Oh, I love talking about tropes!!! I'm really drawn to narratives that dig into complex emotions, unresolved feelings, and tension simmering just beneath the surface!

Some of my favorite tropes are the kind that pull you into a whirlpool of emotional turmoil such as:

Friends with Benefits: The push-and-pull dynamic here is so satisfying, especially when both characters catch feelings and neither wants to admit it. It’s the quiet yearning, the stolen glances, and the unspoken words that add layers of delicious angst. There's something so tragic about being so close but still feeling like you're miles apart emotionally.

Exes to Lovers: Honestly, this is gold when done right! All that baggage from their past relationship? The lingering hurt and confusion? They’ve already broken each other’s hearts, but they still gravitate back because they just can’t let go. The emotional stakes are sky-high, and I love every second of it!

Roommates: The forced proximity in this trope really sets up for angst overload when it starts from a dynamic as innocent as roommates. There’s something about sharing a space with someone who starts to mean more to you, and you can’t escape the slow build of feelings that come with seeing them day in and day out. It's intimate in a quiet, tension-filled way, and that slow-burn is to die for.

Anything Angsty, Really: Unrequited love, missed chances, miscommunication—I'm here for it all. The tension that comes from emotions that are messy and tangled just pulls me in every time. I love watching characters struggle with their feelings, wondering if they’ll ever figure out how they actually feel (or admit it!). There’s something so cathartic about seeing characters go through all that pain before finally finding happiness.

The common thread in all these tropes? The angst. I thrive on characters being emotionally messy, pushing each other away even though they desperately want to be closer, and eventually having their emotional walls break down in the most satisfying way. It’s all about that buildup of tension and release, and I can't get enough of it!