Trope Talk - My Favourite Romance Tropes in YA Fiction

These five tropes (plus two honourable mentions) are things that I can't get enough of when I'm reading romances. I'll put up a video next week of the top 5 tropes that I hate in YA romance, but I thought I'd try to be positive today for a change.
Thanks so much for tuning in. Let me know down below what some of your favourite romantic tropes are!
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[@AnJdeMusique]

To be honest, as a YA/New Adult aspiring author, I like watching videos like this to find out what people love and hate. I know it all depends on the person, but there tends to be overlap.

[@Isalarson]

I do the same! ;)

[@hbookreviews]

Same here!!!

[@Strawberriezrule13]

1. "Couples that initially hate each other, then grow to love each other". This is NOT my cup of tea. I can see it coming from a mile away, and it often comes of as immature and tacky. 2. "Opposites attract" troupe. Couples that appear different, yet are unexpectedly compatible are fascinating to read about. Exploring the dynamics between two people you never would have expected together is enjoyable for me. 3. "World conspires against two characters, and they can't seem to work it out together / near misses." It's torture for me as a reader, but when pulled off well, it's the good kind! 4. "Epic fight and epic makeup". Better than having a "perfect" couple. Conflict is good for building relationships. I wouldn't even consider this a troupe - more of a plot device to aid in character development; should occur more often than it does in movies, especially couples who have been together for many years. Bound to have a few major fights. 5. "The romantic tragedy." Stories should evoke emotion; romances that bring me to tears are much more memorable.

[@star3catcherSEQUEL]

"Couple that initially hate each other and then grow to love each other." That used to be one of my favorites too, but anime kind of killed it for me. I still hold hope out whenever I see it though.

[@TziporaArt]

Serina Sanchez Depends on the delivery. I wouldn't give up on the trope, but I agree that a lot of anime kill this trope. 😞

[@juliii_g]

I can’t deal with sad endings, I can’t handle the agony that my heart is in when I read them 😓

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Julia G haha I live to have my heart broken

[@saundramonette4137]

I live to break people's hearts..

[@starrynightfall00]

Yessss!! I audibly gasped and almost teared up when you mentioned Your Name ;__; My love of anime and books just collided.(I'm a dork XD). I completely agree with the hate-at-first-sight trope. My personal faves are 1. People from different worlds meet trope.Some sort of project or adventure brings them together. 2. It can be done badly but I'm a sucker for the manic pixie dream boy and aloof girl trope. 3. Close friends fall for each other. But it can be bad if it insinuates boys and girls cannot have platonic relationships. I just like relationships based on more than lust. 4. Girl pursues guy but he is either aloof or just not interested for a long time.

[@shaymiana2356]

Starry Night You just reminded me again how much I love the last three tropes you named.

[@samh3396]

GOD i love your name so much

[@nidakhan3290]

I loveeee the aloof guy trope but she still needs to have self respect

[@wanderingbookwyrm2671]

I’m particularly fond of ‘enemies to friends to lovers’ because it follows a path of the couple learning from mistakes, growing to like each other, and their relationship deepening. I find that arc so wholesome when it’s done well. And from a storytelling perspective it allows the relationship to be a catalyst for character development. I agree that side character romances are wonderful when they’re peaceful and supportive. You can have fleshed out characters without their relationship being dramatic, which can distract from the main plot.

[@zeldao1692]

My favourite romantic trope, is the one where both romantic interests have always been there, but never really noticed each other. This is usually done in YA novels, when the mc is having a flashback, or backstory, and there's always this one character just there, on the side, who ends up being the love interest at the end. Idk why I like it so much,:but just the two of them always being around each other, knowing they exist, but not really talking to each other until the events of the novel really appeals to me. However, this can be done so, so wrong address well as right, if the romantic interest just pops out of nowhere, to reveal they've loved the mc all along. I HATE the "secret admirer from the shadows" trope, as it's hardly ever pulled off well

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Now that you mention it, that does seem really sweet!!

[@dorras8436]

Question: What do you think of romances that start off as friendships? And I'm not talking about the friendzoned best friend or something, more like characters meeting and becoming good friends and then their platonic love becomes romantic through stuff they've gone through? I'm trying to do something like that for two of my main characters (I guess the primary MC and another) because it's fantasy and they fight shit together but also help each other discover themselves and shit.

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Nerdypearl I think they can be great, especially if it’s a slow burn! Be sure that there is some chemistry though and that the romance doesn’t just come out of nowhere!!

[@gabrielleparker4029]

My favorite one is when they’re gay and won’t admit their feelings for each other and it’s SO OBVIOUS they love each other but they cannot figure it out. See: Every fandom ever

[@Kaastengels]

The line goes between either they're actually gay or just the fandom making it up. I love this trope but it's been a hit or miss for me

[@marynchilton1182]

CARRY ON

[@gashinadiamond3146]

For me, it's a hit or miss with the 1st trope, because sometimes, either one of the characters can be a total asshole or downright problematic and like not healthy for the other; but they go ahead and fall in love.

[@fearlessly2]

gashinadiamond I agree. I feel like there is an asshole level that can’t be surpassed because in my opinion there has to be a emotional consequences in the other person, otherwise if they treat them like trash and they still fall in love with them it’s just self-devaluation and not sexy at all

[@raptorkid7477]

Another trope that I think is adorable is the gentle giant trope. It’s virtually non-existent and I don’t know why

[@hbookreviews]

I am writing one! The cute monster

[@Sophie-og3bf]

Aaaaaah I'm so happy you referenced Your Name! When I saw it at the cinema it felt like my heart was being kicked in the ribs. And I'm a sucker for slow burning enemies to lovers, but I find it hard to find books where it's dragged out long enough for my liking. I love romance... But 90% of the romance subplots read, I find it happens way too fast and I can't get invested because I can see it coming from the start. 😥

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Sophie Agreed! Yes it's so hard to find slow burning romances but I absolutely love them :)

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Sophie Agreed! Yes it's so hard to find slow burning romances but I absolutely love them :)

[@shaymiana2356]

The hate love relationship is also my fave trope. Haha. Although I didn't like your name that much. I loved silent voice. Did you watch it? The movie killed me. Even though it's not as liked. I think I relate to that movie much more.( Sorry if my grammar is bad. Im not a native speaker and since this is a book channel I feel like I should apologize for eventual grammar mistakes)

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Not at all, don't worry about it! And I haven't seen it, but I'll definitely check it out :)

[@jenniferkrigbaum2677]

Okay so I just stumbled upon this video and thoroughly enjoyed the content but I wanted to let you know that as soon as you mentioned the movie Your Name, I immediately paused the video to look it up because it sounded like an amazing movie. Found it. Watched it. LOVED it! Thank you so much for that recommendation, it was a phenomenal story and I now understand what you were saying about wanting them to find each other so badly! LOL In regards to content of the video, I also really enjoy a lot of the tropes you mentioned, even if some of them hurt my heart! haha One trope that I know A LOT of people hate that I actually really like (if it is done right) is the love triangle. I love how it pushes certain people to really work for the person they love. To clarify, I don't like love triangles where the main girl/guy strings both love interests along or can't seem to decide on either choice (again, it has to be a love triangle done right).

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Jennifer Krigbaum Glad you liked Your Name! It's a beautiful movie. I think I can be swayed with almost any trope if it's done really well, but for the most part I'm not a huge fan of the love triangle!

[@onepandella5702]

When you said your name i was like NANI?! It's so cool you've seen it!!

[@Kay-ot8fs]

So I've been bingeing your videos, and I just wanna drop a lil note of appreciation. As an aspiring YA writer, it's super helpful to figure out what readers are looking for, and I find your commentary insightful (not to mention entertaining). Cheers for that :)

[@kyrriana1772]

Okay, I finished outlining my novel, where two characters fall in love, but one of them dies at the end. Considering the circumstances of the character death, I got really concerned it is way too much. It is possibly the bleakest downer ending I ever created. I´m no longer concerned, you inspired me to write it as it is :D Also, I like the first trope too, so, they hate each other at first... yea.

[@taylor-dc4cf]

Okay so your video on the Red Queen series is the first one I’ve seen and that boiled my blood at points (cause I’m petty when it comes to my favorites😅) But I gave your channel a chance regardless because you seem like a cool person and BOY I’m glad I did cause I love you lol💞

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Haha thanks, you're so sweet! And I totally get it. I get salty too when my faves get criticized.

[@KajsaBernhardina]

That last point is so important! Helping each other grow as persons. If you have that, you are 90% there with your romance.

[@Lunaramithist]

I just found your channel and I think you have a lot of interesting things to say! Being an aspiring YA novelist, I really like seeing videos that dive into the complexities of the genre. I saw that you have an Instagram account, but do you have a twitter account? There is a very large literary community there and it would be a good place to promote your videos. I am also very interested in your "Top 5 Hated Romance Tropes" video and hope it's coming soon. Love the videos!

[@katnissgrace1017]

I’m a Young adult/New adult/Middle grade writer and I do the same. I watch these to find out what readers are looking for and examples of when they believe a trope was done well, and when it wasn’t. I think any trope can be done amazing or it can be a complete failure. Example: haters to lovers could be pride and prejudice😌, or it could be The Cruel Prince 😖

[@ursularowland7461]

Also trope no. 3 is the BEST TROPE EVER oh my god I LIVE for this

[@tessakinnoo8823]

I really love the tropes that you mentioned especially the hate to love trope and I noticed it works well with the opposite attract one where they hate each others because they're not alike at all and then they learn from their differences. I also like the stories when they break up for real at the end and the relationship had a great impact on them and then in epilogue they kind of meet again after a long time and it kind of let an open endind I dont know. (Sorry for the long comment 😅) Also I'm searching for good romance to read so if any of you have recommendations I'd really like that! Thanks 😉

[@evies.1018]

For a characters who hate each other but grow to love each other, you should read Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing! That’s what Beatrice and Benedick are like!

[@themablab9577]

OMG YASSS I really appreciate the heart shredding, bombardment of emotions, tragic kind of romance too. People wonder if I'm a masochist but it's these tropes that makes me feel so so so much, others book can't compare. I like the opposites attract trope too, the characters will be able to grow so much more with more conflict. In ur opinion, what r ur fav romance books (doesn't have to be from the romance genre, just a book with good romance). It's hard to find them :/

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Mabel Cham hmm, I’ll have to think about it!

[@fantasyactionlover12]

I love most of these tropes except opposite attracts and tragic romance. I love when my ships have romantic tension on it, moves on the story and it makes my heart thump. For some reason I love drama romance than romcom, buy I am not against romcom, I am a sucker when they separate and meet again because I love the tension and face expression.

[@jade3866]

The distance trope was done so well in Your Name I’m happy u mentioned it

[@ethanarc]

Jordan: "Am I ok?" Me: 😶😶😳...yyyeeeaaahh...yeah, you're good...😅

[@AngelSongLJ]

The series I’m writing is going to have a novella literally dedicated to short tragic love stories. It’s historical to the world the series is in. It’s quite literally sadness in paper form. Someday I hope to have you review it. ❤️

[@darkwatersart7025]

You would enjoy the movie Love Rosie!

[@highsun76]

Nope, nope, nope, I did NOT invest all my heart into a ship just for it to sink. I agree with most of the tropes you listed, but the last one--nope.

[@LilacDaisy2]

This was such a great video, I have to watch it again. Love your details in explaining! :-)

[@frostfang1]

you were talking about the star crossed lovers type of thing and i was totally like "NOPE" and then you said "Your Name" and i thought...shit your right, that was really fantastic. But its great because they have some level of interaction with each other and each others lives. Even though they are kept apart, they are trying to get back to each other and they are getting to know each other in the entire process. A way i hate how its done is in the Jackie Faber books with Jamie. Theres times shes not even really thinking or giving a fuck about him or trying to get back to him when she should be. And on the occasion where they actually see each other theres just no chemistry anymore. Your Name is so good for it though.

[@KarlAndArma4ever]

Ugh, I just need to get my butt in gear and watch Your Name... Anyway. Do visual novel games count? Because if they do, I (hesitantly) recommend The Letter. It's marketed as a horror visual novel, and while it does have horror elements, for over half of the gameplay (provided you keep making positive choices throughout the game) is almost exclusively slice-of-life drama, most of which isn't written all that well. With that out of the way, my favorite couple are the Wrights--Luke Wright being the smarmy egotist despite having grown up poor who can't seem to act like a decent human being for more than five seconds, and Hannah Wright being the empathetic saint despite growing up a single child and an heiress to a multi-million dollar industry. Complete opposites, and while their relationship definitely has its problems, I adore these two together!

[@melodine707]

The movie "Serendipity" is awesome too.

[@abja101]

“The Age of Innocence” #2&#3 #5(eat your heart out)~squee~😖❤️🧡!!!

[@laupri08]

HOW DO YOU NOT HAVE MORE SUBSCRIBERS???? Your videos are soooo good

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Thanks so much!! :D

[@adriftcheetah]

We have the same favorite tropes 🥺 I relate to this video so much. Do you have any book recommendations based on these? I need to update my TBR 😂 Love ya, Jordan!

[@KiraSYTheWriter]

Hmm, I think you would really like the romance in my book, lol. Great video as usual 😄❤️

[@talonfelisa]

Number 4 was EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING!! I love that one!! But I also don't like it when 'all is forgiven' too quickly, ya know?

[@moonlight-sunriize]

omg okay so I'm sorry if u keep seeing my name pop up in your notifications that I've commented bc I've just recently found out your channel and I'm really loving your videos with these kind of themes on it so I've been watching a few of your past videos and I'm so glad I stumbled upon this one cause literally all your favorite romance tropes are also mine and I gasped all the ones you've listed are also on my list!! The only difference is I usually read NA instead of YA but the tropes are still the same! Also, for the trope you mentioned where you liked the one where it was the opposite of serendipity but then the main characters find themselves still meeting--or close to meeting--one another anyways is one I haven't read in books, but I've seen in a few movies! :D

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Charee Belandres Yeah, I’m definitely thinking more of movies with that one! And I read YA, NA and adult books, so you’ll find all of the above mentioned on my channel. I’m so glad you’re liking my videos, and thank you for the comments!!!

[@joselocalau123]

I love your face, it's really bright and clean and your skin is goals!

[@camerkiddo]

You know when you were talking about when the characters hate each other, but they start to like each other later on? Can do a video about how to write a romance like that, please? ~Don't mind the stupid name. My friend and I used to share an account.

[@camerkiddo]

Jordan Harvey Thank you so much!

[@ursularowland7461]

I love hate-to-love-romance! It's my favourite and if you love this trope as much as you say you do please please please read The Cruel Prince by Holly Black the romance is full of tension and the quotes are so original!!!!!!!!

[@zephyrw2173]

The third trope (fate pulling couple apart) is my life lol We became a "thing" at thirteen and now, almost seven years later are still in love, but my parents have done their absolute best to keep us apart. My life is like a novel lol

[@dr.tomanimelovertruetruetr6258]

While romance is not my favorite genre (I prefer friendship or family), my favorite trope are: 1. Childhood friends’ romance. Friends from little so their relationship already established and we can enjoy afterward. Start off with just friend and likes to hang out before the others pointed out that they look like a couple. I need more fluff in my life. Which is why I’m kind of sad if that best friend become friend-zoned and one of them chose the new guy/girl. 2. Reincarnation. I don't know why, it's a guilty pleasure of mine. Love transcended through time. *looking at Link and Zelda* Yeah… 3. Similar to reincarnation, Time Travel type is also my guilty pleasure. One of them die and the other travel through time to find a way to save their love one. 4. Slow burns, because insta-love is not my thing.

[@ursularowland7461]

YOUR NAME IS THE BEST FILM OF ALL TIME

[@LuvGokunut]

I never would have noticed you had lipstick on your teeth if you hadn't pointed it out. But since you've drawn my attention to it, it's all I can focus on now because I'm trying to find it. 😕

[@erethesun]

Just found your channel! Love your opinions! I'm an author, and it's always fun to watch videos like these! =D

[@miaelle1500]

Have you seen the movie Love Rosie? It's based on the book "Where Rainbows End," though I heard it's a little different. I can't vouch for the book, since I haven't read it yet, but I really like the movie, and it's got the "always just misses each other" trope!

[@JordanHarveybooks]

I have!! I enjoyed the movie, and I love Sam Claflin and Lily Collins, so it was a win in my books!!

[@UltimateBibliophile]

Can you do a video with your favourite examples of each of these tropes? I love the hate to love trope so much too!

[@JordanHarveybooks]

UltimateBibliophile That’s a great idea, I’ll definitely consider it or at least put together a list in the description!

[@so-phie-llie12]

I really love your videos. I mostly watched your more "negative" ones until now and I'm happy to hear what you like for once. I want to write a book some day and I'm currently writing short stories and I find those (as well as the 'What I dislike in...' videos) very helpful. I love the hate to love relationships and the tragedies as well., not just in books. I havent read many books where the characters just miss each other. Can you give some recomendations? I will check out the movie you talked about but what about books?

[@smilee2566]

so-phie -llie I agree! And just wondering, but have you checked out the movie 'your name' yet?

[@shayan6291]

I haven't finished this video so I don't know if you include this one but one of my favourite tropes has to be when one person is in love with or atleast fancies the other(and they don't know or if they do they dismiss it as a silly crush) and their feelings are always shown in really subtle and ambiguous ways and at first it's unrequited but then the other person (by their own devices not from any pressure) starts to reciprocate those feelings but is unclear if the other person still liked them . And it's sort of a slow burn and it's so AGONISING and I'm just such a slut for it. Like prime example would be Harry and Ginny where she fancies him for ages but didn't just sit there with her hands on her knees waiting for him.

[@chassityguajardo8417]

I LOVE YOUR NAME!😍

[@Thatdumbgremlin]

......I was literally about to comment, " You should watch Your Name." 😂😂😄

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Only seen it like 5 times.

[@Thatdumbgremlin]

Jordan Harvey Same here lol 😄

[@vocalcalibration8033]

So, listening to these, I think you'd probably enjoy Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

[@emaksaya8644]

Have you watched Hotarubi no Mori e? Because I think you should watch that because it has a beautiful romance going on 😢😢😢

[@JordanHarveybooks]

I haven't! I'll have to check it out.

[@rachele.3229]

The ending destroyed me 🙃

[@The_Nightsong]

I looooooooooove Your Name!!!! :D

[@ethanarc]

Don't apologise for the tangents girl 😏

[@StephanieStutzArt]

Awesome content, thank you!

[@kit99832]

love me a good tragic love story

[@TheSlyRise]

Romance type 3 is like the Movie Wicker Park. It was done really well.

[@TheSlyRise]

Sorry type 3 was like that

[@JordanHarveybooks]

I'll definitely check it out. Thanks!!

[@guppy8073]

Have you watched Koe no Katachi? If so, what were your thoughts?

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Shadow_Owl242 I haven’t seen it, what’s it about?

[@guppy8073]

Jordan Harvey also known as A Silent Voice, it’s an anime movie adaptation of a manga about a bully and a deaf girl. The art and animation is gorgeous (it’s animated by Kyoto Animation, so you know the character animation is gonna be good). It’s a really heart-wrenching movie, and I totally recommend it!

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Shadow_Owl242 I think I’ve heard of it actually! I’ll have to check it out!!

[@ZaxorVonSkyler]

Jordan Harvey, so how did it go???

[@megy570]

"emotional release" XD Thinks "Catharsis?"

[@guppy8073]

Also, with all of these tropes I feel like you'd really like To All the Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han. It fills out 3/5 of these!

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Shadow_Owl242 yeah I actually did enjoy that book!

[@sunshineramirez7766]

ITS GONNA BE A NETFLIX SERIES

[@burstangel]

So your saying is that Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights are your favorite romances ;) oh, wait they are mine!

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Pride and Prejudice is an outstanding romance, definitely one of my favourites.

[@gracekim25]

Your videos are really helpful

[@harshinikumar787]

man if you like getting your heart ripped out and watch voltron then read 'there, nestled against his pulse' on ao3 its a soulmate au that murdered me, even if you don't watch it if you have a general knowledge of the show you can read it.

[@Mumblejumby]

My favorite romance trope is the good girl/bad boy relationship. I don't know what's wrong with him.....

[@iamjwang]

It's not YA, but if you haven't seen the movie adaptation or read it already, I bet One Day by David Nicholls might fit your "opposite of serendipity" trope!

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Thank you!! I'll check it out!

[@shyannethenirvanagrrl4261]

I disagree with you on two accounts. One, I think that there has to be some mutual attraction on both sides for characters to be in a relationship and I don’t think that hate to love relationships are a good example of that. Obviously, someone can dislike a person and then grow to realize that they are not so horrible as they might have previously believed, but in young adult fiction, a lot of the time you have characters who kill each other‘s families or are villains to that character and then they fall madly in love. I think this is problematic on multiple levels. Also, you have relationships where characters do nothing except for insult each other and the audience supposed to believe that they are lovers. I don’t really buy it. Also, I don’t really think that fights are necessary to create a compelling romance. Of course, you want to have a little bit of conflict between the characters but you don’t want to have them arguing too much or it might make their relationship seem shallow and superficial. I guess I’m just a sappy person, but I really really like the trope that has the characters being supportive of one another. I think it is a good example of what to do in your relationships. New line. I read a lot of fantasy. Most times, the woman in the relationship is objective fied and the guy in the relationship is the bastard. I don’t think this is really a good example and I would really like it if authors started including healthy relationships in their books. That isn’t to say there can’t be conflict and inner turmoil and fighting between the romantic interests, but I think it could be done in a smarter way. I don’t know. Just my thoughts.

[@noahginnett900]

Hey Jordan! How would you feel about the tragic romantic trope (death of loved one), where that character's death pushes their lover (the main character) to grow in ways they couldn't have without such a loss, and then maybe two books later into the series, the love interest comes back to life, and because of the main character's newfound growth, they are able to love more fully and deeply and the relationship blossoms into something even more beautiful and healthy. All of this, would hopefully be done in the context of leaving very discreet breadcrumbs, so that the reader can think "OH MY GOD! HOW DID I NEVER SEE THAT COMING?!?" (nobody wants a deus ex machina) I hope you understand my question, and id appreciate it if you had any advice regarding writing such a situation. (This question is of course open to anybody who would like to answer, I would love to hear other's thoughts)

[@JordanHarveybooks]

I mean, it all depends on execution, but it sounds interesting!

[@vocalcalibration8033]

Or you could go in the direction where the other person comes back and due to this growth in the character and all they had to go through has changed them enough as a person that they no longer feel the same about them, they've moved on with life and can't bring themselves back to a point where they can still be with the other person for whatever reason.

[@Leslie-xc9zg]

Scarlet Heart :ryeo is my favorite romantic trope

[@haticek.4261]

omg pls give some recommendations for the serenpidity trope books :(

[@calicowarlock]

Not sure if you have read All For the Game series by Nora Sakavic, but I think you'd like it :)

[@JordanHarveybooks]

I haven't, but I'll look into it! Thanks :)

[@agoodreader]

💗💝💖💝💗

[@gabrielleparker4029]

7:24 is me

[@normalgirlcvco]

Have your read the shatter me series?

[@JordanHarveybooks]

I haven't! It didn't seem like something I would like, so I never picked it up.

[@jadek8437]

omg u look like ur gonna cry

[@liwest511]

why did you have to tell us about the lipstick. i can't stop looking at it now. i am ruined.

[@whalewil3135]

You stole this from pverly sarcastic production

[@JordanHarveybooks]

Whalewil I had no idea their channel existed until several months after I started making these videos. Reached out to them to see if they wanted me to change my titles and didn’t hear back :)