My Top 5 Very Specific Favourite Tropes

Hello friends 🙌💜

Ashmita @the fictional journal recently posted this amazing list of her very specific favourite tropes (half of them I love too) and I couldn’t resist making my own because it looks super fun!

PS: I listed some books in white (select text to reveal them if you’re ok with spoilers!) as examples in case you’re looking for titles with specific tropes. There are some that have the other tropes listed too, but I kept them out so the lists are more unique.

[Character] Has a Heart

If you read fanfics, you’re probably are familiar with this trope (TONY STARK HAS A HEART YA’LL -shakes fists-). But, if you aren’t, it involves a character who’s actually very human despite the persona they outwardly portray (usually cold, snarky, arrogant, etc).

Some books with this trope:

1. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
2. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
3. Black Butler by Yana Toboso
4. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

The character does EVERYTHING possible to achieve their goals

It’s not just about working harder or smarter, winning wars and all, but also willingly abandoning the ones they care about, shedding beliefs and norms and more—just to rise to the top. Of course, this isn’t good and there is always a reaction for every action, but I just love it when the character doesn’t give a F and goes for it. (I also like the pain, angst and potential tragedy that follows because emotional investment in characters 💯)

Some books with this trope:

1. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C Dao
2. You Must Not Miss by Katrina Leno
3. Kasane by Daruma Matsuura
4. Out by Natsuo Kirino

“I don’t give a damn about ‘men’ this and ‘women’ that!”

I love it when a character owns what they’re doing, who they are, etc. and gives no shits about prejudices, stereotypes, and all. I also love it when they subvert certain roles society dictate as normal because sometimes, those norms are ridiculous in this day and age.

Some books with this trope:

1. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
2. Into the Underwood by J.L. Robertson
3. Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami
4. Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

When the story gets flipped and the reader has to reevaluate everything they’ve read

Wait, wait, wait, what? You mean to tell me that A wasn’t B, and X and Y weren’t intentioned for good/bad purposes after all?!

Or, the alternative: HOLY—HELL YEAH I KNEW MY CONSPIRACY THEORIES ARE WORTH IT!!!

Some books with this trope:

1. The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura
2. Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura
3. Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
4. Under the Skin by Michel Faber

Angst with Happy Endings

This may make me seem like a weirdo, but I absolutely love angsty stories—the more it hurts, the more I need to read. Though, they must have a happy/hopeful ending cause if not, my heart will be 100000% shattered. Tragedies, on the other hand, I don’t mind them not having happy/hopeful endings at all but you bet I’m gonna dig out happier fanfics just to make myself feel better 😂

Some books with this trope:

1. Atonement by Ian McEwan
2. Tokyo Ghoul by Sui Ishida
3. Of Mice and Men by John Steinback
4. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

What are your favourite very specific tropes?

As always, thank you so much for reading! If you celebrate the Lunar New Year, Happy Year of the Tiger! May this year be filled with prosperity, longevity and happiness for you and your loved ones 💜💜

Until next time~

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