24 Book Tropes That We Will Never Get Rid Of (No Matter How Much We Try)

This is for the Editorial Fellowship. Ah, book tropes, when the world around us is unpredictable and strange, we can always count on book tropes to come to the rescue! Regardless of your stance on book tropes, whether you like them or you hate them, it seems like they are here to stay. Here's a list of 24 of the most common book tropes in the publishing industry.

1. Enemies To Lovers

HarperCollins / Via bookshop.org

With being #1 on the list, this book trope is definitely a fan favorite. From Sworn Enemies to inseparable lovers.

Example: The Shatter Me Series. Juliette and Aaron started off as sworn enemies, with Juliette being locked up in an Asylum, and Aaron being a villain and all. But of course, as the books progress, so do the characters, the two turn from your favorite foes to your favorite end game.

2. The World Is In Ruins And It's Up To One Person To Save It

Scholastic Inc / Via goodreads.com

Chaos wherever you go, buildings are burning, people are dying, laws are being broken. It's up to one person to fix all of this before things get even worse.

Example: In the Harry Potter series. I mean, Harry Potter is known for being "The Boy Who Lived". He was the only one able to take down he who shall not be named, and save the Wizarding World from Voldemort.

3. Grouchy Old Character Befriends Innocent Younger Character

Wlliam Morrow & Company / Via goodreads.com

The older the person is the more life they've experienced meets the younger the person is who's more full of life.

Example: In the novel The Brilliant Life Of Eudora Honeysett, 85 -year -old Eudora meets 10-year- old Rose who then introduces her to recently widowed Stanley. Together the trio embark on adventures, that remind the older two what the beauty of life truly is about.

4. Second Chances

Atria Books / Via goodreads.com

The Right Person, The Wrong Time. Need I say more?

Example: It Ends With Us. Lily and Atlas separated at 18, are given the chance 9 years later to fight against all odds and rekindle the relationship they once had.

5. Love Triangle

Little Brown Books for young readers / Via goodreads.com

As the poet, John Lyly once said: "All's fair in love and war."

Example: Twilight. Stephanie Meyers is known for providing her readers with an intense love triangle, whether they were team Jacob or team Edward, clearly the decision wasn't as hard for them as it is for Bella.

6. The Single Parent

Pub Yourself Press / Via goodreads.com

Ah, my favorite kind of book trope. Alright, Alright. I think we can all agree that this kind of trope can be a little risque, but it can also be quite endearing.

Example: Fall Into Temptation: A Small Town Love Story (Blue Moon Book #2). Beckett and Gianna are two people who seriously don't need to be getting into any sort of relationship. With Beckett getting out of a psychotic relationship, and Gianna balancing her life of being both a mother and owning a yoga studio. Of course, some of the most beautiful things occur when they're not supposed to. Throw in a couple of cute kids into the mix, and you've got Beckett and Gianna's love story in Fall Into Temptation.

7. The One With No Parents

Perigee Books / Via goodreads.com

We brought up the trope of single parents, now it's time for the book tropes that have no parents at all. Moving adults out of the mix= a heck load of adventure.

Example: Lord of The Flies. A group of young schoolboys stranded on an island, with no adult supervision, and the ability to do as they please. Now that in my opinion is just screaming for trouble!

8. Royalty In Hiding

Turtleback / Via goodreads.com

From Rags To Riches Overnight.

Example: The Princess Diaries series. Who would have thought that an ordinary teenager could one day later become a princess, We'll tell you who not Mia Germaldi that's for sure. One day she's your average ninth-grade student, and the next she is the daughter of the Prince of Genovia hereby making her a princess.

9. Going On An Adventure

Mariner Books / Via goodreads.com

One simply cannot go wrong with an adventure book.

Example: The Life Of Pi. A man and a tiger. That screams adventure to us.

10. Average Girl Meets Hot Guy

Poppy Books / Via goodreads.com

Just your typical average girl falling in love with the hottest boy in town, what could go wrong(hint: everything).

Example: The D.U.F.F. Bianca Piper is a simple 17 -year -old girl, she doesn't exactly fit into the mold of what an expected 'high school girl' should like. Then we have Wesley Rush, now he is your typical high school jock, good grades, absolute hottie with an amazing body. The two start off on the wrong foot only to end up falling for one another.

11. Royalty Falling In Love With A Commoner

Arrow / Via goodreads.com

Two characters put aside their social differences and love each other for who they are instead of what they can provide for one another.

Example: To Marry A Prince. When someone gets stuck in the bushes and is surrounded by poisonous ivy, the last thing they'd expect is to be rescued by the prince of England. But I guess if you're Bella Greenwood then it wouldn't be that unexpected.

12. The Next Door Neighbor

HarperTeen / Via goodreads.com

All the characters need are a pair of binoculars, a hot next-door neighbor, and an annual neighborhood cookout to make the story perfect.

Example: On The Fence. Charlotte aka Charlie is dealing with a lot of stuff, being the only girl living in a household with 4 older male figures. From school, to personal life, to social life, things are tough, to say the least. Once in a while she needs a break from her family, and that ladies and gentlemen is where Braden her next-door neighbor comes in. She is able to confide in him, with everything-welp almost everything. Things start to get difficult with Charlie especially when she starts developing feelings for her next-door neighbor, Braden.

13. Nowhere Else To Go

Rachel Lacey / Via goodreads.com

Two characters stuck with each other with nowhere else to go. Physical attraction and tensions are bound to rise at some point.

Example: Crash and Burn. Hoping to conquer her fear of flying Isa Delgado decides to join a dog on a plane. It's only her and the dog... Oh, and of course the pilot Nate Adams. Due to a series of events, the plane ends up crashing in a remote area and Nate and Isa have no other choice but to find shelter in order to survive.

14. Good VS Evil

Banatam / Via goodreads.com

There's always a mix of both good and evil in this world, whether we like it or not. So why not incorporate it into the alternate world as well?

Example: Game Of Thrones. The main theme of Game Of Thrones revolves around the concept of being obedient and following the rules or following your heart regardless of the rules.

15. Revenge

Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers / Via goodreads.com

They do say that revenge is a dish best served cold.

Example: Of Curses & Kisses. No one messes with family. Princess Jaya Rao would go to the end of the earth to make that clear. Luckily for her, she didn't have to go to the end of the earth, she just has to go to an elite boarding school. The same boarding school, that just so happens to have enrolled her next victim.

16. The Outcast

Knopf Books For Young Readers / Via goodreads.com

All anyone ever wants is to feel understood. Even if they are surrounded by a crowd that they just don't seem to fit in with, having that one person who makes you feel seen, loved, and respected as all one needs.

Example: Stargirl. It's hard being the new kid. It's even harder being the new kid who was homeschooled for 15 years and then suddenly thrown into a completely different environment. What's going to happen when Leo who has never had any trouble fitting in, starts falling for the weird new student: Stargirl.

17. Weddings

Berkley Books / Via goodreads.com

What better way to not only find but celebrate love other than a wedding?

Example: The Wedding Date. When one gets stuck in an elevator there is panic, there is tears, there is a long wait to be rescued. But an elevator is the last place you'd expect to find a date for your ex's wedding. I guess Drew was just lucky that day.

18. Forbidden Love

Usborne Publishing / Via goodreads.com

A modern-day version of Romeo and Juliet.

Example: Soulmates. Poppy and Noah fell for each other, and they fell for each other hard. As matter of fact, the energy when they're together is so strong that it causes all kinds of natural disasters: from earthquakes, to lightning strikes, to hurricanes. Leaving them with two options, be together and take the blame for the world ending, or split up and be the saviors of the world.

19. It Starts Off As A Bet

St Martin's Paperbacks / Via goodreads.com

It may start off as a deal, but the two characters are bound to fall in love with each other one way or another.

Example: Bet Me. It's just one dinner, it can't hurt anybody. Right? That's right. But when one dinner escalates to pissed-off ex-boyfriends, chaos, and a freakishly smart cat, that's when things might go haywire and feelings might develop.

20. Alternate Secret World

HarperColins / Via goodreads.com

An alternate world within an already imaginative world. Need we say more?

Example: Chronicles of Narina. A young boy living with his magician uncle, is introduced to a whole new world, when he and his best friend go on a life-saving quest!

21. Boss Falls For Employee

Mariana Zapata / Via goodreads.com

Hear us out, this trope at times may seem unprofessional, but it's also exciting, arousing, and overall captivating!

Example: The Wall of Winnipeg and Me. Aiden Graves never really knew how much he really needed Vanessa until she quit her job as his assistant, housekeeper, and fairy godmother. But it turns out he needs her more than he actually thought he would.

22. The Tourist

Gallery Books / Via goodreads.com

Love finds you when you least expect it, even if you're on vacation.

Example: The Unhoneymooners. Food poisoning at a wedding? Not so good. An all-covered expense honeymoon trip to Hawaii? Sounds pretty perfect to us. Olive and Ethan, are two of the guests who were lucky enough to not only not get food poisoned, but were given the tickets to Hawaii...

Oh, but we did forget to mention one thing... They're sworn enemies.

23. Best Friends Sibling

Berkley Books / Via goodreads.com

Yet another trope that may involve forbidden love, but in a different form. Imagine your best friend coming up to you and confessing their undying love for your siblings.

Example: Rush. In Maya Bank's book Rush, the protagonist Gabe Hamilton is too focused on having his grand hotel opening succeed to notice anyone. That is up until Mia Crestwall walks in making an appearance. He is automatically infatuated. The only problem is she is his best friend's little sister.

24. Normal Person Discovers They Have Superpowers

Inspired Quill / Via goodreads.com

Imagine sleeping one night and then waking up the next day with superpowers!

Example: Shattered Echo. For the first 14 years of her life, Echo has been considered the 'unwanted jane doe'. In other words, not much attention is drawn to her. But all of a sudden, all of the empathy that she has within her, turns into an empathic superpower. I mean how cool is that? holding all of this empathy and understanding, and allowing it to become what makes you one of the strongest individuals on the planet.