Tropes seem to be a big thing in the romance writing world at the moment - enemies to lovers, fake relationship, grumpy/sunshine - you can fill in the list.
It has occurred to me during my recent reading that while these might be the main tropes - the headline acts as it were, there are other supporting 'tropes' that feature in the action. Including, but not exhaustively:-
A controlling and interfering ex
A protagonist who likes to cook with a love interest who can burn boiling water
Extended family, as demonstrated by the Sunday lunch. This can be a hostile affair or a lovefest of homely togetherness and warmth,
Houses and gardens as 'characters' in the action
Evocative locations = bakeries, libraries, universities, bookshops,
Animals - I've read a few lately with working or service dogs, but also with animal familiars, I have wide reading tastes.
The power of scent. Clothing, bed linen, or just general smell.
I'm sure you can add a few. I'm still collecting them.
While those headline tropes define the book these are the ones that give it substance and help create a world you want to inhabit for a few hours or even longer.
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