History Main / ThinksLikeARomanceNovel

* In ''SweeneyTodd'', Mrs. Lovett's entire scene for "By The Sea."

* In a deleted scene from ''{{Serenity}}'', Inara is having a conversation with another Companion School instructor, revealing that many apprentice companions believe Inara and Mal had quite a [[{{Lemon}} lemony]] [[RomanceNovel love story]] going on.

* WesternAnimation's champion of this would have to be [[LooneyTunes Pepe Le Pew]].

* In ''TeenTitans'', Starfire feels this way about her {{Nakama}}. Enough to recite novel-length poetry with a brightly colored floral background.

* Tsubaki in ''BlazBlue'', which makes [[spoiler:the circumstances of her More Than Mind Control and Mind Rape induced Face Heel Turn all the more tragic]]. This is clearest in Bang Shishigami's joke ending, when she ends up "helping" him propose to Lichi.

* In one episode of MyWifeIsAHigSchoolGirl, Asami simply walks into a store and has a marriage proposal a few minutes later. The shopkeeper certainly saw her in a favorable light--[[GausianGirl slightly blurry]], [[BishieSparkle with sparkles and roses all around]].

** When she actually meets the Prince in "Best Night Ever", she tries to make the fantasy a reality. [[Understatement It...doesn't really work out]].

** When she actually meets the Prince in "Best Night Ever", she tries to make the fantasy a reality. [["Understatement" It...doesn't really work out]].

** When she actually meets the Prince in "Best Night Ever", she tries to make the fantasy a reality. [[Understatement It...doesn't really work out]].

** When she actually meets the Prince in "Best Night Ever", she tries to make the fantasy a reality. [[Understatement It...doesn't really work out.]]

** When she actually meets the Prince in "Best Night Ever", she tries to make the fantasy a reality. It...doesn't really work out.

* In the ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "The Ticket Master," Rarity is certain that going to the [[DancesAndBalls Grand Galloping Gala]] will play out just like a fairy tale, with her introduction to the country's most eligible stallion (the princess' nephew) who instantly falls in love with her and marries her after a whirlwind romance.

* Bella, from the ''{{Twilight}}'' fanfic ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6137139/1/bLuminosity_b Luminosity]]'', deduces that attraction between two vampires is always symmetrical, mutual and exclusive because vampirism has the odd quirk of conferring the hallmarks of romantic fiction to anyone afflicted by it. She realizes that if she chooses to become immortal then she will also be choosing to be inescapably in love with someone she doesn't even know or like.

* Many have theorized that ''{{Twilight}}'' is causing at least one generation of girls, if not two, to think in purely romance novel terms when it comes to relationships.

[[quoteright:300:http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g358/v_m_troper/tlarn.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300: [[SarcasmMode This could totally work out.]] [[JailBait Even though she's in high school.]] [[HappilyMarried And already married.]]]]

[[quoteright:300:http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g358/v_m_troper/animeloveimaginespot.png]]

[[quoteright:300:http://s1097.photobucket.com/albums/g358/v_m_troper/]]

http://s1097.photobucket.com/albums/g358/v_m_troper/

* ''[[TwentyFour 24]]'' has two separate RomanceNovel plotlines with Tony Almeida and Michelle Dessler, the first being "improbable office romance" and the second being "why can't we get back together?" For many fans, this is the beat-all end-all [[OneTruePairing OTP]] of the series.

* ''[[JaneAusten Emma]]'' is perhaps literature's MostTriumphantExample, though her RomanceNovel thoughts typically center around the people she's playing matchmaker for.

* In ''YuGiOh'' [[MissingEpisode Season 0]] and the manga, Hiroto Honda (Tristan Taylor) goes into this trope ''in spades'' regarding [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair Miho]] [[ShyBlueHairedGirl Nosaka]]. He goes off on a fantasy/rant about them together almost EVERY TIME he talks about/to her.

* {{Hellboy}} appears to be a big ol' softie for a romantic storyline with his girlfriend like any RomanceNovel addict.

* In ''TeenTitans'', Starfire feels this way about {{Nakama}}. Enough to recite novel-length poetry with a brightly colored floral background.

http://images4.fanpop.com/image/answers/954000/954261_1284585604889.79res_484_362.jpg
[[caption-width:350:[[DoggedNiceGuy Not only is his premise plausible,]] [[YouFailLogicForever but also]]'' [[SarcasmMode exactly]] ''[[BlatantLies how things will play out.]]]]

[[AC:{{Anime and Manga}}]]

* BlackButler has Grelle Sutcliffe, who thinks like this about Sebastian. This has gone to the extent of Grelle yelling that he wants to have Sebastian's babies, complete with roses and sparkles (and a disgusted Sebastian). It's even used to get assistance from Grelle by promising him things such as an entire day to do whatever he likes with Sebastian, or an opportunity to take pictures of Sebastian in sexy poses.

* MidoriDays: Ayase is very influenced by the shoujo manga she reads, to the point where whenever she imagines her romantic moments with [[ObliviousToLove Seiji]], he's a Bishonen and harpsichord music plays.

[[AC: {{Comics}}]]
* The {{DCU}} character Flamebird appears to think this way-- Themed Weapons + Costume + Vigilantism = Instant Relationship with Superhero Crush!

[[AC: {{Fan Works}}]]

* In ''ThePrincessDiaries'' Anne Hathaway describes what her perfect first kiss will be like.

[[AC: {{Literature}}]]

* One father in JudgeDee blames his daughter's reading of great love stories for her behavior, refusing to take a husband who isn't "just right."

* One R. L. Stine novel involves a heroine with... perhaps a tenuous grasp on reality, as she typically has fantasies about being more assertive and attractive than she is, and stealing her love interest away from his RichBitch girlfriend.

* ''In The Man Of Mode'', Mrs. Loveit thinks this way, despite the fact that the man she's in love with, Dorimant, plays the field and is a trickster. PlayedForLaughs
* ''FiddlerOnTheRoof'' : Toyed with in the song [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Hj7bp38f8 "Matchmaker"]].

* Tsubaki in ''BlazBlue'', which make [[spoiler: the circumstances of her More Than Mind Control and Mind Rape induced Face Heel Turn all the more tragic]]. This is clearest in Bang Shishigami's joke ending when she ends up "helping" him propose to Lichi.

[[AC: TabletopGames]]

The villain Tenderheart from ''Dark {{Champions}}'' believes has the delusion that life works like a romance novel and her criminal career is based around the idea that a superhero will fall in love with her.

[[AC: {{Music}}]]

[[AC: WebOriginal]]
* Ginny from AVeryPotterMusical appears to think this way. A lot. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE1FJec1YZM&feature=related She's even got a song about it.]]

* In Step 1 of {{There She Is}}, Doki imagines Nabi in this way, and continues with the mindset throughout the series.

[[AC: WesternAnimation]]
* * In the ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "The Ticket Master," Rarity is certain that going to the [[DancesAndBalls Grand Galloping Gala]] will play out just like a fairy tale, with her being introduced to the country's most eligible stallion (the princess' nephew) who instantly falls in love with her and marries her after a whirlwind romance.

* WesternAnimation's champion of this would have to be Pepe Le Pew.

[[AC: Real Life]]

* It should be noted that not many RomanceNovel heroines think this way (it would sort of defeat the [[DarkestHour black moment]] of the three act structure). Their authors, however, are literally paid for this trope. Many, if you sit down and talk to them, are just as cynical about love as most people who ''don't'' read [[RomanceNovel romance novels]]. It's all about selling the fantasy.
* It has been theorized by many that {{Twilight}} is causing at least one generation, if not two, to think in purely romance novel terms when it comes to relationships.

reply:
Tsubaki in ''{{BlazBlue}}'', which makes [[spoiler: [[GreenEyedMonster The circumstances]] of her MoreThanMindControl and MindRape induced FaceHeelTurn all the more tragic.]] This is clearest in [[DoggedNiceGuy Bang Shishigami]]'s joke ending when she ends up "helping" him propose to Lichi.

reply:
Theater Example:

In ''The Man Of Mode'', Mrs. Loveit thinks this way, despite the fact that the man she's in love with, Dorimant, [[{{Casanova}} plays the field]] and is a trickster. PlayedForLaughs

reply:
Awesome! More examples as they come, please!

reply:
Kyoko has a scene like this in BlackCat where she imagines herself confessing her love to Train.

reply:
Hiroto Honda (Tristan Taylor) is like this about him and Miho Nosaka in Yu-Gi-Oh 'season 0' He will pretty much go off on a fantasy/rant about him and her almost EVERY TIME he talks about/to her.

reply:
Just name one of the teens in Ranma who ''doesn't'' do this! Kodachi Kuno does it too, and her mental imagery seems a notch or two more risque than the others'. The series is probably the king of this trope, and the queen -- and more, since Takahashi likes to fool around and do stuff like this any time a character in the series has their hopes up for something: you just won the [race/match/competition], ergo, flowers will levitate and love interests will be charmed. Also played in reverse: you just lost, and all the nice stuff happens to the guy who won. And because everyone thinks like this, you get a serious fight out of ''anything''.

reply:
Thank you for the examples!

Now, there are a few anime/manga that I haven't seen/read, but I'm sure have examples--Code Geass, Mahou Sensei Negima, Ouran High School Host Club. Also Teen Titans, but I just can't find the examples.

reply:
BTW you can click on the edit button (the pencil icon on the left of each post) for a reply to copy its markup rather than having to redo all the links and such yourself (click on the icon again after you've copied the text to close it).

Also, {{BlazBlue}} should be under VideoGames rather than Gaming.

reply:
The romance writer in OsuTatakaeOuendan 2.

reply:
[[AC: Real Life]]
* [[http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1868389,00.html An experiment]] in which one group of participants watched a romantic comedy and another group watched a drama found that the group watching a romantic comedy became more idealistic about love and romance.

reply:
Just a heads up, style guidelines in the wiki have series names italicized. Check out some of the other's [[HowToWriteAnExample here]] and more general stuff [[WelcomeToTVTropes here]].

reply:
Additions/changes made

reply:
Bella, from the ''{{Twilight}}'' fanfic ''{{Luminosity}}'', deduces that attraction between two vampires is always symmetrical, mutual and exclusive because vampirism has the odd quirk of conferring the hallmarks of romantic fiction to anyone afflicted by it. She realises that if she chooses to become immortal then she will also be choosing to be inescapably in love with someone she doesn't even know or like.

reply:
Thank you!

reply:
In JunjouRomantica it happens to a couple of characters. In Misaki's case, it involves Usami being a pervert (and then the exact thing happens), while in Nowaki's case, it was about Hiro-san beiing acting like a housewife (not a chance)

reply:
[[strike: Does that last one go in Anime?]] Disregard

reply:
I think this is too vaguely defined to be a real trope. Perhaps it would be better if it weren't such a big TakeThat at romance novels, which many of the examples don't seem to be referencing directly.

reply:
I agree with you on a number of points. To clarify: this is not a TakeThat to romance novels--this is meant to be an example of writing shorthand when expressing romantic feelings one character has for another. Category romance--not to be confused with Single Title romance--has the reputation for being strictly formula and extremely idealistic. That idealism is what is supposed to be capitalized on here. I agree that many of the examples are too vague and a number need to be pruned, just like more examples need to be added.

The introduction would do well with a rewrite. Are there any suggestions on how it migt be made more concise or clear?

reply:
Romance-O-Vision?

reply:
WrongGenreSavvy?

reply:
@peccantis - Not so much looking for a new title, but a better way of explaining what is means when a character is thinking like a [category] romance novel.
@arromdee - There's something to this, but could you elaborate a bit?

reply:
How exactly does Liz condemn the world in Hellboy II? She destroys the crown and thus renders the Golden Army harmless, which saves the world.

reply:
AnimeAndManga already has the most examples?

reply:
WebOriginal example:

* TheOnion has [[http://www.theonion.com/articles/romanticcomedy-behavior-gets-reallife-man-arrested,757/ an article about a man who thinks this way]]. It doesn't go so well for him.

reply:
TabletopGames example:

The villain Tenderheart from ''Dark {{Champions}}'' believes has the delusion that life works like a romance novel and her criminal career is based around the idea that a superhero will fall in love with her.

reply:
* MidoriDays: Ayase is very inflkuenced by the shoujo manga she reads, to the point where whenever she imagines her romantic moments with [[ObliviousToLove Seiji]], he's a Bishonen and harpsichord music plays.
* EmmaBovary is another classic example, in which the heroine, raised in a convent (and the romance novels passed around by the girls), believes love can only exist in the grandiose, sentimental way, and ruins her first marriage (and life) for it.
* One father in JudgeDee blames his daughter's reading of great love stories for her behavior, refusing to take a husband who isn't "just right".


reply:
PurpleRomanticDelusion?

reply:
A little something for Anime, because this trope will not be complete without it:
Grelle Sutcliffe from [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BlackButler?from=Main.Kuroshitsuji Kuroshitsuji]] thinks like this about Sebastian. This has gone to the extent of Grelle yelling that he wants to have Sebastian's babies, complete with roses and sparkles (and a disgusted Sebastian). It's even used to get assistance from Grelle by promising him things such as an entire day to do whatever he likes with Sebastian, or an opportunity to take pictures of Sebastian in sexy poses.

reply:
@Whitewings When Hellboy had a mortal wound they went to that thing with the wings, and it warned Liz that if she saved Hellboy's life, he would destroy the world. It gives her the choice "him or the world," and she replies "him."

@jate88 - AnimeandManga does already have many examples, though this possible trope borders on SeenItAMillionTimes, which is why I'm begging for more examples.

reply:
Since this seems to have been forgotten, many many thanks to everyone donating examples. You are all amazing, and are certainly giving examples that I never would have thought of.

reply:
To round up with the Ranma 1/2 examples, Hikaru Gosunguki is also know to daydream along the line of Romance Sitcoms whenever he thinks about Akane.

reply:
Thank you very much.

reply:
Seems like the examples are a subtrope of ImagineSpot.

Does this ever occur without the ImagineSpot? And if so should we make those separate tropes? Or maybe a soft split? Should the trope description mention this as a common variation?

An example of a show that has this without the imagine spot is TheWorldGodOnlyKnows, where the protagonist must apply his knowledge of dating sims to courting real life girls.

Critics claim that Keima's success means it accepts that the romance ideal is accurate. I'm not so sure, since he almost always ends up having to solve the girl's true concern before he gets his kiss. In which case it may be more that his use of romantic tropes signal to the girl that he is interested in her, and then the substantive aid he gives causes the girl to decide she might be interested in returning the feelings. It's open to interpretation anyway.

reply:
Don't add MostTriumphantExample to a trope example. It's a subjective trope.

reply:
I see the similarities between this and IndulgentFantasy, FantasySegue, and ImagineSpot, but could you flesh out a bit more what you're saying? And how should TheWorldOfGodOnlyKnows be phrased for adding with both playing straight and subverting?

reply:
WrongGenreSavvy.

reply:
Played with in ''SleeplessInSeattle''. It was {{Lampshaded}} with Rosie O'Donnell's line "You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie." However, little did she know, ''Sleepless In Seattle'' is itself a romantic comedy, so it turns out Meg Ryan's character was actually Right Genre Savvy.

reply:
In Step 1 of {{There She Is}}, Doki imagines Nabi in this.

reply:
* HarleyQuinn exhibits this constantly, idealizing and thinking of her abusive, co-dependent relationship with TheJoker as a storybook romance.

reply:
JustLaunchItAlready

reply:
* In the ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "The Ticket Master," Rarity is certain that going to the [[DancesAndBalls Grand Galloping Gala]] will play out just like a fairy tale, with her being introduced to the country's most eligible stallion (the princess' nephew) who instantly falls in love with her and marries her after a whirlwind romance.

reply:
End of markup