I spent the summer of 2012 on the website TVTropes.

Tropes got me through a stressful nanny job, my first breakup, and a panic surrounding college housing.

I’ve been using the website ever since. As soon as I finish a new show, I pull up it’s YMMV page to read alternate theories and comments.

Kristin posted a great book tag involving tropes.

I’m following her lead with my own twist: I’ll link each trope to its corresponding TVTropes page.

 

Hopelessly Devoted

Name two characters from separate series that you ship

I’ve always thought it would be fun if Ronan from The Raven Cycle met up with with Jesper from the Six of Crows duology.

They’re basically the same person.

And a lot of their fanart is dubiously similar.

I JUST THOUGHT OF THE BEST PREMISE: Ronan dreamed Jesper and the rest of Kaz’s crew.

This could end in tragedy.

YOU’RE WELCOME, FANFIC WRITERS.

 

Damsel in Distress

Name a female MC who didn’t need a man to complete her

Felicity Montague!

I’m halfway through her book right now.

Her rants about gender inequality read much more authentically than those of ANOTHER protagonist…

 

Love at First Sight

Name your OTP

Sorry, Kyo and Tohru.

I will ship Usagi and Mamoru until the end of time.

I think I love their height difference most.

I just look at Usagi cuddling up to Mamoru in his baggy suits and think, “If ONLY…” (I’m really tall.)

 

Mental Illness as Quirk

Name a book that represented mental illness well

If you read my Maureen Johnson rant, you might be surprised that I loved the portrayal of anxiety in Truly Devious.

I can confirm that Stevie’s insomnia and fear of abandonment do in fact occur in anxious people.

I really enjoyed diving into a familiar thought process. Reading about nonanxious protagonists sometimes feels like reading in a foreign language.

 

The Chosen One

Name a main character that did (or almost did) ruin a series for you

Suggestion for James Patterson Presents: rebrand Stalking Jack the Ripper as The Insufferable Audrey Rose.

Give your readers a more accurate picture of this overwrought romance billed as a Jack the Ripper thriller.

Audrey Rose combined feistiness, unladylike behavior, and a “sharp” tongue in a way that felt tired.

I tried reading this book at the same time as The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy. Do the same if you’d like to see a contrast between a character who achieves sympathy and a character who DOESN’T.

 

Friends to Lovers

Name a duo that went from friendship goals to relationship goals

I loved the Mara x Charlie ship in Girl Made of Stars, and I loved seeing evidence of their friendship pre-hookup.

Their relationship felt really natural.

I’m happy for them.

 

Amnesia

Name a book you would forget for one reason or another

From first grade to fifth grade, any book that involved sibling jealousy enraged me.

I had a terrible time when my third grade teacher read the book Socks out loud to us.

A couple adopts a cat, gets pregnant, and proceeds to mistreat cat in favor of their child.

The baby shares the name of my little brother. TOO MUCH REAL-WORLD CONTEXT.

I felt SO BAD for Socks.

And he NEVER GOT JUSTICE.

WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS MISERY PORN, BEVERLY CLEARY?

 

Bad Boys

Name your favorite villain

ALL RIGHT, I LOVE CATWOMAN.

She throws crazy demon parties and casually agrees to a threesome to freak out Kate Kane.

Diabolical.

 

Missing Parents or Adults

Name a book that could’ve benefited from a bit of parental guidance or supervision

THE HARRY POTTER SERIES.

“But if Voldemort never killed Harry’s parents, there would be no plot-”

I DON’T CARE.

Harry needed guidance. He needed someone to take him school shopping and protect him from his abusive relatives.

He needed someone to check in every few months and worry about his safety.

The kid needed his parents.

 

Trope lovers: tag yourselves!

Post challenge: name your favorite book villain (WHO ISN’T THE DARKLING.)