Books, Tropes, and Genres

As the days go by, you've likely noticed the growing interest in reading books. This rise in interest is undoubtedly thanks to the reviews and recommendations shared by book enthusiasts on social media. BookTok influencers are constantly bringing new suggestions to readers, leading to the emergence of new tropes and genres—or rather, they're coming up with names for new genres. The combination of romance and fantasy, known as romantasy, has become a favorite among the BookTok community, often hand-in-hand with the 'enemies to lovers' trope. Along with a list of books I've read that fit these tropes, I've brought a few book recommendations across various genres for you.

Enemies to lovers trope

We all know Pride and Prejudice. It’s a classic example of the enemies to lovers trope. My take on it is quite different from most. To be honest, I don’t see any real pride or prejudice in Mr. Darcy. Since the story is entirely from Elizabeth’s perspective, I think she fills in the blanks with her own interpretation, seeing what she wants to see. In my view, Elizabeth is actually the one most full of pride and prejudice. I don’t think Mr. Darcy deserved such harsh judgment. Though, when I consider the time period in which the book was written, I can understand it… to a certain extent. Although Mr. Darcy never actually showed any signs of being an enemy, Elizabeth saw him as one, but for me, that was just Elizabeth being a bit of a 'pick-me' girl."

Book Lovers by Emily Henry is one of the BookTok community's favourites. The story follows Nora, our protagonist, who reluctantly goes on a month-long vacation at her sister’s insistence. There, she meets a handsome doctor, and her journey unfolds, blending the charm of small-town life with a sweet romance, and her enemies to lovers journey with the doctor.

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn shows that it’s impossible not to fall under the spell of Anthony Bridgerton. It follows Kate Sharma, who arrives in society from India and does everything she can to prevent her sister, Edwina Sharma, from marrying Anthony. Yet, as she strives to protect her sister’s future, she herself gradually becomes captivated by the viscount. A classic enemies to lovers story.

Friends to lovers trope

In The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, Belly goes with her mother and brother to her mom’s best friend’s beach house every summer. This book explores Belly finally finding love with her longtime crush, Conrad Fisher, as life’s complications come between them. It’s a great example of the friends to lovers trope.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara breaks our hearts but gives us a glimpse of happiness for about a hundred pages, as we witness Jude and Willem’s long-standing friendship eventually blossom into love. Of course, it doesn’t stop there; it continues to devastate us afterward.

Sally Rooney's third novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You?, centers on the lives of two close friends, while also exploring Eileen's undeniable attraction to her childhood friend, Simon. It’s a friends to lovers story that will warm your heart.

Bildungsroman

I have no hesitation in calling To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is the best book I’ve ever read. It’s a beautifully crafted coming-of-age story. The novel follows Scout Finch, who lives with her brother and father, as she tries to make sense of the events in her town and understand her father and his work alongside her brother. It’s easily one of the finest examples of a bildungsroman.

The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger details two days in the life of 16-year-old Holden after he’s expelled from school. It captures his journey as a young person on the brink of adulthood, distanced from the outside world, searching for truth within the adult world.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky tells the story of Charlie, an introverted teenager who falls in love as he starts high school and confronts his traumatic past. It beautifully depicts Charlie's journey to discover who he is and his struggle to find his place in the world, making it a perfect coming-of-age story.

Romance

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is a haunting love story. It explores how past mistakes and regrets do not change the present, and how the past continues to haunt the present. With characters whose choices and behaviors you may not approve of, it tells a tale of love that, even if you don’t see it as a typical love story, will still devastate you.

For me, The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald beautifully summarizes the foolishness and regret that come with love. It embodies the American Dream, symbolized by the green light that represents love and aspiration. Set in the Roaring Twenties, it serves as an example of romance where sometimes, despite the longing, things just don’t work out.

Also an example of romantasy, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon follows Claire, who embarks on an exploration of Scotland’s Inverness with her husband in the 1940s. As she unexpectedly travels back in time two centuries, she realizes she belongs to that era and to Jamie Fraser. It’s a perfect romance filled with adventure and passion.

Murder mystery

His & Hers by Alice Feeney is one of the best examples of the murder mystery genre I've read this year. A murder occurs in the small town where Anna, a news reporter, was born. Her ex-husband, Jack, opposes her coverage of the story, but as the body count rises, both characters find themselves connected to the murders. You’ll finish it in one sitting.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is a gripping murder mystery that keeps you turning the pages without realizing it, with plot twists that leave you speechless. Pip, determined to uncover the truth behind a murder that occurred in her town five years ago, teams up with Sal Singh to revisit the case. Sal’s brother was deemed the killer after committing suicide just days after Andie Bell’s death, leading to the case being closed. As Pip and Sal reopen the investigation, they find themselves in danger while trying to uncover the real killer. I’m sure you’ll love this book.