Romance Novel Plots

Your one-stop shopping list for Romance Novel plots and complications!

Although some existing tropes like Magnificent Bastard may fit here as well.

The Bet (a weird version of Meet Cute)
Long Lost Love ("Billy? Is that you?")
- "New Old Flame" connected to a "Meet Cute"
Handsome/Lovely Adversary ("She's gorgeous, I hate her")
- Alpha Bitch
- Handsome Devil
- Millionaire Playboy
- Reformed Rakes
- Temporary Love Interest
The Billet-Doux
- Love Letter Lunacy
The Angry Outburst
- The Masochism Tango which leads to an Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other.
Pressure From Above
- Arranged Marriage ("You will marry Princess Lucky, so you better get used to the idea!")
- Parent Ex Machina
- Parental Marriage Veto
Star-Crossed Lovers ("Never was a tale of such woe...")
- Love Hurts
Ungentlemanly/Unladylike Behavior
- Love At First Punch
- Mistaken for Cheating
Case of Nerves
- Love Makes You Dumb
The Big Decision
Disaster!
The Chase (oddly enough, a version of The Chase)
On a Pedestal
- Mary Sue
- Beautiful All Along
Dont Let Him/Her Get Away!
- Race For Your Love
Disapproving Authority Figure
- Parent Ex Machina
Two of a Kind
- Like Brother and Sister
Sub Rosa
The One
Furious Attraction
- Slap Slap Kiss
The Unknown Child
Neutral Party with Words of Wisdom (a type of Messenger)
The Old One Who Knows But Aint Sayin (another Messenger, possibly a Secret Keeper)
Girl/Boy Next Door
- She's All Grown Up
Mistakenly Overheard Conversation
- Three Is Company, romance novel style
- Mistaken for Cheating
Sweet Nothings (Pillow Talk)
Right Under Your Nose (Stop chasing the Duke; the stableboy has a nobler soul)
Mysterious Past (Why did he leave London?)
- A Backstory version of Forbidden Fruit
Forget It and Run!
Opposites Attract
The Perfect Gift (a romantic Golden Snitch?)
The Imperfect Gift
- Redundant Romance Attempt
The Ugly Duckling
- Beautiful All Along
- Hollywood Homely
- Hot Librarian
The "Near Mrs."
- New Old Flame demonstrating A Man Is Not a Virgin (May I introduce you to my... good friend?)
- Like Brother and Sister
Love Triangle
- Betty and Veronica
- Muggle and Magical Love Triangle
- Rich Suitor, Poor Suitor
His/Her "True Nature"
Self-Conscious About Best Feature
- Beautiful All Along
- Hollywood Homely
One Who Intercedes (a Secret Keeper who is more active, like the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet)
Mindlink Mates
December–December Romance (or alternatively Grow Old with Me)
My Secret Pregnancy (category romances signal this trope with the phrase "secret baby" in the title)
No Loves Intersect