Hey beautiful readers!
So many of you have been sliding into my DMs asking about the romance tropes in Reformed, and honestly? I’m obsessed with this conversation. As someone who devours romance novels like they’re oxygen (seriously, my Kindle library is embarrassing), I knew exactly which tropes would make Noah and Sophia’s story absolutely chef’s kiss.
Let me spill the tea on why these seven tropes were non-negotiable for their love story.
1. Fake Relationship/Engagement – The Foundation of Everything
Okay, can we talk about how fake relationships are literally the ultimate romance crack? There’s something so deliciously torturous about two people pretending to be in love while actually falling for each other.
I chose this as the central plot because Sophia needed protection from Adrian’s manipulation, and Noah? Well, our boy Noah has been pining for years. The fake engagement gave them permission to explore feelings they’d been dancing around forever. Plus, there’s nothing sexier than that moment when pretend becomes real and they can’t hide behind the “it’s just for show” excuse anymore.
The Vegas setting was perfect for this—what screams impulsive fake engagement like Sin City, right?
2. Friends to Lovers – The Slow Burn We All Deserve
Listen, enemies to lovers gets all the hype, but friends to lovers? That’s where the real magic happens. Noah and Sophia had eight years of history, of knowing each other’s worst habits and best qualities. They’d already built trust, shared inside jokes, survived family dinners together.
I’m a sucker for that “you’ve been right there all along” realization. When Sophia finally sees Noah—really sees him—as more than Marisa’s charming brother-in-law, it hits different because the foundation is already solid. No need to learn if he puts the toilet seat down or leaves dirty dishes in the sink. She already knows he’s the guy who shows up, who protects the people he loves, who makes her laugh until her sides hurt.
3. Forced Proximity – Let the Tension Build
Rubs hands together gleefully
Forced proximity is romance gold, and I couldn’t resist. When Sophia’s hotel room gets vandalized (thanks, Adrian, you absolute walnut), she has to move in with Noah. Suddenly they’re sharing coffee makers and bathroom space and seeing each other in those vulnerable morning moments.
There’s something so intimate about domestic life—Noah making her breakfast, Sophia stealing his t-shirts, both of them learning how to navigate shared space. It strips away all the pretense and forces them to be real with each other. Plus, the sexual tension of living together while pretending it’s “just practical”? Chef’s kiss
4. Second Chance at Love/Trust – Healing Together
This one was personal for me. After Adrian’s emotional manipulation, Sophia needed to learn that love doesn’t have to hurt. That a partner can support your dreams instead of undermining them behind closed doors.
I wanted to show that healing isn’t linear, and sometimes the right person helps you remember who you were before someone tried to dim your light. Noah never asks Sophia to be smaller or quieter or more convenient. He celebrates her ambition, encourages her dreams, and creates space for her to rediscover her own strength.
Second chances aren’t just about romantic love—they’re about learning to trust yourself again.
5. Knight in Shining Armor – But Make It Modern
Now, before anyone comes for me—this isn’t about a helpless woman needing rescue. Sophia is a badass businesswoman who handles her own crises, thank you very much. But sometimes? Sometimes it’s nice to have someone who’s got your back unconditionally.
Noah’s protective instincts aren’t about control (looking at you, Adrian). They come from love and respect. When he swoops in to help with the hotel situation or stands up to her manipulative ex, he’s not trying to manage her life—he’s supporting her choices and making sure she feels safe to make them.
Modern knight in shining armor energy is about partnership, not possession.
6. Career vs. Love Conflict – The Modern Romance Dilemma
Ugh, this trope hits so close to home for so many of us. How do you balance crushing it professionally with building something real romantically? Especially when both people have big dreams pulling them in different directions?
I loved exploring this with Noah’s tour and Sophia’s venture capital dreams. It would have been easy to make one of them sacrifice everything for love, but that’s not realistic (or romantic, honestly). Instead, they had to figure out how to support each other’s ambitions while building something together.
The real conflict isn’t career versus love—it’s learning that the right person helps you achieve both.
7. Found Family – The Heart of Everything
This might be my favorite trope of all time. There’s something so beautiful about choosing your people, about finding your place in a family that welcomes you with open arms.
Sophia never had that stable family foundation—her dad left, her mom is emotionally distant, and Adrian isolated her from her support system. But the Chance family? They adopt her completely. She gets protective big brothers, sisters-in-law who become best friends, and a sense of belonging she never knew she was missing.
Found family is about more than romance—it’s about discovering that love multiplies when you share it.
The Magic Recipe
Here’s the thing about tropes—they work because they tap into our deepest emotional needs. We want to feel chosen, protected, seen, valued. We want love that heals old wounds and creates new possibilities. We want partnerships that make us better, stronger, braver.
I chose these specific tropes for Noah and Sophia because their story needed all of these elements. The fake relationship gave them permission to explore their feelings. Friends to lovers provided the foundation of trust. Forced proximity created intimacy. Second chances allowed for healing. The knight in shining armor energy offered protection without possession. Career conflicts kept it real and modern. And found family? That gave them both the love and support system they deserved.
Each trope served the story, but more importantly, they served the characters’ emotional journeys.
What’s Your Favorite?
I’m dying to know—which of these tropes hit you right in the feels? Are you team fake relationship forever, or are you here for the found family vibes? Drop a comment and let me know! I love hearing which moments made you kick your feet and giggle.
And if you haven’t read Reformed yet, what are you waiting for? Noah and Sophia are waiting to make you believe in love again.
Until next time, keep reading and keep dreaming!
xoxo, Nikki 💕
P.S. – I may have already started plotting the next Chance Brothers book because this family has completely taken over my heart. Stay tuned…