Author Renee Savage

To kick off this series, I wanted to start with my (and everyone else’s) favorite trope maybe of all time. Discussing the story elements that we all love has always been one of the core delights of being in bookish community with other people. If you have a trope you want me to break down, share it in the comments!

The Structure of One Bed

If a story uses the one bed trope, the characters usually follow a predictable journey. And it is often, literally, a journey. Two characters are traveling, seeking their own individual goals. One bed is fun when the characters start out disliking each other and are in forced proximity either by nature of their journey or circumstance.

One of my favorite examples of this trope when not used in a traditional journey sense is in Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin. It ties in one of my other favorite tropes, which is arranged marriage. They are required to live together in a small room and pretend to be married. Although they start out divided on the floor and the bed, they come together quickly and it changes the temperature of their relationship immediately.

One bed should only be used when the characters are at a turning point in the tension and emotions towards each other. It either breaks completely (with a romantic encounter of some kind) or softens them and exposes deeper feelings. Used too soon, and one bed feels like a cheap trick. Used at the right point, and the characters change the entire vibe of the story in the most delicious way.

If I had to pick an example of this being used poorly, I would say Twilight’s use of it was very poor. Although it thrilled me to death in the seventh grade to think about a guy watching me while I slept (Yikes, right?), as an adult, I can see this came into play way too early. It forced intimacy between the characters only a few days into their knowing each other. While I am not an advocate for sexualizing teenagers in any medium, it also lead no where. Plus, he didn’t even sleep in the bed. He just watched her. Very unsettling in hindsight.

You can turn the trope on its head by having a character refuse to share the bed, which is frustrating but revealing about the character’s intentions or feelings. One great use of this twisted trope is in The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren when Olive and Ethan take her sister’s honeymoon trip to Hawaii. They begin the trip sleeping in different places, but as they deepen their relationship, sharing the bed begins to seem not only doable, but very very tempting.

The Purpose of One Bed

Most readers have a familiarity with the beat of romance novels. Although some novels can adeptly turn tropes and rhythms on their head to great effect, the vast majority of novels fall into a comfortable, consistent pattern.

One Bed is an established intimacy builder, bringing characters together both literally and figuratively. It breaks down the walls before that all important climax, confession, and HEA. Not every story suits One Bed, and it shouldn’t be forced.

In People We Meet on Vacation, Emily Henry throws her main characters together for the duration of the book, using flashbacks to create the long-simmering tension that makes the trope work well. Their history, slowly explored through the lens of their tense present, makes the One Bed crackling hot instead of feeling rushed and false.

Why do you love this trope? Any other examples stand out to you from the books you’ve read? Share in the comments!