Discussion: My Favorite YA Tropes

Tropes. That tends to make readers like us sigh when we hear that a book was just chock full of overused cliches. There are only so many books we can read about (insert most hated trope here). Tropes can be born from a particularly popular book (I’m looking at you, Hunger Games.) They can also just be a classic way to add drama. Sometimes it gets tiring to read the same story over and over again just with different characters. But some of them I love. I don’t know if it’s just me, but there are some tropes that make books an autobuy for me. Even though I know that it is so unoriginal and overused, if there is a mention of this trope, I’m already expecting the book to be a favorite. So what tropes do I enjoy?

1. The “Romeo and Juliet” Trope

Not the dying part of Romeo and Juliet, but the opposite sides of a battle part. I can’t help but love when two people who are on opposite sides of something fall in love. Or they don’t even have to fall in love! It can be that they have to work together and become friends or something like that. But any time when two people overcome their prejudices against each other and realize that just because they are on opposite sides doesn’t mean they are different, I love the story.

Books with this Trope:

• This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
• Legend by Marie Lu

2. “The Clique” Trope

Okay, so maybe not an actual clique. But any mention of close knit friendships or friendships to be formed and I’m all in. Especially when the friendship is so tight they basically are each other’s family. I’m not sure if this is an actual trope but if it isn’t I’d like to see more of it.

Books with this Trope:

• The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord
• Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry

3. The “Life is a Highway” Trope

A road trip is such an easy way to create interest, because of the constantly changing setting, but I eat it up. I love when they meet new people and go off the map and have wild adventures in towns I’ve never heard of. Maybe it’s also because I love character driven books and road trip books tend to be character driven as well, but any mention of a road trip and I’m all in. 

Books with this Trope:

• In Honor by Jessi Kirby
• Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

4. The “Claustrophobia” Trope

Aka the accidental trapping of two people together for a short period of time. So like, an elevator breaks down, there is a natural disaster so you can’t leave the building, you accidentally get locked in a building, etc. This is a weird trope I like and I fully acknowledge it, but I love it nonetheless. The characters usually get so close because, you know, there is no one else there, and then it leads back to “The Clique” trope where they become friends through a rare and shared experience. 

Books with this Trope:

• Magnolia by Kristi Cook
• American Girl on Saturn by Nikki Goodwin

5. The “Let’s Play Pretend” Trope

Again, another weird trope I enjoy, but when characters have to fake date for some odd reason but then end up developing real feelings for each other, it makes my heart happy. Maybe because the characters can actually show their true selves around each other in the beginning because there are no pressures of actual dating, so when they actually develop real feelings, it’s for the complete person, not the image they show everyone. Also the dark, twisted part of me really enjoys when one character develops real feelings but thinks the other person has not developed them yet.

Books with this Trope:

• To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
• Adorkable by Cookie O’Gorman

6. The “Gossip Girl” Trope

Aka the rich private school kids going about their luxurious lives, with secrets thrown in there for good measure. I love pretending that I am that rich private school kid, flying off on a jet on a whim and having family secrets passed down through generations.

Books with this Trope:

• Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

And that’s it for tropes I love! I’m sure there’s more, but they just aren’t coming to my head right now. Also side note: I just got new dividers and a new signature and I think they are so cute! I’m trying to slowly update the design on my blog by adding cute new dividers and side bar images, and maybe even new feature images, so if anyone has any tips that’d be much appreciated.

What are your favorite YA tropes? Do you have suggestions for books that fall under my favorite tropes? What are your least favorite YA tropes?