Here A Trope, There A Trope

Every reader has their favorite tropes—the ones that make them immediately add a book to their TBR pile—and the ones that make them groan out loud. Tropes are the building blocks of storytelling, recurring themes and patterns that shape the stories we love (or hate). When used well, they can be powerful, emotional, and deeply satisfying. When used poorly? Well, they can make a book feel frustrating, predictable, or just plain irritating.

I have strong feelings about book tropes (I have strong opinions about everything). There are some I will never get tired of, no matter how many times I see them. And then there are the ones that make me roll my eyes and want to throw the book across the room.

So, let’s get into it—my favorite book tropes, the ones I cannot stand, and why they make or break a story for me.

Tropes I Love

These are the tropes that hook me every time. They’re the ones that make my heart race, the ones that keep me flipping pages long into the night. If a book has one of these, there’s a good chance I’m already interested.

1. Found Family

If you know me at all, this one should come as no surprise. Found family is my ultimate favorite trope, and I will never get tired of it. There’s something so powerful about characters who come together, not because they have to, but because they choose each other.

Found family stories are about love, survival, and creating a home when the world refuses to give you one. They remind us that family isn’t just about blood—it’s about the people who stand by you, fight for you, and hold you up when you can’t do it alone. Whether it’s a ragtag group of misfits, a tight-knit crew of rebels, or a bunch of disaster queer people looking out for each other, I’m always here for it.

Some found family book recs:

• The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers – A sci-fi story about a diverse spaceship crew who become a family.

• The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune – A beautifully heartfelt tale about a bureaucrat who finds love and belonging among magical misfit children.

  
  

2. Enemies to Lovers

Give me two characters who absolutely loathe each other at the start of a book, and I will devour every page waiting for that tension to snap. Enemies to lovers works best when the animosity is real—when there’s a deep conflict or opposing goals keeping them apart.

The best versions of this trope let both characters grow, forcing them to challenge their beliefs, confront their feelings, and earn that romantic connection. It’s all about the slow burn, the banter, the grudging respect that turns into something deeper. When done right, it’s absolutely electrifying.

Book recs:

• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – A political rivals-to-lovers romance between the First Son of the U.S. and the Prince of England.

• The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri – A sapphic fantasy with power struggles, rebellion, and deliciously complicated romantic tension.

  
  

3. The “One Bed” Trope

It’s a classic for a reason. Two characters, forced to share a single bed due to circumstances, pretending it’s totally fine while lying awake, completely aware of the other person. The awkwardness. The tension. The what if hanging in the air.

It’s one of the best ways to heighten romantic tension and character dynamics, especially when combined with a slow-burn romance. This trope always delivers.

Book recs:

• Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall – A hilarious and heartfelt fake-dating romance with a one-bed situation that really delivers.

• Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas – A paranormal romance with a ghostly twist that includes a one-bed moment filled with queer yearning.

  
  

4. The Heist Crew/Team-Up

A group of highly skilled misfits, each with their own specialty, coming together for one impossible job? Yes, please. I love the dynamics in a heist or team-up story—the way different personalities clash and complement each other, the elaborate planning (and inevitable chaos when things don’t go as planned), and the high-stakes tension of seeing if they can actually pull it off.

Heists are especially fun because they combine action, strategy, and character development in a way that keeps the plot moving. Whether it’s a magical heist, a sci-fi mission, or just a good old-fashioned robbery, I’ll read it. Bonus points if it's a reverse heist, and the crew is looking to put something back.

Book recs:

• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – The ultimate YA fantasy heist novel with a diverse, morally gray cast.

• The Gentleman Bastard Series by Scott Lynch – A witty, immersive, and high-stakes fantasy heist series.

  
  

Tropes I Can’t Stand

Now for the tropes that make me want to throw my book across the room. Some of these are frustrating because they’re lazy storytelling. Others just personally annoy me. Either way, if a book leans too heavily on these, I probably won’t finish it.

1. Bury Your Gays

This one needs to be buried permanently. The “bury your gays” trope is when queer characters, particularly those in relationships, are disproportionately killed off—often for the sake of “drama” or to fuel a straight character’s arc.

Queer people deserve stories where they get to be happy, fall in love, and survive. I’m not saying every queer story has to be sunshine and rainbows, but if you’re going to kill off a queer character, it better be for a damn good reason and not just because the author thinks tragedy = depth.

2. Love Triangles (Especially When They’re Unnecessary)

I don’t hate every love triangle, but most of them just feel unnecessary. Too often, they exist just to create artificial drama, with the main character ping-ponging back and forth between two people who somehow both think they’re worth the emotional turmoil (I'm looking at you, Hunger Games).

A good love triangle should add depth to the story—not just serve as filler. If the choice is obvious from the beginning, or if one of the love interests is clearly just there to be a plot device, then what’s the point?

3. The “I’m Not Like Other Girls” Trope

This one also needs to disappear forever. It’s the trope where a female character is portrayed as “special” simply because she doesn’t conform to traditional femininity—usually at the expense of other women. Women (and people of all genders) can be unique and complex without needing to be framed as better than other girls. Let’s retire this trope and give characters depth without putting down an entire gender.

4. Miscommunication as the Main Conflict

If the entire conflict of the book could be solved by a single conversation, then it’s not a strong conflict. Miscommunication is frustrating when it drags on for hundreds of pages for no reason other than to stretch the plot.

5. The Chosen One (When It’s Too Generic)

I don’t hate the Chosen One trope on principle—it can work really well when done right. But when it’s just another generic “random teenager discovers they have a world-changing destiny” story, with no depth or twists? I’m out.

What About You?

These are just my opinions, but I know everyone has their own list of tropes they love and hate. Maybe you love a good love triangle, or maybe enemies-to-lovers makes you roll your eyes.

What are your favorite and least favorite book tropes? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

Until next time,

Oregon J. Sinclair