One or both of the main characters in the story are single parents, usually struggling to balance life and the demands of parenthood. Typically, the child(ren) is used as a plot device.
To gather books for these Tropes List posts, I usually start looking through my list of recently-read books. I keep an Excel spreadsheet of books I've read as well as rely on Goodreads shelves to remember everything I read. I've found it's helpful to first look at books that I have given four or five stars, then figure out what trope a handful of them fit into before deciding on the trope of the week.
In my perusal, I found out something about myself that I hadn't known before. Single-dad sports romances are a big staple in my life. Who knew? I decided to run with it, and only expand a little to include all single parents in this week's trope feature, if only to add a little variety. I find that the single-parent trope isn't as subgenre diverse as some of the others. When you look at lists for this trope, it's often filled to the brim with standard contemporary romances. In an effort to branch out, I've attempted to make my list below a bit more diverse.
I love the instant family that comes with a single parent trope, even more so if a non-parent bumbles around adjusting to kids. I am a sucker for an epilogue with the child included in the wedding or "will you be mine officially" adoption papers. Seriously, all the feels!
However, with great highs, there are great lows, and I have witnessed this trope written poorly many times. Perhaps because I have kids myself, but the ways some authors decide to utilize kids to drive the storyline can be very obnoxious or ridiculously off-base. Sure, three-year-olds will totally stop melting down if a handsome stranger steps in to console them. And of course, kids are always scheming in their single parent's love life!
Complaints aside, the single parent trope has some real winners and I've included the ones I like below. As with most of my lists, some of these are not the first books in the series so to get the most out of it, you may consider starting from book one even if it doesn't contain this particular trope.
Happy reading!
1. Zack
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Series: Cold Fury Hockey Series book # 3
Category: Sports Romance
A charming but nerdy nanny, a distant boss who is stuck in his grief and doesn't know if he can move on - there was no way this book wasn't going to be good! I love a good hockey romance and the fact that this one comes with emotional baggage, sexual tension, and an MMC who needs to learn to love again makes it all the more better.
2. Flirting with Forever
Author: Claire Kingsley
Series: Dirty Martini Running Club Series book #4
Category: Contemporary Romance
The sweet friendship between Nora and Dex's daughter Riley is what set this book apart from the others for me. They became friends before the two main characters ever ended up together and it was treated as a separate relationship completely. This book not only has spice but also sweetness.
3. Grim
Author: M.K. Eidem
Series: Tornians Series book #1
Category: Alien Romance
An alien romance with a twist from the typical Mars Needs Women trope, an abducted woman demands her kids are allowed to come with her. The world-building is lacking in some places but the unique story and wholesome characters are worth reading for. The different culture clashes and misunderstandings are also a bonus!
4. Hot Single Dad
Author: Claire Kingsley
Series: Book Boyfriends Series book #3
Category: Contemporary Romance
Another nanny meets single dad story, except they know each other, and Linnea just so happens to be Caleb's sister-in-law. Based on their familial ties and past, there were a lot of reasons why this romance was forbidden but the heart wants what it wants right? Claire Kingsley made it twice on my list this week, she definitely has a knack for this trope.
5. Razing Kayne
Author: Julieanne Reeves
Series: Walking a Thin Blue Line Series book #1
Category: Romantic Suspense
So much tragedy in each of our two main characters, they both have their demons to work through before they can ever have a chance at love. I'm partial to some suspense in my romance novels and this book has plenty of thrills. Kayne and Jessica were exceptionally well-written characters and the complexities of their relationship only make the story better in the end.
6. Wait for It
Author: Marianna Zapata
Series: Stand Alone
Category: Contemporary Romance
Another slow burn (from the Queen of slow burns), the friends-to-lovers relationship between the two main characters is worth the long read. I liked that the children were both boys since most books in this trope focus on girls. Also, the character development of Diana as she learned how to be both a parent and an aunt was full of struggle but triumph - all made sweeter once Dallas worked his way out of the friend zone.
7. Law Man
Author: Kristen Ashley
Series: Dream Man Series book #3
Category: Romantic Suspense
I've always been a huge fan of Kristen Ashley, and this book highlighted one of her best character relationships, Mara and Mitch. The realities of single parenting are more realistic in this book, but they don't take away from the growing love story of our two main characters. Mara was damaged but strong and all Mitch wanted was to be her white knight.
8. Worth the Fall
Author: Claudia Connor
Series: The McKinney Brothers Series book #1
Category: Contemporary Romance
This book was a beautiful love story about a beach vacation romance that turns into something so much more. Flings with a timeline are always a fun read, and of course, neither Matt nor Abby were looking for love when they met but it certainly found them. Throw in four children and some emotional and physical scars, and we had a wonderfully fragile relationship testing if they could make it in the real world after their vacations ended.
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