The Worst Best Man

The romance genre includes a vast variety of subgenres that follow familiar conventions and plot structures. The trajectory of romance characters’ narrative arcs often falls into one of several well-defined and frequently used categories. Whether they are villains or saints, Edwardian women or cowboys, the protagonists almost always lack a key trait or accomplishment that their developing love interest helps them find and embrace. Upon fully committing to a relationship with the other person, the protagonist commonly develops a much more fulfilling lifestyle and gains a new degree of self-actualization. Such novels frequently feature a variety of supporting characters who facilitate the burgeoning romance at the heart of the story, and The Worst Best Man also conforms to this pattern, as Frankie’s family provides Aiden with concrete examples of how a truly loyal and supportive family should behave. Likewise, their best friends, Pru and Chip, lend equally important support and advice and help the protagonists realize the true depths of their feelings for one another.

While romance novels vary widely in their details, the plot structure often follows a well-worn sequence of events. The standard romance novel begins with the couple’s initial encounter, and after a period of mutual attraction and exploration, the characters frequently back away from the burgeoning romance or are otherwise compelled to reject each other in the stereotypical “third-act breakup.” Eventually, they resolve to fight for their love and overcome this obstacle, and an equitable resolution usually rounds out the story with a “happily ever after” ending. While this structure varies somewhat from story to story, a large percentage of novels in the romance genre follow this general outline.

The Worst Best Man combines elements from a few different subgenres. Aiden’s celebrity status places the novel firmly in the category of the “billionaire romance”; in such narratives, the tension that arises from the couple’s marked economic differences dramatically influences the plot. This dynamic immediately becomes apparent as Aiden’s social status and wealth creates unforeseen conflicts in his developing relationship with Frankie. The novel also contains elements of romantic comedy due to its slapstick action and improbably witty dialogue. Finally, it can also be classified as a contemporary romance because the characters must contend with modern issues such as pursuing an education and coping with unexpected job loss. Despite pulling from a multitude of subgenres, The Worst Best Man follows the broader patterns of character development and plot progression that typically characterize novels in the romance genre.