It’s been so long since I did a Top Ten Tuesday post. Please don’t check how long it’s been because that would be embarrassing. Don’t worry I have plans for the next few months and I am SO READY!
If you didn’t know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book discussion post meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. And today’s topic revolves around book tropes we like. I will admit, when I first saw this topic I thought it would be so easy. Now sitting down to write it, I can only really think of book tropes I don’t like.
Book Tropes I Like
- Hate-to-love/Enemies-to-Lovers. For some reason this trope just like ticks all the right boxes for me. I don’t want to list my favorites for this trope because I don’t want to spoil you, but love this one!
- Heist Novels. I just also want to say that I have no idea what really constitutes as a trope and what doesn’t. Some of my favorite heist novels are: Beneath the Citadel, Stolen Time, and Immoral Code.
- Friends-to-Lovers. This was one of my OG favorites. I’m not sure if it’s on the way out for me, because a lot of them can be quite predictable, but it’s one I consistently like. I love Emergency Contact and I’m sure I’m missing a lot of my favorites.
- Morally Grey Heroes/Villains. I’m all about characters where sometimes we don’t know if we should be rooting for them or not. Talk about books like The Bone Witch and Girls of Storm and Shadow. I mean give me anti-heroines or whatever you wanna call it ANY DAY.
- Love Triangles for me can go either way. I used to really hate this one, and then I was reading a review or interview, I can’t remember, and they were saying think of the Love Triangle as not so much indecision. Instead think of it is the two people representing a conflict within the character and for some reason that just clicked for me.
- Their Parents Aren’t Their Parents is another tricky one for me. I don’t mind if they realize that the bond of being raised by their parents is still valid and important. I very much dislike if they kind of forsake the parents they raised them for the biological ones instead because….um no.
- Villain Redemption. I do love a good villain arc. I’m not sure if I’m 100% on board with redemption, mostly because I think it’s always more complicated than that. I do like when people change sides though!
- Characters Motivated by Family. Is this a trope? I see it a lot, but I always love it. I know it’s like one of the most essential motivations, but I think it works because it’s so relatable.
- Dysfunctional Family. Again, So utterly relatable.
- I love end of the world apocalypse stories. I know that a lot of them can fall into patterns, but I love it.
And then I just keep thinking of tropes that normally I don’t like. I want to preface it by saying normally don’t like, because there are rare times these tropes work for me. But generally I’m not a fan of: love at first sight, most love triangles, side characters dying for the MC plot/character development, the Chosen One, and Token Diverse Character (clearly dislike this one). I also don’t understand when the parents are absent all the time, like…how can you get away with this stuff? Is toxic masculinity a trope because I dislike it. Same with the character who always sacrifices themselves, I just…this would not be me.
I can’t resist a good heist! 🙂
They never go wrong…or very rarely
I love that description of how to think of love triangles. Because that’s what I’ve always thought about them but I’ve never quite been able to put it to words if that makes sense? Anyways, great picks! I’m really digging this weeks topic choice. And, oh yes, I agree with your thoughts on the parental twists. That ones definitely tricky!
Yes! It has definitely changed how I feel about love triangles, but still sometimes it doesn’t work for me! Do you have favorites?
I honestly think that my favourite love triangle will likely always be from The Infernal Devices. But I also have a soft spot for the one that’s in the Splintered trilogy by A.G. Howard. What about yours?
ahh haven’t read either of those. ugh I can’t think of any lol of course when I need it I forget!!
I love some good heist and morally grey characters! Great list!
And then if you put them together….dynamite!
I’d say that characters being motivated by their family can be a trope, yeah. It happens in a lot of stories!
My TTT
I thought so! Going to yours now!
Great list! I love villain redemption, morally grey characters, and a well done love triangle. Here is our Top Ten Tuesday
Agreed, morally grey villains are the best!
OMG yes I totally spaced on The Bone Witch having a morally grey MC. Tea was really morally grey, but I totally understood why? Like, honestly I was rooting for her to really just kick some ass (I still need to finish the trilogy) because of how she was treated. I may be a villain myself. Don’t know yet. Great list <3
Omg Tea is so fabulous, like…give me more Tea like characters. I want her to rip the world apart lol. WE CAN BE VILLAINS TOGETHER!
Their parents aren’t their parents is a fun one. I love the tension when someone realizes their family isn’t quite right. Morally gray characters are another favorite.
Yeah and then their face turns into a meme!