If there’s one thing I know about physics (actually, the only thing) it’s this: opposites attract. True in physics and true in fiction, opposites attract is more than just a catchy song by Paula Abdul: It’s the foundation on which many a beloved BookTok romance is built.
What is the “opposites attract” trope?
The “opposites attract” trope is when a character is attracted to someone who is completely different from them. Whether the main characters are enemies who hate each other at first glance, an extrovert high school football player falling for an introvert book worm, or even just best friends who are total opposites, this trope shows readers how unlikely pairings can actually be the perfect match.
Why opposites attract works
In real life, you probably find yourself drawn to people with similar core values and personality traits (after all, being so different that you can’t find any middle ground in a romantic relationship isn’t good for anyone’s mental health). But while birds of a feather may flock together in reality, opposites attract is a BookTok-favorite trope.
Here’s why.
1. The chemistry and banter
It’s only natural that when you meet someone who is your polar opposite, the sparks start flying (enemies-to-lovers is a fan-favorite for a reason!).
Whether it’s disagreeing on political views, favorite podcasts, or just general personality clashes, main characters in these books tend to be constantly butting heads, leading to some incredible banter that hints at the chemistry brewing beneath the surface.
Nobody does banter like characters who are total opposites and get under each other’s skin but simply can’t resist each other, and this trope delivers top-tier banter in spades.
2. How well it works with every genre of romance
No matter what genre of romance you prefer, you’re going to be able to find a good opposites attract trope.
Cowboy romance lovers go crazy over the dynamic of a big city woman and a small-town guy, and fantasy romances are filled with enemies who seem to be on opposing sides of an epic battle.
Sports romance books are the perfect backdrop for the fan-favorite grumpy/sunshine trope (seriously, who knew these athletes could be so broody!) and historical romances are jam-packed with couples from entirely different social statuses and worlds.
3. The depth of the characters
To really sell an opposites attract relationship, authors have to have strong characters with depth and complexity. It’s not enough that the characters have an initial attraction (if they’re constantly at each other's throats, they aren’t going to make it in a long-term relationship and readers will get bored).
There has to be a reason they’re drawn together and that comes through in the character details.
Maybe one of the characters is withdrawn due to past trauma but they learn to heal with the love of their partner. Or maybe they're actually more similar than they seem on the surface and actually balance each other out in unlikely ways. No matter what the situation, we get to see real, raw, deep, flawed characters and we get to see them grow.
4. The character growth
Understanding a character comes from getting to know them (see the above point). But what really makes us go nuts for an opposite attract romance is how the characters grow together.
Throughout the course of a book, movie, or TV show, we see characters not just confront what makes them different but work through those differences.
Closed off characters open up a little bit and soften out their edges. Career-driven CEOs and billionaires learn to live for more than just work.
These characters don’t abandon who they are (and what makes us love them) but they’re willing to make changes, grow, compromise and find middle ground to keep their romantic relationships thriving. We love to see it!
Examples of opposites attract romance
Love stories featuring opposite characters are like a blank canvas for other tropes and smaller sub tropes. Love seeing a bad boy falling for a good girl? Opposites attract is here for you. Looking for enemies with nothing in common who will eventually become lovers? Opposites attract delivers!
There are so many ways the opposites attract theme can manifest, meaning there’s endless possibilities for fans who love the energy of these unlikely pairings. Here are some of our favorite combinations.
Grumpy x sunshine
This trope is one of BookTok’s favorites and a brilliant example of how two polar opposites (one grumpy, one sunshine) can not just co-exist, but live happily ever after.
It manifests with the one character being a grumpy, surly grouch who doesn’t like anyone—except, of course, for the happy ray of human sunshine that is the other main character.
This trope is displayed perfectly in April Ludgate (grumpy) and Andy Dwyer (sunshine) from “Parks and Recreation.”
At the heart of this trope is a character who for some reason (trauma, trust issues, etc.) puts up lots of walls. They are closed off, cynical, and grouchy and only one special person (or more than one, if you’re reading a polyamorous romance) can seem to get through to them.
It’s so fun to watch the tough exteriors of these gruff characters just melt away, revealing a sweet, soft center. And watching those sunshine characters just glow when they crack their tough, icy partners? I can’t get enough—sorry not sorry.
What to read:
“It Happened One Summer” by Tessa Bailey: Brendan is a stoic, quiet fishing captain in the sleepy town of Westport, Washington and Piper is a privileged party girl from Los Angeles.
“Reckless” by Elsie Silver: Theo and Winter couldn’t be more different: She’s an uptight, cold (her name is literally Winter), busy surgeon in the city and he’s a cheerful, laid-back professional bull rider.
Bad boy x good girl
Did this trope exist before Jess blew into Stars Hollow and left the residents clutching their pearls over his bad-boy persona? Yes. But was this the moment that turned me into a bad boy x good girl trope stan for life? Also yes!
On “Gilmore Girls,” Rory was the perfect, angelic, Harvard-bound, mature adult in a teenager’s body. Jess was a rebel, a nuisance, a menace, a bad boy through and through! And yet, despite their differences, they worked (yes, I know Jess had flaws but I still think he was the best of Rory’s boyfriends and no, I will not be taking criticism on the matter!).
With this trope, the main male character is a little rough around the edges and might even be a little morally gray (my favorite kind of character, personally). The female main character is usually polished and proper, a total rule-follower compared to the rule-breaker they find themselves attracted to. These couples seem so at odds that I can’t help but root for them every single time!
What to read:
“The Mistake” by Elle Kennedy: A star player on the Briar University hockey team, everyone on campus knows Logan and he has no problem making friends everywhere he goes. Freshman Grace is a quiet bookworm who would rather stay in on a Friday night than go out partying.
“Wrecked” by Lauren Asher: Jax is F1’s resident bad boy—a title he is very proud of, thank you very much—and Elena is the PR pro brought in to help him clean up his act.
Free-spirited x rigid
In this pairing, there’s one person who is Type A to their core. They love schedules, routine, and structure. They’re not boring, just organized! Meanwhile, their partner likes to go with the flow and try new, adventurous things. Where one likes to play it safe, the other likes to walk on the wild side.
These couples often wind up driving each other a little bananas but they often balance each other out well. The high-strung perfectionist learns to chill out a little and the chaos tornado learns to slow down a little bit. Compromise!
“Red, White and Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston: Henry is the straight-laced, protocol-following Prince of England and Alex is the chaotic first son of the American president with big dreams (so basically they’re a match made in heaven).
“People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry: Poppy is a bit of a wild child, dropping out of college to follow her dreams and going wherever the wind takes her (which is all over the globe) while her best friend, Alex, is a high school English teacher in their hometown, a planner and introvert.
When they come from totally different worlds
Sometimes it’s not the characters themselves that are so different, but the worlds they live in. This can come together in any number of ways, like the high-powered city-dweller falling for the charming, small-town love interest (seen in pretty much every Hallmark movie ever) or a professional athlete falling for an A-list pop star (we see you, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift!).
It might manifest as a regular, everyday person falling for a billionaire, jetting off to places they could have never imagined. Or maybe the main character is a human caught in a magical world filled with magical creatures, like ACOTAR. With these pairings, the worlds they’re from are so different, they might as well be from different planets.
“All American” by Dipsea: Harper is an A-list celebrity actor with a life full of glitz and glamor. Logan is a star football player, a far cry from the tortured artists Harper is usually attracted to.
“A Not So Meet Cute” by Meghan Quinn: Lottie may live just a block from the wealth and luxury of Beverly Hills, but she’s definitely not living a charmed life. Huxley has all he could want, living in one of those fancy Beverly Hills houses and closing multi-millionaire deals before breakfast.
Find more opposites attract love stories (or find a whole new trope to fall in love with) on Dipsea, the app for original spicy audiobooks and more!
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