I know this is probably a common topic. For me, I’m not sure if it’s a “trope” or just totally misinformed writing, but it’s how many authors approach alcoholism. Some examples are Girl on the Train and The House Across the Lake, among HUNDREDS. If anyone else here has struggled with alcoholism, you know it’s not just "i woke up after downing an entire bottle of whiskey but was able to shower, down a cup of coffee, and solve a murder. "
I read a LOT of crime thrillers rather than romance. The few romance novels I read are mostly queer wlw. But a cliche I hate in crime thrillers is when MC is having an affair on their partner. Or they became a member of police due to a traumatic past. Like can we get a crime novel where MC has a healthy family and no trauma? But he has to protect them? He has a supportive best friend who he doesn’t have a trauma bond with? Just two happy healthy friends? I love my gritty crime novels but please, just give the main characters something positive FFS 😅🤣
It’s not a book, but this is basically Brooklyn 99.
They also play with this trope, where a character who was just introduced that episode is about to die, and she goes “Now I’ll die before solving my twin sister’s murder, the whole reason I became a cop. It’s my origin story!” To which another cop says “Debbie, there’s no way you’ve ever mentioned that.” One of my favorite one-off characters.
I like Christopher brookmyre’s Jack parlabane books for this. His MC is scrappy and contrarian, not because of some dark past but because he just is. he’s a narky wee bollix because he was born that way. and he has ordinary friendships and a normal marriage, and he knows it.