Fortune establishes Every Summer After as a romance novel from the outset by employing a number of the genre’s tropes. By definition, a trope is a figure of speech that employs metaphorical language; however, it has also come to mean “a familiar pattern, concept, image, or device” (“Trope vs. Cliché”). Therefore, romance tropes are recurrent patterns or themes commonly employed in romantic works of fiction. Romance tropes differ from clichés as, rather than being considered overused, they are expected and recognizable (“Trope vs. Cliché”).

The use of tropes, particularly in the romance genre, is owing to their familiarity and predictable outcome. A distinguishing factor of the genre, for instance, is the “Happily Ever After” (HEA)—despite the trials and challenges experienced by the characters, a happy resolution is guaranteed. Romance readers expect and enjoy this predictability that this trope offers. However, it is also possible for tropes to provide a base for innovation. Sometimes, romance writers creatively subvert the common tropes seen in the genre to offer something fresh while maintaining the HEA (“Popular Romance Fiction Tropes.