The Worst Romance Tropes in Fiction
- Jenna Moreci
- Feb 3
- 7 min read
HelloOoOo everybody!
Romance is my favorite genre. Most of the books I read are romance, but just because I love romance doesn't mean that all romance books are good books.
Today, I'm listing some of the worst romance tropes in fiction, because complaining is fun. At least three points on this list are going to be very unpopular opinions, so hold on to your butts. I am breaking down some of my least favorite romance tropes, but because people on the internet are soft as hell, here are a few disclaimers.
First off, this is just my opinion; it's not the law. If you like these tropes, good for you. I don't give a shit.
Second, this is not advice. I'm not telling you not to write these tropes. I'm not saying you're a bad person for enjoying these tropes. They're just tropes. But I may assume you're a stupid person if you take this list too seriously.
And number three, I am a forever-evolving human being, which means I reserve the right to change my mind. I hate these tropes today, but I may love them tomorrow. Who's to say? I also may love some books that feature these tropes because maybe I really like the way the author presented them. Writing is complex, and so is the human mind.
Let's get started. Let's start with the one that's going to get me on everyone's shit list…
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Number 1: The Possessive Male Lead
Everyone loves a possessive male lead. And honestly, I get it to some degree. If a man is possessive, at least in fiction, it’s supposed to mean that he adores you to the point where he wants you all to himself. And I can understand why that would be appealing.
And there are ideations of this concept that I actually really enjoy. I love a yearning male lead. I love a “He Falls First” storyline. I love a protective hero or a man who only has eyes for his love interest.
But when it's a possessive male lead specifically, he’s probably going to do at least one of these things at some point in the story. Actually, he's probably going to do all these things. He's going to fight a man who looks at the love interest, even if said look isn't of the romantic or sexual variety. He's going to dissolve into a violent fit of rage over the woman not being his. And he's going to say “you belong to me,” “I own you,” or “you are mine” multiple times. And to be clear, he's not going to say these phrases in a romantic way, because some of these things can be sweet in the right context. He's saying it in a growly, brooding, possessive way.
It's this specific difference that a lot of readers find hot, but for me, it reeks of insecurity. He's not a protective partner. He's a tantrum-throwing toddler who won't share his toys. A protective hero defends his partner when actual danger is present. If someone's trying to hurt your woman, kick his ass. I support you. But treating her like a possession feels like an attack against her agency. It’s like he knows that if he gives her free will, she'll see his small dick energy and bounce.
Give me protective hero energy all day, but the minute he growls, “You will be mine,” I'm out. It's extra cringe if he's growling “you are mine” over and over again while he's pounding her into oblivion. Authors, you have written this exact scene to death. Let's mix it up a little.
Number 2: Romantic Pet Names for Women That Start With "Little"
Little Death. Little Fox. Little Kitten. I don't like it.
There are, of course, exceptions. If you're using the term to playfully insult someone, for example, “you little shit,” I'm fine with that. It softens the blow of an insult. Additionally, if one person is comforting their partner, maybe using that sweet baby talk voice. “Come here, little cutie, let me hold you.” It's obnoxious, but all the best couples are obnoxious from time to time. I can get behind it.
It's when the pet name is used in a sexy way. “Come here, little fey, daddy doesn't bite… hard.” Gross. It doesn't feel sexy to me. It feels infantilizing.
(Hold on, I gotta use the baby voice for this one.) It’s like she's so wittle, and he's so big. How’s his big, long ding dong gonna fit inside? She's so teeny tiny. He’s a big, bad, mean ol’ shadow daddy. And she's just a wittle, tiny, stupid baby.
Ahem. Back to normal now. Obviously, this is a very unpopular opinion. The “little” nicknames are basically in every book that is killing it on Booktok. People lose their minds for this shit, and I say more power to them. I just think it's condescending. And if a man gave me a nickname like that, I'd be calling him “little” right back. Little Penis, Little Bank Account, Little Respect and Admiration From Your Peers. Doesn't feel great, does it?
Number 3: Their Core Wound Is Their High School Ex
If the character is like 20 years old, then this is fine; high school was three minutes ago. But if your character is romantically scarred because their high school ex left them or cheated on them, or their high school crush never liked them back, and this character is a fully grown, house owning or renting, taxpaying adult—bitch, please. You are 40 years old, and you're still crying over a high school ex. Still? Still? Still?
You picked your high school ex back when you had shit for brains. Adulthood should have taught you that ex was trash. My high school ex’s favorite food was hot dogs with cabbage. My high school ex shaved his head right before the winter formal like a fucking idiot. My high school ex bought me a Barbie for my birthday. I was 16 years old.
High school exes are stupid. You know why? Because high schoolers are stupid. We were stupid. Why are you mourning the loss of a partner whose idea of formal dining is Applebee’s? Why are you still crying over a teenager who thought your inner thigh was your G-spot?
Of course, there's a chance that your high school ex was amazing. The best you could ever pull. But it has been years. Work on yourself instead of pining over someone who's happily left you in the dust. Feeling forever scarred by high school romance is right up there with peaking in high school. It's embarrassing. I'm not going to feel sorry for this character. I'm just going to think they’re a loser.
Number 4: Doggy Style
Let me be clear. I do not hate doggy style in books. I think it can be perfectly delightful. Or at least acceptable. My issue is the sheer volume of doggy style scenes in the romance genre. It seems that's the only position writers are writing about. I've read more doggy style scenes than the phrase “I love you.”
Authors, variety is the spice of life. Mix it up. And certain positions are not well-suited for specific vibes and situations. I have read more than one scene where a woman loses her virginity doggy style. Maybe this is a me thing. Maybe virgins love taking it from behind, and I just didn't get the memo. But I cannot personally think of a worse way to experience sex for the very first time. You're nervous. You're self-conscious. You don't know what you're doing. What will make it better? Getting on your hands and knees and showing your partner your butthole.
Again, I cannot stress this enough. Doggy style is fine. But if I took a shot every time I've read a doggy style scene in the romance genre, I'd be dead.
Number 5: "Titties"
“Titties” is a fun word. Who doesn't love to be sitting there, barbecue sauce on their titties? But again—and maybe this is just me—I don't think “titties” is a sexy word. So why are fictional men constantly talking about titties during dirty talk? And why are we, the reader, supposed to find it hot?
If a man uses the word “titties” in the bedroom, in all seriousness, I'm not imagining a seductive fae prince; I'm imagining Cletus from Appalachia. And why are they always talking about sucking on titties?
“Hand them over, lady, let me suck on them there titties, just suck ‘em up.”
“Love me a titty! Just get a mouthful of titty. I got one titty. I got two titties. Got three titties. Just all those titties.”
This is what it sounds like. No one is enjoying that. And I'm not saying “guys don’t like titties!” Or “don't say the word ‘titties!’” I'm just saying that that's a word you say when you're cracking open a cold one with the boys, not in the throes of passion.
“Oh, let me suck on these titties. I love them titties. Num num num.”
Jesus. I realize this point is better suited for my “terrible words in spice scenes” videos; however, those videos keep getting demonetized, so I'm trying to sneak it into this video. Let's see how it goes.
So that's all I've got for you today!
"Titties," one more time! I've already made two other videos listing more of my least favorite romance tropes. It's been a while, but if you enjoyed this post, you can check those videos out here:
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