5 Summery microtropes I can’t quit
August is basically summer’s sweaty mic drop—humid nights, sunburnt afternoons, and that restless “something’s about to happen” energy. And in romance, that something is often kissing. Or fighting. Or both.
This year, I’ve been absolutely feral for the microtropes—those oddly specific little moments that make a romance feel like your summer. Here are five I can’t quit:
1. She dressed for the heat of the day, but they offer their sweatshirt in the evening chill
Perfected by the great Emily Henry. There’s just something about watching a hero wordlessly hand over a sweatshirt that smells like him—no grand declaration, just a quiet act of care. I would read this scene in every romance and never get tired of it.
2. An outdoor bar where the floor is grass, the ceiling is stars, and the string lights glow between
Also an Emily Henry staple. These spaces make banter feel lighter, drinks taste colder, and the air hum with possibility. On the page, they crackle with energy—perfect for flirtation. In real life, I’m a total sucker for a string-light patio in August.
3. A dock at golden hour, lake water lapping while swimsuits dry on the rails
Thank you, Abby Jimenez, for igniting this particular obsession. Now my Zillow feed is packed with Minnesota summer rental fantasies I can’t afford—but will absolutely keep daydreaming about. Give me docks, kayaks, coolers full of beer, and just enough privacy for a lakeside kiss. If you’re craving more lake life on the page, I recommend Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and—no surprise here—any Emily Henry novel, but especially Book Lovers, which I’m rereading for the fourth time. (Don’t judge. Or do. I’ll be too busy swooning.)
4. A teacher relaxing just enough to get swept into a summer fling
See: All the Leade Park romances by Allie Samberts and Olivia Dade’s Teach Me. I love watching overworked, overprepared educators finally relax in the summer heat—preferably with someone who’s about to become their favorite extracurricular activity.
5. The cool of his shadows when she’s overheated with lightning
I can’t help it. I reread Fourth Wing and Iron Flame just so I could dive into Onyx Storm. There’s something delicious about a dragon rider in the heat—sweat, magic, danger, and a smolder that’s somehow hotter than the weather.
The last hot days of summer are for savoring—whether you’re wrapped in someone’s sweatshirt or lost in a fantasy world with dragons. I’ll keep chasing these microtropes until Labor Day, then happily swap them for my favorite fall ones (hello, “sharing a blanket at the bonfire”).
Your turn: What oddly specific summer romance moment do you want to see in every book?
