The theme of shared history is very prominent. All the experiences they had as kids become a foundation for their love. It could be something as simple as a secret place they used to go to. There's also the theme of trust. Because they've been friends for so long, they already have a level of trust that helps in their romantic relationship. For instance, in 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before', Lara Jean and Peter have that underlying trust from their past acquaintance that helps them navigate their new - found romantic relationship.
Often, there's the theme of growth. They grow up together, and as they change over the years, their relationship also evolves. There's also the idea of loyalty. Their long - standing friendship means there's a certain loyalty that can translate into a strong romantic bond. In books like 'Pride and Prejudice', Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship develops as they both grow and their loyalty to their initial impressions slowly changes. And there's usually a moment of realization, where they suddenly see their childhood friend in a new, romantic light.
One common theme is the slow - burn. Since they start as friends, the transition to lovers doesn't happen overnight. There's often a lot of hesitation and 'will they or won't they' moments. Another theme is the discovery of new aspects of the friend. When the relationship shifts, they start to see each other in a different light, like noticing physical or emotional qualities they overlooked before. And there's also the theme of the fear of ruining the friendship. They worry that if the romantic relationship doesn't work out, they'll lose the precious friendship they had.
One common theme is the deep - rooted familiarity. Since they've known each other for a long time, they have a shared history, like inside jokes and memories. Another is the growth and change. They often grow up and see each other in new lights. For example, a once - scrawny childhood friend might become very attractive as they get older. Also, there's usually some sort of conflict that comes from their long - standing relationship, like family expectations getting in the way of their new - found romantic feelings.
Well, 'My Girl' is a lovely novel that features a childhood friends - turned - lovers story. The characters grow up together, sharing many experiences, and gradually their friendship blossoms into love. Then there's 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' by Jenny Han. Lara Jean and Peter were sort of childhood friends in a sense, and their relationship evolves into a romantic one throughout the story. And 'Fangirl' by Rainbow Rowell has some aspects of it too, with Cath and Levi having a connection that starts from their early days at college which is somewhat like a childhood - like beginning in that new environment and turns into love.
One common theme is the power of forgiveness. Since they start as enemies, they have to forgive past wrongs or misunderstandings. For example, in 'Pride and Prejudice', Elizabeth has to forgive Darcy for his initial prideful behavior. Another theme is self - discovery. Through their relationship with their former enemy, the characters often learn more about themselves. Also, the theme of overcoming differences is crucial. They usually come from different backgrounds or have different beliefs, like in 'Outlander' where Claire is from the 20th century and Jamie from the 18th century, and they have to bridge those gaps to fall in love.
A prevalent theme is the breaking down of barriers. These could be social, cultural or just personal barriers. In 'Wuthering Heights', Heathcliff and Catherine face social class differences and family feuds as barriers. Another theme is the idea of transformation. The characters usually transform from being bitter enemies to loving partners. In 'You've Got Mail', Kathleen and Joe transform from rivals to lovers as they get to know each other better.
Growth is also a big theme. The characters grow both individually and as a couple. They move from a state of dislike to love, which means changing their attitudes and behaviors. In 'A Court of Thorns and Roses', the main characters' growth is intertwined with the development of their relationship as they go from enemies to lovers.
Another theme is growth. As the characters grow from children to adults, their feelings for each other change. In many novels, there are challenges that come with this growth, like different career paths or new relationships that threaten their bond. A detailed example can be seen in a novel where the male character goes off to college and meets new people, but still feels a deep pull towards his childhood friend. The story then explores how they navigate these new situations while still holding onto their old connection.
One common theme is the discovery of new feelings. Childhood friends often see each other in a certain way for years, and then suddenly they realize there are deeper romantic feelings. For example, in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty', Belly has always thought of Conrad as just a friend from childhood, but as she grows older, she discovers new, romantic feelings for him.
A wonderful 'friends turned lovers' romance novel is 'Roomies' by Christina Lauren. It's about a girl who needs to get married quickly for visa reasons and her friend who offers to marry her. As they go through the process, their friendship transforms into love. 'The Kiss Quotient' by Helen Hoang also has some elements of this. The main character hires a male escort, who becomes her friend first and then they fall in love. Additionally, 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen can be considered in this category. Elizabeth and Darcy start off as not really liking each other but they have a sort of underlying connection due to their social circles, and over time their relationship changes from a rather antagonistic one to a loving one which started from a form of friendship.
A common theme is the gradual evolution of feelings. It's not sudden love at first sight. They start as friends, and over time, little things add up. Maybe it's the way one friend always listens to the other, or the way they support each other through tough times. This gradual build - up of affection eventually turns into love. Another theme is the fear of ruining the friendship. In many of these stories, the characters are initially hesitant to admit their feelings because they don't want to lose the precious friendship they already have.