In the vast world of romance fiction, few tropes have stood the test of time quite like forbidden love. Whether it’s star-crossed lovers with an ill fate, characters kept apart by social boundaries, or a coupling that could have life-or-death consequences, there’s something about the forbidden love trope that has kept romance fans rapt for generations. But, why exactly, do we keep coming back for more?
Reasons we love it
If we’re keeping it simple, forbidden love is such a popular trope for one reason: It feels good to be bad. People love breaking the rules and defying expectations, and that’s especially true when it comes to love. But, if we want to go a little more in-depth on the forbidden love trope (and we do), there are a few traits that make romance fans keep coming back for more.
Emotional conflict
First, there’s the emotional conflict, which is at the heart of forbidden love and creates a powerful tension that drives the narrative.
Characters in these stories often struggle with intense feelings of desire, guilt, and fear as they wrestle with the implications of their attraction.
The forbidden nature of the relationship—whether due to societal norms, personal boundaries, or ethical dilemmas—forces them to question their own values and make difficult choices. This internal conflict forces characters to reconcile what they want with what they believe.
Obstacles
The opposite of internal conflict are external obstacles. These obstacles can be a number of things—societal expectations, familial disapproval, or even personal issues—that prevent the characters from fully pursuing their relationship.
For example, a workplace romance could have real-life consequences such as being fired from a job or overlooked for a promotion. Not only do these challenges test the couple’s commitment to each other, but it forces them to confront their expectations and priorities.
This helps them experience growth and transformation, creating the ultimate satisfying ending.
Pining
Finally, there’s the pining! Sweet, sweet, excruciating pining.
Due to their relationship being forbidden, characters are often unable to fully express their feelings, leading to a tumultuous internal struggle. This yearning creates an emotional tension that can be both heartbreaking and exhilarating, as they navigate their feelings in secrecy. (Is it just us, or is sneaking around extra spicy?)
As they grapple with their desires, the tension of pining deepens their connection, making for an even better love story.
Exploring the genres of forbidden love
Historical fiction
A forbidden love story that takes place within a historical setting forces characters to face rigid societal expectations surrounding same-sex relationships, class, religion, race, and ethnicity.
While contemporary romance explores these themes, the consequences in earlier eras were far more severe, creating intense tension and drama.
Contemporary romance
Contemporary forbidden love usually centers on themes that are taboo in a modern setting, such as:
Age gap romances
Workplace romances
Affairs
Falling for your best friend’s sibling (or parent!)
Romantasy
While some forbidden love scenarios in other genres can feel like life or death, it’s usually more literal in fantasy romance. Falling for a sworn enemy during war times? Dangerous, ill-advised, and oh so juicy!
In a world where magic, fate, and power come into play, the stakes aren’t just high, they’re astronomical.
Paranormal romance
Paranormal romance has built-in conflict that makes forbidden love all the more alluring. Characters may belong to different worlds, such as:
Humans and vampires
Witches and mortals
Shapeshifters and their prey
This creates inherent conflicts that challenge their connection.
And when you add supernatural abilities or long-written destinies into the mix, things only get complicated further. The potential consequences create a dramatic element that makes these types of romances unputdownable.
Young adult romance
Ah, young love. Though the real-life stakes may not feel as high in YA romance, the emotional angst is very, very real.
Falling in love for the first time in high school can seem dramatic enough, but if it’s your best friend’s brother or someone in a different clique? Look out!
The pressures of adolescence, search for identity, and thrill of first love combine to make a story that makes the characters' journeys feel authentic and relatable.
Finding forbidden love in media
Forbidden love is such a popular trope that it’s been depicted in the media for decades, even in love songs! (“How Deep Is Your Love” by the Bee Gees and “I’d Do Anything for Love” by Meat Loaf being two prime examples.)
But to start, let’s look at some examples from movies and TV.
Take “Romeo and Juliet” for example. The Shakespeare play was written back in the 16th century and is probably the pop culture blueprint for the forbidden love trope: star-crossed lovers from two warring families who make the ultimate sacrifice for their love. It’s tragic, it’s beautiful, and it’s iconic.
“Brokeback Mountain,” on the other hand, is a historical forbidden love story about two men falling in love. American cowboys Jack and Ennis fall for each other, but are forced to part ways and start families with women since homosexuality was illegal in the 1960s.
Speaking of the ‘60s, the class disparity shown in “Dirty Dancing” made Johnny and Baby’s love even more taboo.
Movies like “The Idea of You” and “The Graduate” both feature the taboo trope of an age gap romance. The former follows Anne Hathaway as a mom who falls for a 20-something pop star, the latter on a 21-year-old college graduate who has an affair with his girlfriend’s mother.
What about a high school setting? “The Breakfast Club” displays an athlete and a basket case, as well as a princess and a criminal, falling for each other despite being in different cliques.
“Twilight” is a paranormal forbidden love story between a human and a vampire, while “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” was a TV show that featured a vampire hunter falling for not one, but two, vampires. Drama!
Move over, “90-Day Fiancé.” There’s a new reality TV show to get obsessed with: “Forbidden Love,” a show that explores what happens when a couple face the hurdle of religion. Whether it’s converting to the Muslim faith, leaving the Amish, or navigating their families’ ultimatums, it’s clear that religion is still a real-life challenge for many couples. Ah, the things you do for love!
One of our ultimate favorite tainted love stories? The TV show “Scandal.” A show about a fixer who falls for the married President of the United States could not get any juicier.
The power dynamics, affair element, societal perceptions—paired with the highest possible stakes and world-ending consequences—made Fitz and Liv’s relationship the ultimate forbidden love story. (No offense to Romeo and Juliet!)
Trying out the taboo
Ready to say “I do” to forbidden love? These original spicy romance audiobooks from Dipsea are the perfect place to start.
“Off the Coast” is a new series that follows Leah, an aspiring writer who moves back to her Maine hometown to work on her short story collection. While lounging on the beach one day, she’s surprised to run into June—the woman her ex-boyfriend Nate cheated on her with.
Even more surprising is the lack of animosity between them. Instead, there’s a sizzling chemistry neither of them can explain. The two hatch a plan to get revenge on Nate and—after crashing his fancy yacht party—stage a kiss that proves to be more troubling to them than Nate. The kiss unearthed a complicated desire for the last person they should want to be with: each other.
Nothing says taboo (and steamy!) like a teacher/student relationship. In “Lecture Me,” Jane is a student who has just finished her final college class with Professor James.
When she visits his office to wrap things up, their long-standing attraction bubbles to the surface and they give in to their desires. Are they willing to risk their academic reputations and everything they’ve worked for by pursuing their new forbidden love?
“Wine Country” is about Florence, a vineyard owner who hires an expert to survey the land and critique the wine.
Tim, an attractive Englishman, is curt and ruthless with his assessment, putting them on a bad footing. But once they’ve both consumed too much wine, their disdain for each other goes out the window and is replaced by raw attraction.
If she starts a relationship with an employee, things could end badly. But Florence may already be too drunk in love to care.
For Greek mythology with a spicy twist, check out “Forbidden Fruit.” When Persephone leaves the bacchanal in her honor and bumps into Hades, he persuades her to take a little unsanctioned vacation to the Underworld.
There, Persephone gives into her most hedonistic desire, but when responsibility comes calling, she leaves and returns to Olympus—keeping her relationship with Hades that’s now bound by magic a secret from the other Gods. If they were to be caught, even immortality couldn’t keep them safe.
Crossing the line for love
Forbidden love has stayed a timeless and beloved trope because it speaks to our universal desires—to love freely, to challenge boundaries, and to defy expectations. The tension between what the heart wants and what society deems acceptable creates high stakes and intense emotions that keep readers coming back to see if love will beat the odds.
Ready to explore even more popular romance tropes and what makes them hot? Dipsea has a finger on the pulse of culture, and our spicy audiobooks are the best romantic fiction brought to life. Don’t just take our word for it—sign up for a 30-day free trial and see for yourself!
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