The Romance Tropes Taking Over BookTok in 2026 (Part 2)
- evemrileyauthor
- 12 hours ago
- 4 min read
If you read Part 1 of our guide to BookTok’s favourite romance tropes, you’ll know that romance readers simply can’t get enough of protective heroes, enemies to lovers, slow burns, romantic suspense, and morally grey heroes.
But that’s only half the story.
BookTok has introduced readers to countless romance tropes over the past few years, and many of them have become instant favourites. Whether you love fake dating that turns into something real or sports romances packed with chemistry and competition, there’s no shortage of unforgettable love stories waiting to be discovered.
Here are five more romance tropes that readers can’t stop talking about in 2026, along with some of our favourite book recommendations.
6. Sports Romance
For readers who love: competition, chemistry, and athletes who fall just as hard as they play.
Sports romance has become one of the biggest genres on BookTok, and it’s easy to see why. Whether it’s hockey, tennis, Formula 1, football, or baseball, these books combine fast-paced action with unforgettable love stories.
The best sports romances aren’t just about the game. They explore ambition, sacrifice, teamwork, and learning that sometimes the greatest victory is finding someone who believes in you.
Expect:
Competitive tension
Strong friendships
Plenty of banter
Characters chasing both love and their dreams
Books to read:
The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy
A college hockey romance featuring two ambitious athletes whose rivalry turns into something much more.
Caught Up by Liz Tomforde
A baseball romance with plenty of banter, emotional depth, and a single-dad hero readers have fallen in love with.
The Game by Eve M. Riley
A tennis romance where ambition, attraction, and life-changing decisions collide on and off the court.
7. Fake Dating
For readers who love: pretending to be in love... until it isn’t pretending anymore.
Few romance tropes create as much delicious tension as fake dating. Whether two characters need to fool their families, survive a wedding, improve their public image, or make an ex jealous, readers know exactly where the story is heading, and they love every minute of it.
Watching fake feelings slowly become real never gets old.
Expect:
Forced proximity
Awkward family events
Plenty of romantic tension
One character falling first
Books to read:
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
A fake relationship between two scientists that became one of BookTok's biggest romance successes.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
A quirky romance with forced proximity and plenty of accidental chemistry.
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
A witty fake marriage romance filled with family drama, humour, and plenty of heart.
8. Friends to Lovers
For readers who love: years of friendship turning into forever.
Sometimes the greatest love story begins long before either character realises it.
Friends-to-lovers romances are built on trust, shared memories, and emotional intimacy, making them some of the most satisfying romances to read. Instead of wondering if the characters are compatible, readers get to watch them discover what has been there all along.
It's a trope that proves the strongest relationships often start with friendship.
Expect:
Emotional connection
Shared history
Lots of pining
A deeply satisfying happily ever after
Books to read:
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
A nostalgic romance told across two timelines, exploring friendship, first love, and second chances.
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
An emotional romance balancing friendship, family, and healing.
The Escape by Eve M. Riley
A heartfelt romance about trust, second chances, and discovering that the person you've always relied on might also be the love you've been searching for.
9. Found Family
For readers who love: unforgettable friendships alongside unforgettable romance.
Some romance novels leave readers wishing they could join the characters' friendship group.
Found family is all about creating meaningful connections beyond the central romance. Whether it's teammates, flatmates, colleagues, or an entire small town, these stories remind us that love comes in many forms.
Readers adore this trope because the supporting characters become just as memorable as the main couple.
Expect:
Close friendships
Emotional support
Laugh-out-loud moments
Characters you'll never want to leave
Books to read:
Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young
A beautifully emotional romance about two strangers brought together through unexpected circumstances. With themes of healing, belonging, and building a family from the ground up, it's a perfect example of why readers adore the found family trope.
Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows
A heartwarming contemporary romance that celebrates friendship, community, and finding your people just when you need them most.
Liquids by Eve M. Riley
A gripping standalone romantic suspense where attraction collides with danger, secrets, and survival. He has blood on his knuckles and secrets in his eyes, but he might be the only person who can save her.
10. Second Chance Romance
For readers who love: unfinished love stories and the hope that it's never too late.
Some love stories deserve another chapter.
Second chance romance explores what happens when two people who once loved each other find themselves brought back together. Time may have changed them, but unresolved feelings have a habit of resurfacing.
These stories are often emotional, heartfelt, and filled with opportunities for forgiveness, growth, and healing.
Expect:
Emotional reunions
Past mistakes
Character growth
An unforgettable happily ever after
Books to read:
Happy Place by Emily Henry
A couple who secretly broke up must pretend they're still together while spending one last holiday with their closest friends.
Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
A deeply emotional romance exploring first love, heartbreak, and finding your way back to each other.
The Outcast by Eve M. Riley
A moving romance where old wounds, difficult choices, and lingering feelings make for a powerful second chance at love.
Whether you're drawn to the excitement of a sports romance, the irresistible tension of fake dating, or the emotional payoff of a second chance love story, BookTok continues to prove there's a romance trope for every kind of reader.
The beauty of romance is that no two stories are ever the same. Even if you've read dozens of books featuring your favourite trope, there's always another unforgettable couple waiting to steal your heart.
Which romance trope can you never resist? Let me know your favourite, and if you haven't already, be sure to read Part 1, where we covered protective heroes, enemies to lovers, slow burn romances, romantic suspense, and morally grey heroes.
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