Old Friends & Reunions

Yesterday afternoon was bebe's first day back in gymnastics class since the end-of-summer break. We always arrive early because the gym is about a heartbeat away from her school..and both are at least 20 minutes away from our house. So it makes no sense to pick her up, go home, turn around and go back. Usually she and I sit on the sidelines and talk about her day, have a snack and wait.

Yesterday, something different happened. As we were talking about her art project and munching on blueberry mini-muffins I heard a squeal. Looked up. And bebe's best friend from pre-school was walking through the door - with her sisters and their mom. All four girls are separated by just under five years, with bebe right in the middle - a 2nd grader, a 1st grader, Kindergartner and Pre-Schooler...and since bebe hit Kindie last year they haven't gotten to see one another often (different school districts, schedules..you know how it goes). But, as their mom and I were catching up, the girls were doing the same thing. Jabbering about silly things they did in pre-school, talking about a sleep over, wondering if we could all go to dinner some night after gymnastics.

Just like I've reminisced with high school and college and work friends of my own. We all know that feeling - you see someone familiar and your heart leaps a little bit and a smile spreads across your face because some almost-forgotten memory returns as clear as a summer sky. And, when we're really lucky, it's like no time has passed at all.

I think the reunion of friends is why I love the reunion romance so much. Because we get to see that first blush of 'I'm not falling for that again!' and it blooms into 'God, how can I be falling for him (or her) again? I can't survive another implosion!' There are a wealth of feelings to cover in reunion romances, and there is real danger in falling for a past love because if the relationship doesn't work, the hero (or heroine) aren't just out a lover...they've potentially lost part of their foundation. Oh, but the payoff when they overcome the obstacles...

What about you? Do you have a favorite romance trope? What makes it the best - in your opinion?

Comments

  1. Reunions are my favorite. I love writing them, I think because of that foundation that's already laid for you by virtue of them already knowing (and loving or hating) certain things about each other. I also love reading them and seeing them in movies, where even ones like SHALL WE DANCE (which I'm still glowing about) are reunions between people who find each other again. Love the post, Kristi.

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    1. thanks, Liz! I've written...3 reunion books now, and I love each one more than the next. It's the foundation, the overcoming of a shared past...I just love it!

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  2. My stories have all been about first meetings, so far ... maybe it's time to change it up, a bit!

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    1. nothing's wrong with that love-at-first-sight thing, Mark! :)

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    2. Actually, with my characters it isn't really love at first site. Generally my trope is more the "thrown together and attraction grows despite conflict". Not that I don't agree with you!

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  3. There are so many tropes that I love to read and write it's hard to pick just one. I really enjoy Boss/Employee tropes because of the taboo aspect of dating someone from the workplace. But I really love Friends to Lovers as well. Basically for the same reason you like the reunion trope...they have a history and many shared experiences and it's fun to see that friendship unfold into something more, no matter how much they fight it. lol As a matter of fact I'm working on a Friends to Lovers story right now :)

    Great post Kristi!

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    1. thanks for visiting, Christine! I think friends-to-lovers is my second favorite trope... :)

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  4. Good post! I like reunion stories a lot. Maybe I'll write one this year...!

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  5. I love reunion romances! The one I started while on vacation is a reunion romance. Have you ever seen An Affair to Remember? Would that be considered a reunion romance?

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  6. The reunion trope is my favorite as well, and it works particularly well in a novella.

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  7. Yep, I love the reunion trope, too. I also like the stranded tropes--you know like on a desert island (On The Island) or on a cruise ship or the holiday share mix-up.

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