A romance will likely feature three or more of these tropes and hooks. (Tropes are just well-used and proven hooks)
I am attempting to classify them by categories of "character", "location", "relationship", "other".
MC = Main character
MCA, MCB = Main character A or B respectively
FMC, MMC = female or male main character respectively
Unsorted Tropes
Accidental pregnancy – pill malfunction, condom break, or "we forgot to use one"
All grown up -- combo trope, Bestie's sibling + May / September (example)
Alpha guy – MMC is a "type A" personality, i.e. outgoing, ambitious, impatient, proactive, workaholic, except he doesn't know how to love
Amnesia – who am I and who are you?
Arm Candy -- variation of "fake to real love", MMC hires "arm candy" to block unwanted female attention, falls for the arm candy himself
Arranged marriage – family expectations either force a couple together or keep them apart
Athlete – professional or college sports, includes rodeo
Auction -- auctioning off either a date (ex: bachelor auction) or an asset (like v-card)
Bad Boy -- an irresistible rogue-ish brooding and darkly handsome MMC with laissez-faire attitude about love and life, talks dirty, never settle down with one woman, but also will never allow any harm happen to the FMC when he commits (also known as "rake")
Bar Owner / Bartender / Bar Maid -- often, bar owner or bar maid are main character(s).
BBW -- big beautiful woman, plus-sized woman, rubenesque
BDSM -- technically should be called "kink", either/both MC is into kink, from simple spanking and light bondage to 24/7 submissive
Best Friend's Sibling – MC falls for best friend's sibling, usually MMC to little sister
Best Man -- best man at a wedding wooing the FMC
Billionaire – s/he can buy everything except true love
Blackmail – I know your secret, and I need something from you for my silence...
Blind date -- obvious
Blind to you -- aka "looking for love in all the wrong places", MCA knew MCB, but never considered him/her as a love interest... not until series of bad dates and a revelation...
Bodyguard -- see Protector
Book -- MC is involved in the book, publishing, agent, or other related industry
Boss/Assistant -- see Hot for Boss
Boy hates girl -- see "enemies to lovers"
Boy meets girl -- how it all begin, also see insta-love and insta-lust
Break his heart to save him -- I'll drag him down, so I'll drive him away to save him (Corny Trope)
Bucket List -- a bucket list of objectives had to be met by MCA, and MCB helps
Childhood promise -- we promised each other if we haven't found someone by 30 (or whatever), we'll meet back home and marry each other
Childhood sweetheart -- MCs knew each other when small, or middle school / high school, grew up together. Also see bestie's lil sis, brother's bestie, and friends to lovers, related to fated mates.
Christian -- talks about God a lot, also see spiritual, and clean
Clean -- no sex, barely any kissing
Cliffhanger -- ends on a cliffhanger
Clinic / Hospital -- more of a setting, could be regular doctor's clinic, or even a vet clinic, also see doctor/patient
Coming of age -- (usually FMC) learns that life is what you make of it, seize the day!
Cop -- see law enforcement
Cougar – older woman, younger man. Gender-flipped version is called May/September
Cowboy – either historical (also see "mail order bride") or contemporary, could be set on a ranch, or in the city (see "fish out of water"), also called "Western". Note: western + athlete = rodeo
Cyrano – A woos B for C, then A realizes A is falling for B for real
Dark romance -- A kidnaps B and physically and psychologically breaks B for some dastardly purpose, and B, having nowhere to seek comfort, came to love A the kidnapper, and her suffering as evidence of love due to brainwashing and Stockholm syndrome. (Example)
Dead Friend's Wife -- "I promised your dead husband to take care of you"
Different Worlds – the two are from different sides of the track (see "billionaire", "performer", etc.), also called "class difference" or "class warfare"
Disabled -- one MC is physically disabled, could be missing or limb or in a wheelchair, can also refer to people with abnormal vision, hearing, or severe PTSD
Doctor (or Staff) / Patient -- similar to teacher/student or boss/assistant, albeit in a hospital, also includes romancing patient's single father/mother
Enemies to lovers – A and B were enemies until they realize they can really be good together
Everyone but you -- see "Blind To You"
Evil Boss -- MC suffers from evil boss who wanted him/her gone or work more w/ less pay
Evil Ex -- MC escaped from a bad ex (physical and/or psychological abuse). If the ex is still searching and intending harm, it'd be "(wo)man in peril"
Evil in-laws
Evil Parents -- a variation of "scars and wounds", MC was wounded by long-term physical or psychological abuse. EX: MCwill never amount to anything, too ugly, will never find love, etc. Would also include actual abuse and/or evil foster parents or uncle/aunt or grandparents if orphan
Ex's sibling -- MC falls for his/her ex's sibling, also see "sibling's ex"
Fairy tale – classic fairy tale retold in a different genre or setting, such as Cinderella or Snow White.
Fake Engagement -- see Fake to Real Love
Fake to real love – in order to solve problem X, couple must pretend to be BF/GF or engaged, but ended up in love for real (also see disguise / enemies to lovers), sometimes "fake engagement"
Family Pressure -- family expects MC to go one way, s/he wanted to do something else, may or may not be love related
Fashion -- MC is employed in the fashion industry
Fated Mates -- also known as "star-crossed lovers", EVERYTHING in the world seems to be against this couple getting together, even though they really, really wanted to be together
Firefighters -- hunky firefighters either in the city or out in the country as smoke jumpers
Fish out of water – out of his/her element (city girl on a ranch, cowboy in a city, etc.)
Fling to a thing – couple only meant for the affair to be a short fling, but once they had a taste they can't get enough, often paired with blind date, one-night stand, FWB, and so on.
Forced Proximity -- couple was forced to stay together due to external circumstances, developed feelings
Friends to lovers – couple were "just friends" or "just roommates" i.e. platonic, then somehow they got out of the friend zone
Forbidden love – outside obligations (culture, family, circumstances) prevent them from being together, many many variants, like arrange marriage, different worlds, etc.
Gay for you – you're so good, I'd switch teams for you
Geeky is sexy -- sapiosexual: finding intelligence sexually attractive or arousing
Gratitude -- MCA is out to thank MCB for something (saving a sister's life?) and fell for MCB as well with a bit of hero-worship and more
Grief -- MC is suffering from major grief
Guardian/ward – guardian falls for his ward (works best as Regency or historical, kinda creepy nowadays as guardian is usually 40's and ward is teens or twenties.
Hidden Identity -- see "disguise"
Holiday -- Thanksgiving or Christmas reunion or homecoming, or similar Holiday
Homecoming -- see "Return (of prodigal son/daughter)"
Hot for Boss -- the employee is falling for the employer EX: CEO and his PA
Hurt/Comfort -- MCA is wounded/sick, and MCB must nurse MCA back to health, developed relationship (also see sick/comfort)
Insta-Love -- they see each other and they knew they've found their soul-mates
Insta-Lust -- they see each other and they knew they need to get naked fast
Interracial -- examples include BWWM -- black woman white man, BWAM -- black woman Asian man, or just any interracial couple
Jilted bride/groom – MC was left at the altar (eventually finds true love with someone else)
Kidnapping – a kidnapping is involved, either by bad guys, or by MCA kidnaps MCB
Kink -- see BDSM
Law enforcement – either or both MC work for the law (includes bounty hunter)
Lawyer -- either MC is a lawyer
Learn Sex -- FMC needs to learn sex from MMC for a job/assignment, they fell in love
LGBT -- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transsexual of a secondary couple (if it's the MC couple, it's be under genre), includes a MFM relationship where the two M's are also a couple.
Looking for love (in all the wrong places) -- see "blind to you"
Love in denial -- the couple seems to be the last to realize they're in love (but everyone else around can see clearly)
Love redemption -- love redeemed a villain, who renounced his evil ways (the YA version is called "bully to puppy love") also see "Playboy" and "Bad Boy"
Love triangle – A must choose between B or C, variations include "imaginary" (there is no C, but A wanted B to think there is) or two person triangle (B and C are the same person, albeit different identities), or even sibling triangle (A loves B and B's sister), or rectangle (A loved B, but A is coupled with C, and B is coupled with D)...
Mafia -- one or both MC involved in organized crime, can mean the actual Cosa Nostra, or equivalent organizations such as Triads, Bratva or Dixie Mafia (in no particular order) (also see Motorcycle Club)
Maid/janitor – FMC is a maid or housekeeper for MMC
Mail-order bride – aka marry first, love later, MCA requested a match and marriage of someone sight-unseen, usually merely a marriage of convenience, but they find love anyway, usually female moves out to meet the male. (historical western + fish out of water) Can be modern as well, i.e. "meet at the altar"
Marriage of convenience – marriage to satisfy some contractual obligation, like "you inherit nothing if you don't marry and produce an heir", basically arranged marriage + fling to a thing
Matchmaker – matchmaker falls for someone s/he was supposed to be matching to someone else, basically a Cyrano plot
May/September – older man, younger woman (also see "Cougar")
Military/ Men in Uniform – one or both MC worked for or is currently working in the military, any branch (army esp Delta, navy esp. SEALs, marines, air force, and Coast Guard, but we rarely see coasties)
Mistaken identity – MC was mistaken for someone else, and for some reason, chose to continue the charade, also see Disguise
MMA -- mix martial arts, either in fictional MMA events or underground fight clubs
Motorcycle Club -- romance related to motorcycle club (gang)
No Good For You -- major inadequacy issues, may lead to "break your heart to save you"
Office romance – co-workers fall in love (also see Hot for Boss)
One night stand -- MCA and MCB had one night
On the road – road trip brings the couple closer together after some adventures
On the rocks – couple started together but drifting apart, and it can only get worse before it gets better
Opposites attract – see "enemies to lovers"
Orphan – MC is an orphan (brought up by foster families, uncles, relatives, etc.) also see Scars
Overheard -- MCA overheard MCB said something which MCA took to be an utter betrayal, so MCA ran away and MCB have to convince MCA was mistaken
Paramedic -- also see doctor/patient
Parent/Nanny – nanny (or governess) meets parent with child(ren) needing help
Partners in crime -- literally, like Bonnie and Clyde, or just figuratively
Performer – actor or musician with the temptation of Tinseltown, also see "different worlds"
Plain Jane (wins) -- see "Ugly Duckling" except Plain Jane didn't need a makeover.
Playboy – the MC is known for playing the field, different companion all the time, until meeting the other MC and they fall for each other
Playgirl -- female version of playboy, may be called nasty names
Politics – the MC is a politician or a wannabe, often with a campaign manager clinging to him/her trying to manage his/her image and reputation, also see "different worlds"
Pregnancy -- FMC got pregnant
Private Investigator -- not law enforcement, but may be ex-law enforcement
Protector – A is determined to protect B, usually "bodyguard", but can be reputation manager too (i.e. a lawyer chasing after people to sign NDA and pay them off for a rake), also see (wo)man in peril
Reality show -- dating show or newlywed show
Redemption – MC must atone for his/her sins committed in the past either against other MC or against others. Also see "Love redemption" (redeemed by love)
Reformed rake -- former commitmentphobe now wants a real relationship
Reporter -- either MC was a reporter
Resort -- mountain or beach types, also includes island, Mexico, and Las Vegas, where you go to "get away from it all", and have a fling or one night stands
Restaurant / Bakery -- establishment involving chef or baker
Return of prodigal (son/daughter)– MC headed home (for one reason or another), either temporarily or permanently, and find some things changed, yet others stayed the same.
Reunion (and it feels so good) – MCs knew each other in the past, from one-night stands up to torrid love affairs, but they drifted or forced apart. They meet again (also called "second chance at love")
Revenge – MCA is out to gain revenge against MCB due to being wronged in the past by MCB or MCB's family (this wrong may be real or just imagined or misunderstanding), also see "enemies to lovers"
Rock star -- see "Performer"
Romance writer -- really meta here
Royalty – MCA is of nobility or royalty (or for Eastern, a Sheikh, and so on). Also see "different worlds" and "fairytale"
Runaway bride/groom – before the wedding, MCA decided to abort and run for whatever reason, and on the way of running encountered MCB and still managed to find love, also see jilted bride/groom
Saving Her From Mr. Wrong -- FMC on date from hell saved by MMC who proceeds to woo her properly, may shift into triangle or protector
Scars (and wounds)– also known as "tortured hero(ine)", MC has scars and wounds (either physical or mental or both) from the past, includes PTSD for ex-military. Has many specifics possible, including dead (somebody), abandonment issues, orphan, old secrets, evil ex, and so on.
School -- romance is at a school
SEAL -- subset of military, MMC is a current or former US Navy SEAL
Search and Rescue -- also see paramedic
Secret Admirer -- can be sweet or stalker, can segue into protector / love triangle
Secret baby – subset of second chance, FMC is/was pregnant with MMC's child. But MMC never knew she was pregnant. Then they meet each other again...
Secret/lost heir – MC is heir to a vast fortune / estate, which MC may or may not be aware of.
Secret Romance -- the two MCs are romancing each other, but keeping it hidden from friends and family for whatever reason
Secret World -- a world that nobody knew of, until someone stumbled upon it or were revealed. Like secret world of vampires and shifters, or Men In Black
Security -- a subgenre of romance involving a security company, could be bodyguard, military, undercover, or other.
Shifter -- one or both MC are shifters, can shift into animal form, werewolves are "wolf-shifters" or lycans, for example. Subset of "paranormal" or "urban fantasy"
Sibling's Best Friend -- MC fell for sibling's best friend, also see "best friend's sibling"
Sibling Problem -- sibling of MCA or MCB is causing problems in their relationship, usually a triangle
Sick / Comfort -- variation of "Hurt / Comfort", MCA is severely sick, may even be delusional, MCB have to cure MCA, either sleep, or hear uncomfortable confession which changes their relationship.
Single Dad/Mom -- either MC is a single parent dealing with kids, also see "sudden baby" and parent/nanny
Slavery -- MCA keeping MCB around as a slave/pet, extreme version of BDSM/Kink
Small Town -- romance in a small town of a few hundred to a thousand residents, small enough so everyone knew everyone else, hard to keep secrets
Sorry, I'm in a relationship -- a meetcute, variation of unrequited
Spiritual -- not specifically Christian, but acknowledgement that God plays a role in the lives of the characters, usually "clean" as well (see Clean)
Spy -- subset of "disguise"
Stalker -- variant of (wo)man in peril, woman is being stalked by deranged ex, criminal, etc.
Step-sibling -- falling for step-brother/sister
Stranded – the two MC's are stranded together, snowed in cabin, tropical island in a storm, etc, sometimes known as "cabin romance"
Sudden baby – MC suddenly found him/herself taking care of baby/babies never expected (either from an ex, or from family tragedy) can also be a young child
Sudden family -- MC suddenly found him/herself as a child out of wedlock of a famous and rich family, segue into step-sibling romance or other hooks, see secret heir
Taboo --
Tattoo -- tattoo parlors feature in a lot of stories, as well as body ink in general
Teacher / Student --
Time travel – MC traveled through time to reach the other, often by accident, either backward or forward (also see "fish out of water")
Tortured hero(ine) – see scars
Two-person triangle -- Love triangle + hidden identity (EX: Superman / Clark Kent -- Lois Lane)
Ugly duckling – MC was not conventionally beautiful then discovered she can be with a little help from friends (sometimes called "Makeover") also see "Plain Jane wins" and "Coming of Age"
Unrequited love – MCA had long wished for romance with MCB, but never verbalized it, often combined with May/September, My Brother's Bestie, or Bestie's Lil' Sis
Urban Fantasy -- a mix of modern day and fantasy elements, often with witches, mages, Lycans, vampires, and so on. Also see "shifter"
Veterinarian -- see Doctor (staff) / Patient
Villain to hero -- reformed villain, or mean girl turned heroine, in mid-story, also see redemption
Virgin – giving up the v-card, often involves auction (see auction)
Wedding planner -- wedding planner falling for someone at the wedding
Western -- see "cowboy"
Widow(er) – lost the spouse (may or may not have been happy marriage) becomes "single parent" if there's a child invovled, (also see "tortured hero(ine)" and "sudden baby")
(Wo)man in peril – MCA is in danger, MCB will do some rescuing (also see "Protector", "Scars")
Working with the ex -- office romance + reunion
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Character Tropes -- a particular type of character, that does NOT involve a romantic relationship.
Alpha Guy
Assassin / Killer
Bad Boy
Bar/Club Owner --
BBW
Billionaire
Bodyguard / Protectee
Boss / Assistant
Chef / Baker
Commitmentphobe -- "I don't do relationships"
Cougar -- older woman, younger man
Cowboy -- horses and animals, usually on a ranch
Disabled -- physically, like paraplegic or missing limb
Doctor / Patient
Ethnic -- interracial romances, as well as certain stereotypes, like "Siberian Assassin", "Italian Lover", etc.
Firefighter -- "men in uniform" subtype
Law Enforcement -- detective or cop, also includes bounty hunter, "men in uniform" subtype
May / September -- older man, younger woman
Men in Uniform -- generic, includes cops, firefighters, military, paramedic
Military (current or ex) -- "men in uniform" subtype
Paramedic -- "men in uniform" subtype
Private Investigator
Reporter
Romance Writer -- (yes, a bit of 4th wall breaking)
Royalty -- prince / princess stories
SEAL -- subset of military
Search and Rescue -- "men in uniform" subtype
Security specialist (bodyguard or black ops)
Sports Athlete --
Spy -- also see security specialist or PI
Teacher / Student
Veterinarian -- variant of doctor / patient
Virgin --
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Location Tropes
Bar
BDSM club
Club (generic)
College / School
Cabin, Mountain
Hotel
Island (see Resort / Beach)
Mansion
Resort / Beach
Resort / Ski (also see Cabin, Mountain)
Vegas
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Relationship Tropes
Arm Candy -- MMC hired arm candy FMC to ward off female attention, fell for FMC instead (subset of "Fake to Real Love"
Arranged marriage -- MCA was destined to marry X, fell for MCB instead
BDSM -- technically kink, from light spanking to full power exchange including pain play
Childhood promise -- MCA and MCB promised to marry each other if they are still single by 30
Childhood sweetheart -- MCA and MCB had fallen in love back when they're six or so
Cyrano -- MCA is supposed to be testing / wooing MCB for someone else, but fell for MCB.
Dark Romance -- kidnapping, hostage, non/con, hurt/comfort, rape. Victim ended up in love with the abuser because he's also the only source of comfort.
Dead Friend's Wife -- "I promised him I'll take care of you"
Enemies to lovers
Ex's sibling
Fake Engagement -- see Fake to Real Love
Fake to real love -- a pretend relationship (for whatever reason) turned real
Fated Mates -- aka Star-Crossed Lovers, something just keep tearing them apart
Fling to a thing -- they had a single fling, but it was not enough...
Friends to Lovers -- friends, or friends-with-benefits to full relationship
Forbidden Love -- they aren't supposed to be together for various reasons, generic version.
Gay for you -- I'd switch teams for you
Geeky is sexy -- sapiosexual
Gratitude -- "you saved my _____, and I found myself attracted to you"
Guardian / Ward -- usually only in regency romances, it's older guy in charge of a younger woman, and also fell for her.
Harem -- one M, multiple F (more than 3), also see Reverse Harem
Insta-Love -- one look and they're in love
Insta-Lust -- one look and they want to rip each other's clothes off
Reverse Harem -- one F, multiple M (more than 3) (also see Harem)
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Situational Tropes
Accident -- MCA almost / did ran MCB over
Accidental Pregnancy
Amnesia
Auction
Blackmail
Blind date
Different Worlds
Disguise -- also "hidden identity", MC is using an assumed name
Fish out of water
Holiday
Homecoming / Return -- MC is going home that s/he left behind many years ago
Overheard -- sensitive ears + fragile ego. MCA overheard MCB saying something that A interpreted as betrayal, and A runs off cutting off all contact, not giving B a chance to explain, even when it wasn't anything like that.
Single Trip -- could be for variety of reasons, from fulfilling a promise to jilted bride/groom doing a honeymoon alone
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Scars and Wounds Tropes
Abusive Ex -- physically violent ex, left external AND internal scars
Adopted -- some adopted children were never accepted into the family. Even if they are, they may still want to know their biological parents
Bastard -- found out either daddy wasn't biological daddy, or mommy wasn't biological mommy (could be new, or could be recent revelation)
Cheating ex -- caught Ex bonking some third-party
Evil Boss -- from creepy to sexual harassment to looking forward to failure
Evil Ex -- non-violent ex, that otherwise took advantage of MC, usually by stealing money or valuables or otherwise ruined/betrayed the MC in some way
Evil Parent / Foster Parent / Guardian -- also see adopted
Jilted -- fiancee ran off weeks/days/hours before the wedding
Orphan -- parents died when young
Physical scars -- knife wounds, burns, limp, disability, forced tattoo, other physical reminders.
PTSD -- psychological scars from trauma, even if there are no physical scars
Sibling Feud -- siblings / twins went after the same guy / girl and never got over it
Stalker -- stranger that is stalking the MC
Stalker Ex -- MC is stalked by ex BF or ex GF
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Other Tropes
Many of these are combinations of tropes above
All grown up -- best friend's sibling + May / September (girl was too young to love brother's best friend, but now she's of legal age)
Boy meets ghoul -- "boy meets girl" + paranormal (example)
Coming of age
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