Romance Tropes Ranked: A Completely Biased Guide

I've read approximately 400 romance novels in the past three years. This is not an exaggeration - I have a spreadsheet. And I have opinions.

Here's my totally subjective ranking of romance tropes based on how effectively they deliver serotonin to my brain.

S-Tier (Peak Fiction)

Enemies to Lovers

The GOAT. The blueprint. The reason we're all here.

Two people who despise each other slowly realize their hatred is actually sexual tension? Yes. Give me the bickering. Give me the moment where they're arguing but standing too close. Give me the scene where one of them is in danger and the other one loses their mind.

Done well: Pride and Prejudice, The Hating Game, about 80% of fanfiction

Done poorly: When the "enemies" part is just them being mildly rude for two chapters

Slow Burn

Delayed gratification is a legitimate kink.

I want the pining. I want the lingering glances that mean nothing and everything. I want them to brush hands accidentally and think about it for three days. I want to be 200 pages in before they even kiss.

The payoff of a well-executed slow burn is unmatched. You've invested in these idiots and now you're so emotionally involved that when they finally get together, you feel like you've achieved something too.

A-Tier (Excellent)

Fake Dating

The inherent comedy of two people pretending to be a couple while catching real feelings? Exquisite. The moment where they realize the fake relationship has become real? Chef's kiss.

Best when: There's a good reason for the fake relationship and both characters are somewhat aware they're in trouble.

Only One Bed

It's stupid. It's contrived. Why is there only one bed? There should be a couch or something.

I don't care. Works every time.

Grumpy/Sunshine

The dynamic of an emotionally closed-off person being slowly thawed by someone aggressively optimistic scratches a very specific itch. Especially when the grumpy one starts being soft specifically for the sunshine character while staying grumpy to everyone else.

B-Tier (Solid)

Friends to Lovers

Tricky to execute because you need to sell why they weren't together already. But when it works - when there's a genuine moment where one of them looks at their best friend and thinks "oh no" - it's wonderful.

The fear of ruining the friendship adds stakes that pure attraction stories don't have.

Second Chance Romance

"We broke up five years ago but now we're stuck working together" is a premise I will never get tired of. Built-in history, built-in tension, and usually some kind of misunderstanding that needs to be resolved.

Forced Proximity

Snowstorms. Work trips. Shared apartments. Being handcuffed together by a witch (don't ask, but it's a book I've read). Any scenario that forces two people who shouldn't be together into close quarters.

C-Tier (Hit or Miss)

Love Triangle

Controversial take: I don't hate love triangles. I hate love triangles where one option is obviously wrong. If both options are genuinely compelling, watching the protagonist choose can be engaging.

Usually, though, one love interest is clearly the author's favorite and the other exists to create artificial drama.

Instalove

Rare that this works for me, but occasionally an author sells the "we just know" connection convincingly. The Notebook manages it. Most paranormal romance where "fated mates" is a thing manages it.

What I Actually Look For

Beyond tropes, here's what makes romance work for me:

• Chemistry in dialogue: If the banter isn't there, I'm out
• Internal stakes: "Will they get together?" isn't enough - there needs to be a reason it matters beyond plot
• Competence: Both characters should be good at something. Nothing kills attraction like two bumbling idiots
• The grovel: If one character screws up, they better earn forgiveness

The Narrator Angle

One thing I love about narrator is requesting very specific trope combinations that would never get traditionally published.

"Enemies to lovers but make them co-workers at a space station" or "Fake dating but they're both aware they're catching feelings and neither wants to admit it first" - these hyper-specific premises are exactly what AI fiction does well.

You're not limited to what publishers think will sell. You can generate the exact niche thing your lizard brain craves.

What's Your Ranking?

I'm prepared to defend these rankings with my life. Enemies to lovers supremacy is non-negotiable. But I'm curious - what tropes do you think I've ranked wrong?

(And if you want to test any of these tropes with AI-generated fiction, narrator's free to try.)