A Tribute to Book Tropes

 

A Tribute to Book Tropes

Everybody loves a good book with a nice good creative plot. A good plot is the requirement for any must read book. Sometimes it gets a little exhausting, searching and asking and waiting to find another creative plot to read. And then, sometimes you get a little tired of waiting, need to fuel your brain, etc., and just need a good solid trope. There's a balance of entertaining a good, and it is my belief that as long as it is entertaining enough, it doesn’t need to be good. I, personally, am always up for an omg, it’s so bad that it’s actually good. So, here's a list of my top four (the number five is overrated) favorite tropes, and some books with it.

Fake relationship

The Love Hypothesis is a perfect example and is very high on the entertainment level and low on actually being a good book. In an effort to prove to her friend that she no longer has feelings for her friend's crush, Olive writes some terms and conditions for a fake relationship with Adam. Of course, we all know all fake relationships end with the leads actually falling for each other. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was also a best seller a couple years ago, providing a decent amount of entertainment, but a little bit too far on the omg it’s so bad side. One person with more than three love interests is a little bit too much.

Matchmaker (and matchmaking gone wrong)

Out of all of the more common tropes, Matchmaker gone wrong is the most likely to be dystopian. Matched starts off with Cassia being, well, matched (a dystopian society system) with her childhood best friend, and then falling for an outcast. I read the entire series, which must mean it is somewhat good, but in all honestly would say it is mediocre. In another dystopian society, The Selection, the crowned prince falls for America, the least elite candidate in the Selection and deemed by society the worst. As far as guilty pleasures, The Selection is definitely one of mine, and I would recommend it if you want a fun easy read.

Grumpy X Sunshine

Generally cute and wholesome, and you already are mostly guaranteed good characters. What I think makes this trope so good is when it's Grumpy, except the only time Grumpy isn’t grumpy around Sunshine. I mentioned the Love Hypothesis above, and it is one of the few books that really pulls this off. This trope is more uncommon in books, and more often found in online comic strips. What makes it really good is when it is Grumpy who would murder for Sunshine (unfortunately, I have only ever found this in Webtoons).

Everyone can see it except for the lead characters who apparently are blind

My personal favorite out of all of the tropes. There are plenty of good books, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, a little bit of Heartstopper, Red Queen, etc. The real reason I put this on the list is just to talk about Keepers of the Lost City. In my opinion, Keepers of the Lost City is the absolute perfect example of it’s so bad that it’s actually really, really good. In addition, the main focus isn’t even the tropes, the focus is actually a decent plot with plot twists. Except for the fact that the main character has wet cabbage personality and three love interests, everything about this book is great. Of course, it is the main character, Sophie, that is completely blind to the fact that she should kick Fitz off a cliff and announce her deep and undying love for Keefe, who also happens to be the best character in the nine-book series.

 

I’m just saying, next time you are looking to be entertained; google book tropes.

Eve Anderson