Let’s be real: our 20s are chaotic, romantic, emotional… and so are the books we love. Whether you’re navigating situationships, bingeing rom-coms, or healing your inner teen, certain book tropes just hit different during this season of life.
From spicy enemies-to-lovers to swoony small-town romances, here are the top 10 tropes every 20-something needs on their shelf, plus the perfect recs for each one 👇
1. Enemies to Lovers 🔥
Why we love it: The tension. The banter. The slow-burn pining that makes you want to scream into a pillow.
Read these:
- Bully by Penelope Douglas
- Why it slaps: You’ll go from wanting to slap Jared to being obsessed with his broken, protective energy. The push-and-pull is elite. We love a redemption arc done right.
- Vibe: Dark, moody, bully romance, second chance, childhood friends
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
- The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
- Why it slaps: Office rivals turned something more with A+ banter and steamy elevator scenes.
- Vibe: Rom-com, witty, slow-burn.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️
- King of Wrath by Ana Huang
- Why it slaps: The push-pull between Dante and Vivian is everything. The perfect mix of a brooding, morally gray billionaire hero, a strong-willed heroine, and intense chemistry.
- Vibe: Billionaire romance, high-stakes drama, dark family secrets, arranged marriage.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
2. Sports Romance 🏒
Why we love it: There’s just something about cocky athletes falling hard.
Read these:
- Off-Campus Series by Elle Kennedy (TOP REC)
- Why it slaps: Garrett Graham, the man that you are. Enough said – I have no words.
- Vibe: Hockey romance, college romance, enemies to lovers, fake dating, and friends to lovers – this series has it all
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Warning: THIS ENTIRE SERIES WILL HAVE YOU IN A CHOKEHOLD
- Playing for Keeps Series by Becka Mack
- Why it slaps: The series is hot but doesn’t take itself too seriously, keeping the vibe fun and flirty rather than dramatic
- Vibe: Hockey romance, opposites attract, slow burn, playful banter
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
- The Vancouver Storm Series by Stephanie Archer (TOP REC)
- Why it slaps: This series provides the perfect mix of athleticism and intensity. Each book brings a new relationship with high stakes and passion. BONUS: The heroines are independent, strong, and have their own personal goals – making them very relatable !!
- Vibe: Hockey romance, enemies to lovers, forbidden love, second chance
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
If you couldn’t tell by this list, I’m a HUGE hockey fan.
3. Brother’s Best Friend 😬
Why we love it: The off-limits tension, the childhood crush finally reciprocated? YES.
Read these:
- Teach Me a Lesson by Ana Kirk Shaw
- Why it slaps: Romantic tension is the name of the game here. There’s a lot of pining, longing, and stolen glances
- Vibe: Slow burn, roommates, childhood friends to lovers
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Twisted Love by Ana Huang
- Why it slaps: Gives touch her and you die energy. Alex will literally end anyone who hurts Ava. The protectiveness is so intense it borders on obsessive (in the best way).
- Vibe: billionaire romance, forbidden love meets undeniable chemistry
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Off-Limits by Stella Rhys
- Why it slaps: Hot, cocky businessman + little sister of his best friend = fire. Lots of tension, banter, and steamy chemistry.
- Vibe: Workplace, forbidden, opposites attract.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ — super spicy and intense!
4. Grumpy x Sunshine ☀️🌧️
Why we love it: The emotional walls? We’re here to see them come crumbling down.
Read these:
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry
- Why it slaps: City girl meets small-town editor who’s been a thorn in her side for years.
- Vibe: Smart, heartfelt, enemies to lovers, but make it emotional healing.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️
- Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
- Why it slaps: This book has all the ingredients for a perfect romance—grumpy hero, sunshine heroine, small-town charm, and emotional depth.
- Vibe: Quirky, whitty banter, lovable characters, slower pace of life
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
- The Chase by Elle Kennedy (Book #1 of the Briar U Series) (TOP REC)
- Why it slaps: Fitzy is the classic “grumpy” brooding man—he’s quiet, sarcastic, moody, and tough to crack. Summer is the sunshine with an optimistic, free-spirited attitude. Their contrasting personalities make their dynamic incredibly entertaining. Oh, and did I mention, she’s his best friend’s sister.
- Vibe: Ultimate mix of romantic tension and funny moments, college romance, rich sports world
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
5. Fake Relationship 💍
Why we love it: It’s all fake… until it’s so real. The tension is immaculate.
Read these:
- Playing with Fire by L.J. Shen
- Why it slaps: A brooding billionaire and a smart, sassy woman get caught up in a fake relationship that quickly turns very real.
- Vibe: Slow burn, high angst, rich bad boy x good girl.
- Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Pretend You’re Mine by Lucy Score
- Why it slaps: A fake engagement to help a man’s career turns into something much more as they get closer, emotionally and physically.
- Vibe: Funny, romantic, emotional depth with lots of steamy moments.
- Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (You won’t be able to put this one down, trust me!)
- One Week with the Best Man by Vanessa Bell
- Why it slaps: Best friend’s brother + the classic “I’m pretending to be in love with you, but I’m really starting to fall for you” vibe.
- Vibe: Fun dynamic, family drama, scorching chemistry.
- Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
6. Forced Proximity 🛏️
Why we love it: One bed. Snowstorms. Roommates. It’s messy, awkward, and so good.
Read these:
- Icebreaker by Hannah Grace (Book #1 of the Maple Hills Series)
- Why it slaps: Hockey player + figure skater. Dorm-room drama. Unexpected roommates.
- Vibe: Spicy, fun, and full of banter.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
- The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
- Why it slaps: Fake dating + travel + one bed. Hello, slow burn.
- Vibe: Grumpy x sunshine with tension for days.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️
- Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt
- Why it slaps: Comedian and her bodyguard fake-date for PR, spending a lot of time together.
- Vibe: Soft but spicy, full of heart.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
7. Dark Romance (Obsessive, Toxic, Addictive) 🖤
Why we love it: For when you want love that’s dark, intense, and morally questionable.
Read these:
- The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori
- Why it slaps: Arranged marriage? Nope. She was supposed to marry his brother.
- Vibe: Mafia romance, forbidden attraction, protective alpha male
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Twisted Series by Ana Huang (esp. Twisted Love & Twisted Games)
- Why it slaps: Obsessive, protective MMCs who’ll destroy the world for their girl.
- Vibe: Billionaire, bodyguard, revenge, forbidden love.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Warnings: Toxic love, controlling behavior.
- Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton
- Why it slaps: Literally stalker vs target. Wild, unhinged, psychological cat-and-mouse game.
- Vibe: DARK dark romance, morally gray everything.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (trigger warnings!!)
- Warnings: Violence, stalking, dubcon, trauma.
8. Friends to Lovers 🥺
Why we love it: There’s nothing like realizing the love of your life has been right there all along.
Read these:
- People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
- Why it slaps: Two best friends take one last trip after not speaking for 2 years. Cue emotional tension + longing.
- Vibe: Emotional, witty, travel romance.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️
- Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
- Why it slaps: Grumpy academic + chaotic fake-theory girl. They butt heads, hard.
- Vibe: Nerdy romance with emotional depth.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️
- Blame It on the Tequila by Fiona Cole
- Why it slaps: Rockstar best friend + one wild night + “we shouldn’t do this again” energy.
- Vibe: Edgy, angsty, a little messy in the best way.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
9. Small Town Romance 🏡
Why we love it: Big heart, small drama. Cozy, romantic, and always healing.
Read these:
- Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage (Book #1 of the Rebel Blue Ranch Series)
- Why it slaps: Brother’s best friend + childhood crush + slow burn. He’s been in love with her for years, and she doesn’t even KNOW. 🫠
- Vibe: Modern-day country love, emotional, flirty, delicious tension.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Chestnut Springs Series by Elsie Silver
- Why it slaps: Cowboys with emotional depth — these men are rough around the edges but soft for their girl.
- Vibe: Bantery, spicy, swoony romance that’s fast-paced but layered.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
- Why it slaps: Bad boy barber + runaway bride + grumpy/sunshine. Also, there’s a dog.
- Vibe: Drama, healing, hilarious side characters, spicy tension.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
10. Love Triangle 💔
Why we love it: It’s messy, it’s dramatic, and we always pick the wrong guy.
Read these:
- The Summer I Turned Pretty Series by Jenny Han
- Why it slaps: The ultimate beachy YA triangle — sweet, nostalgic, and emotionally charged.
- Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah? (You’re gonna suffer either way.)
- Vibe: YA, nostalgic, emotional, seasonal sadness.
- Spice: 🌶️ (light)
- Why it slaps: The ultimate beachy YA triangle — sweet, nostalgic, and emotionally charged.
- Credence by Penelope Douglas
- Why it slaps: Absolutely wild. A girl ends up living with three insanely hot, mysterious cousins in the mountains. It’s chaotic, forbidden, and HOT.
- Vibe: Taboo, isolated setting, full-on reverse harem energy.
- Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (explicit + kinky)
- Warnings: Age gap, consent ambiguity, emotional manipulation.
👀 Final Thoughts
Whether in your cozy-reading era or your dark romance spiral, there’s a trope (and a book) here to match the moment.
✨ Did I miss your favorite trope? Drop it in the comments!