Let’s talk book tropes.

If you’re a reader, you know that tropes are a key element in creating a dynamic story. They’re the basis for plot development, the reasons characters act certain ways, and the subtle tension that ties everything together.

However, some tropes are so popular that they oversaturate the market- and, as a reader who loves variety, it can be frustrating when you pick up a promising-looking title and find it contains yet another love triangle.

So, here are five of the more uncommon tropes to look into!

The MacGuffin

A MacGuffin is a tangible object that drives the plot of the story. It can be as small as a peice of jewelry or a letter, or as large as a car or treasure chest. Whatever it is, it is the focal point of the story.

Some examples of a MacGuffin in literature are:

• The One Ring from Lord Of The Rings by JRR Tolkein
• The Photograph from A Scandal in Bohemia by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Excaliber from Cursed by Thomas Wheeler
• The Cask of Amontillado from the short story by Edgar Allan Poe

Some examples of a MacGuffin in other media are:

• The One Ring from the Lord Of the Rings trilogy
• The Ark of the Covenant from Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark
• The Book of the Dead from The Mummy (1999)

A MacGuffin is a great way to give your story a focal point that isn’t character or setting, and you can use that object to incite conflict, inspire character growth, and add some intrigue.

The Questionable Utopia

In a questionable utopia, the world may not be as perfect as it seems. All it takes is one person asking the right question to take the illusion away, and that person usually does so at great cost to themselves and others.

Some examples of a questionable utopia in literature are:

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

Some examples of a questionable utopia in other media are:

• The Matrix franchise
• The Bioshock game series
• The Aeon Flux Series/ movie

By creating a questionable utopia, you can give your readers a false sense of security before their world unravels- leaving them with either a sense of dread (what do we do now?), or a sense of victory (we defeated the oppressors!). Either way, they’re sure to remember it!

The Fake Relationship

A fake relationship trope is when two people pretend to be in a relationship for the sake of the plot. It can be romantic (fake lovers or spouses), platonic (fake siblings, or a fake parent/child relationship), but it’s fake nonetheless- until it isn’t.

Some examples of the fake relationship trope in literature are:

• The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (Daphne and Simon)
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Katniss and Peeta)
• The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski (Geralt and Yennifer)
• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (Alina and Mal begin as chosen siblings)

Some examples of the fake relationship in other media are:

• Bridgerton, Season 1 (Daphne and Simon)
• Supernatural, Season 3 Episode 6 (Dean and Bela)
• How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (Andi and Benjamin)
• The Proposal (Margaret and Andrew)

The fake relationship can lead to all sorts of scenarios- such as mistaken identities, access to exclusive (or dangerous) places, complicated feelings, and surprise tenderness (or betrayal)- all while adding a dynamic subplot to any story.

The Treasure Hunt

A treasure hunt is when your characters are looking for a specific person, place, or thing. Now, whether they find it is up to you because, for this trope, the journey matters more than the destination.

Some examples of a treasure hunt in literature are:

• The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein
• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
• The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
• The Indiana Jones Novels

Some examples of a treasure hunt in other media are:

• The Indiana Jones franchise
• The Mummy/ The Mummy Returns
• National Treasure
• Treasure Planet

A treasure hunt is a great way to use a MacGuffin and can lead your characters (and readers) on an adventure like never before! Or, you can be looking for a person (like a lost parent), a place (like the Lonely Mountain), an animal (like a white stag), or even a sense of self. Let the hunt begin!

The Bottle Story

A “bottle story” is when a tale takes place in a single, enclosed setting. It may venture out from time to time, but the bulk of the story revolves around one set location.

Some examples of bottle stories in literature are:

• The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Hills Like White Elephants by Earnest Hemingway
• Gerald’s Game by Stephen King
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel
• A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor

Some examples of a bottle story in other media are:

• Iron Lung (2026)
• 10 Cloverfield Lane
• Clue (both game and movie)
• Rear Window

By confining your story to a single location, you can give your characters a chance to shine. It also adds tension (if they’re trapped), security (if they’re safe from outside danger), and a laser-like focus on the things that matter (like character growth and relationships).

These tropes may not be as common as “the chosen one” or “enemies to lovers,” but they’re useful nonetheless. Not only can they add some depth to your stories, but they can also help you add a focal point that will drive character development, plot, and conclusion.

What are some of your favorite uncommon tropes? Let me know in the comments!