One member of one of my book clubs cannot STAND the forced proximity romance trope. “Unrealistic,” she says (unlike Fourth Wing, which is like her favorite book). “What are the chances that two people are snowed in one cabin and there’s only one bed and one pair of jammies to split?” Chance would be a fine thing, says I. Alas, I don’t enjoy skiing or any other winter sport that would put me in that particular unrealistic situation. What Is the Forced Proximity Romance Trope? This beloved trope occurs when two characters find themselves in situations from which they cannot easily extract themselves. They might be trapped on an island; they may be forced to collaborate on a project or presentation or be competing for the same job. The main obstacle is that distance is not an option, forcing our characters, between whom there’s definitely some sort of past transgression or misunderstanding, to face their feelings head on. The examples below are part of our shared cultural conscience, but maybe you didn’t realize that you were watching a popular trope unfold at the time. Add our suggested tie-in romance books to your TBR once you’ve ID’d your favorite situational setup!