Hey there! This week I’m participating in Six for Sunday, a meme hosted by Steph at A Little But a Lot. This week’s topic is:
Overdone Tropes
I need to preempt this by saying just because it’s overdone, doesn’t mean I dislike it. In fact, I enjoy many of these tropes and would argue that they aren’t overdone – they’re popular. I mean, they’re overdone for a reason. People relate to them and like them.
1. Found Family
Okay, this is one of my faves. It is a bit overdone, but for good reason! Sometimes the family we choose is better than the family we are given. Family can be defined in so many different ways, and the found family trope highlights that.
2. Insta-Love
Yes, I’m talking to you Romeo and Juliet! Take a breath, take a pause, and figure out a better way to be together. FFS! Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy this trope and firmly feel that some insta-love is beautiful and romantic and wonderful. But if it’s going to lead to your demise and possible death, maybe you could slow it down a bit.
3. The Dead Mother
Why is the mother always dead? So many stories I read have a dead mom. Even children’s fairy tales overdo this trope. Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Snow White…There’s a lot of parental death and abandonment in literature, so this is definitely at the top of my overused list.
4. The Chosen One
I love this trope and read a lot of books with a “chosen one” character. A regular person who realizes that they are the only ones that can save the world? Yes, please! Throw in some mystical creatures, magical powers, or other fantasy elements, and I’m hooked.
5. Love Triangle
This is one of the few tropes that I’m actually not a huge fan of. It is so overdone, and I find it frustrating. If you can’t decide which one you want to be with, maybe you don’t like either one enough. Just a thought.
6. The brooding bad boy with the heart of gold.
This is a totally swoon-worthy trope that I adore. However, it is done all of the time. (I’m certainly not complaining!) He’s mysterious, probably has a secret in his past. He only shows his true self to close friends and that one special someone. Most people see him a cold, confident, and closed-off.
Well, there you have 6 popular (not overdone) tropes. Did any of these make your list? Which others do you feel are overdone? Comment below!
The brooding bad boy annoys me to no end…
The chosen one and insta-love are the fastest way to make me DNF a book anymore. Great list!
Thanks! Insta-attraction is cool, but insta-love…meh. 🙂
100% agree. Insta-attraction can be somewhat believable.
Yes. Like when I started watching The Walking Dead – I was instantly attracted to Rick Grimes. However, it took time to love him. 🙂 🙂
I never actually watched that show. 😅
Fab list! I so agree with insta-love, love triangle, and oh yes the brooding bad boy but oh no he isn’t bad he is just misunderstood and is actually really nice. *rolls her eyes*
lol Exactly! Everyone misunderstands him except the love interest. He sounds like an ass to me. 🙂
I love the found family trope! I hate insta-love and love triangles though, the love triangle ruined The Selection for me.
I like the found family trope too, even though it seems so prevalent right now. I think it’s like many of the other tropes- hen it’s done well, I love it, and when it’s not…eye-roll city. lol
And I agree with you about The Selection. I didn’t enjoy the love triangle at all. 🙂
Great post! I agree with you completely about some of this. Especially with The Chosen One and Love Triangle.
The love triangle can totally ruin a book for me. It has to be done really well for me to buy into it.
I basically agree with all of these. So overdone, yet I still gravitate towards some of them for some reason.
You’re not alone! 🙂
OMG the chosen one trope. Just waiting for the book where the big twist at the end is that the main character was completely wrong and is absolutely not special. Lol
That would be hilarious!
I absolutely despise love triangles!
They are so overdone!