Today's trope chat covers one of my favorite tropes, the homecoming trope. You often see this trope in small-town romances, where the hero or heroine is returning home after a long time away and meet-cutes with an old flame or town newbie. What I really love about the homecoming trope is its effect on character development. It forces the main character to consider who they were when they left town, how they've changed, and who they want to be going forward. It also often involves characters reckoning with their pasts before they can think about the future. The Duke Who Didn't by Courtney Milan is one of the best historical romance examples of the homecoming trope, featuring a returning duke who has to confront the lies he told the town before he left, and repair the relationships that break when the truth comes out. Taffy by Suzette D. Harrison excels at using the homecoming trope's "reckoning with the past" as the foundation for a passionate romance set against a unique backdrop: a 1930s all-Black town in the South. A Dash of Salt and Pepper by Kosoko Jackson weaves the angst of a forced homecoming into a delicious contemporary romance about two chefs learning what "home" really means. The post-Thanksgiving, pre-Christmas period is one of the best for homecoming romances, so if you're writing a book with this trope, keep your eyes peeled for new releases and inspiration. #WritingCommunity #NewAuthor #WritingTips
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11moI’m reminded of the movie “Sweet Home Alabama,” where Reese Witherspoon is this character.