Toying with Tropes by Laura Carter

Toying with Tropes

My latest romcom, Fake It ‘Til You Make It, is my eleventh published romantic novel and it is packed full of tropes. Fake dating, mistaken identity, forced proximity and enemies to lovers. You’ll catch them all in Fake It ‘Til You Make It.

So now seems like a good time to reflect on the romance tropes I’ve written and those I love to write.

I’ve written billionaires and alpha males. I have a real soft spot for STEM romances and love a workplace rivalry. Friends to lovers/ friends with benefits allows for emotional sweet spots, whilst opposites attract and grumpy/ sunshine can make for some playful meet-cutes.

But my favourite tropes to write, read and watch, are:

Enemies to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Fake Dating

Put them all in a book together and I’ll be mush! (Wait a minute, didn’t I just do that?! Tee hee!!)

Here’s why I love my top three tropes…

Enemies to Lovers

Think: my romcom Two To Tango and The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Enemies to lovers is so much fun to write because I can pack in a heap of banter, sarcasm and wit. I find myself chuckling as I write, immersed in the world of my feisty duo.

Forced Proximity

Think: my romcom Always the Bridesmaid and The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds

The last thing they want is to share a room… but the thing the universe decides they need, is to share a room (tee hee!)

How will they divide the space? Who will cave first? Will they or won’t they find fun and spice between the sheets?

If there’s one thing I love to read, write and watch, it’s off-the-charts sexual tension . Forced proximity gives authors an opportunity to really turn up the dial!

Fake Dating

Think: my brand new laugh-out-loud romcom Fake It ‘Til You Make It and Anyone But You with Sydney Sweeny and Glen Powell

What a load of slapstick fun and shenanigans we can have with this… until one or both protagonists fall hard!

The whole concept is an escape from likely reality, which means, as an author, I can expend with it a little more too, and welcome readers into a world of escapist hilarity with me.

Let’s continue this conversation because there’s nothing I love to chat about more than romance!

Follow me on social media: Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok