So go ahead. Slap that "enemies to lovers" tag on your story. Write the awkward first date. Break their hearts in act two. Just make sure when you finally give them their happy ending, the audience has bled for it.
One character is a "jerk," and the other character loves them so hard that they magically stop being a jerk. This romanticizes abuse and toxic codependency. So go ahead
The keyword for the next decade is specificity . The more specific the flaw, the more universal the love. Don't write "He was handsome." Write "He had a laugh that sounded like a lawnmower starting, and she fell in love with that sound." Why will we never get bored of relationships and romantic storylines? Because love is the one mystery we never solve. Every generation must reinterpret it. Every single person must experience it (or the grief of its absence) for themselves. Break their hearts in act two
Characters lock eyes and suddenly know they are soulmates. No banter. No friction. Just destiny. This fails because romance is defined by overcoming obstacles . If there is no obstacle, there is no story. This romanticizes abuse and toxic codependency
Whether you are writing a slow-burn fantasy epic or looking for a Netflix show that makes you "feel something," remember the golden rule: Tension is born from connection, not perfection. The cracked vase holds the most beautiful flowers. The scarred heart loves the loudest.