Relationship: Meh. While I loved this in YA romance books, it gets boring. It makes me angry because they usually wait too long to get together and by that point I’m bored. This isn’t the worst trope and it can be really cute but overall it’s just not for me. 5/10.

Recommendations: To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series by Jenny Han (because of course I need to include it), The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Love Triangle: Okay okay, I love me a love triangle. But, I can never pick the love interest they end up with and it's frustrating. Yes, both love interests are cool and all but I want her to end up this one. This happens way too much to me for me to read this trope all the time but it’s still a solid choice. 7/10.

Recommendations: Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare, The Summer I Turned Pretty series by Jenny Han

I love the romance genre because there is a lot of variety to it but these are the tropes I encounter the most in my reading. Most I can enjoy reading in some sense but I definitely have my favorites. I hope you were able to find something new!