Top 5 Favourite Character Tropes
Hello bookworms and welcome back! It’s Wednesday and you know what that means. . . It’s time for another Top 5 Wednesday! This is a weekly meme that was created and hosted by Lainey @ gingerreadslainey over on the Booktube, so I suggest you check that lovely lady out! Also, she has a Goodreads group for this meme, which you can find by clicking here.
I am over ecstatic about this week’s topic which is our favourite character tropes! If you are unfamiliar, or are unsure of what a character trope is, let me explain:
A character trope is things you see often in books, something that usually gets overused in novels – and this occurs a lot in YA. Tropes can include: one girl against the government, two best friends falling in love, etc.
So without further delay, here are my Top 5 favourite character tropes!
1. The bad boy meets good girl and finds redemption and love trope
That title was a total mess, but I’m sure you get what I mean! I’m weak when it comes to the ‘bad boy’ character in books. They just pull me in. And this trope, where the good girl meets the bad boy and then the bad boy slowly reveals himself to have a good heart and falls in love with the good girl, is honestly one of my favourite tropes. Any variation of this is my favourite. I can’t help it!
2. The (well-overused) love triangle trope
As frustrating as this trope can be, when it’s done well, I love it. I love the tension, and the constant switching between who I want the protagonist to be with! I’ve enjoyed nearly, if not all of the love triangles I’ve read in books. The love triangle in Throne of Glass between Celaena and the two males in the story, for one. The love triangle in the Fallen series and many more. The only love triangle I can think of that I didn’t like was the one Red Queen, which was honestly more like a love square, which was extremely weird.
3. The tortured hero trope
I love myself a good tortured hero. Whether this tortured hero is the main character, or a secondary character, I love it. It gives so much depth and story behind the character, giving them more colour and allows me to become even more invested in their story and their goals within the novel.
4. The oh-so-special protagonist
This is the protagonist who finds out there is something different about them, maybe a superpower or they are ‘the chosen one’. They have a destiny that is planned out for them, they are the one who is destined to save the entire world from chaos or whatever bad thing is going on in the story. This is a trope most used in YA fantasy, and one that I personally love. This is possibly because I fantasize about being the chosen hero and reading about it slightly fulfils these fantasies of mine.
5. The half human, half something else trope
It’s actually been a while since I’ve read a book with this trope included, but it’s one that I enjoy. Again, because I love imagining that I am secretly half-something else: half elf, half werewolf, half magical-being, whatever! It’s just one I enjoy reading about.
The tropes are so apt
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HAHA I could like this post a million times. This is literally are some of the tropes that I absolutely love–yes even the love triangle though like you mentioned has to be done well. I think it’s all the angst that surrounds a love triangle that makes me like it so much.
And of course I will never get tired of the bad boy falls in love with good girl. Ughh it’s always the bad boys with a nice heart that in fiction that just get me. ❤
Great post! 🙂
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Feel free to like this a million times 😉
Wow I’m glad these corresponded to your favourites too!
Yep, its all about the angst that makes it great.
Bad boys. Always. Always.
Thank you! xoxo
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I hear all the time about how sick people are of what they call “specul snowflake” characters in YA, and I just don’t get WHY. Sure, a main character is special.. that’s why they’re the main character! I like finding characters with special abilities just as much as I like characters with special personalities that get them ahead.
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Oh yea I hear that A LOT! I get what you mean, a protagonist is automatically special because they are our centre of focus.
I definitely agree. xoxo
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That’s why I’m interested to read The Rest of us Just Live Here, though =P
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You got to love a good love triangle when it’s done well. God knows I do lool
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I know right? 😄 xoxo
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Great post! I agree with you on all of these 🙂 I love a bad boy with a sweet heart, it’s the best 🙂
If I’m a little sick of love triangles, I have to admit that, when it’s well done, it’s really interesting to read about…but, yes, in Red Queen, that sort of square was just awkward… (but anyways I can’t WAIT to read the next book in the series!)
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Glad you feel the same way! And yes, despite some of the weirdness if Red Queen I’m so excited for the sequel. xoxo 😄
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Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes!! I agree on all of these. I know a lot of people dislike the love triangle (oh the horror!) but when done well, I love it too. Sure, it has its flaws, but it’s a great way to add tension to the plot. Although it’s a shame when I’m disappointed by the main character’s end choice.
And the bad boy meets the good girl trope is pretty common in books, but I love this one as well! It’s just so much fun to read about. Great list! ❤
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Ah yes, there is a sad part to the love triangle – when the protagonist doesn’t end up with the person you ship them with.
It’s great that you love that one too! It’s a personal favourite of mine.
Thank you so much !!! 😄 xoxo
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Your number 1 is a favorite of mine! I love a good bad boy meets good girl story. But you know, no matter how good he becomes, that bad boy is still simmering somewhere… 🙂
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Oh yes, of course! You’ve gotta keep that bad boy in there somewhere. 😉 xoxo
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The tortured hero is a good one! Makes you feel more sorrow for them! Love triangles of course made my list too! How can you not love a good love triangle. XD
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Definitely, that’s exactly how I feel about the tortured hero!
I know right? How can anyone not love it?! 😄
Thank you for stopping by and thank you for following my blog! xoxo
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Well, I love all these 5 tropes especially the triangle thing only if they are well written.I don’t have any problem with all of these tropes being over-used I mean if they are well executed they are pretty much enjoyable to read.Anyways, Great post j0sie! 🙂
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I think you’re absolutely right! And I’m glad you feel the same way!
Thank you very much! xoxo
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Can I like this post a million times?
I definitely agree with you on all of these!
I’m kind of over the love triangle now though….I feel like it’s in every other YA book. And personally, I really don’t like love triangles. The characters start to become super annoying when it happens; at least to me anyway.
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Be my guest? 😄
I’m glad you agree!!!
Yeah, I know what you mean with the love triangles. For me I think its the fact that it’s been forever since I read a book with a love triangle. And yep, I get the same thing too with the annoying character!
Thank you for stopping by! 😄 xoxo ❤
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I totally agree with you. I find in love triangles situation I often find myself totally hating the person at the centre of all the affection.
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