It’s the plot of almost every Hallmark romantic movie, their roots often set in lesser known romance novel adaptations. A big city girl, or boy, comes back to the home town they’ve been trying to avoid, or is shipped of to/breaks down in a town in the middle of nowhere.
While their old way of living may not have been completely fulfilling, everything about this new place is uncomfortable as they’re greeted by a whole cast of new and unique residents. We’ve seen it. We’ve read it. So why do we still love it so much?
Although these small towns could be anywhere, we often find them in the northern United States, preferably somewhere that experiences all four seasons, perfect for setting that cosy vibe and replicating the drama of the plot. Mostly they also come with the baggage of an unusual or cutesy name. Sometimes this has a deep history, and sometimes we as readers just have to overlook it, lest it give us the ick.
But no matter the type of small town name or location, it’s the things they all have in common that really holds the power for the reader. Similarities that make these places so familiar that we can soothe ourselves straight into the story as if we can smell it.
Whether we’re reading a ten book series or simply re-watching Gilmore Girls, we know we’re going to get a good cup of coffee from the local coffee shop owner. We’re going to get gossip, both including the protagonist we identify with the most and about them. Some of it might even be accurate. We’re probably going to get pulled into a parade or seasonal gathering, or three. And we’ll definitely be hugged by someone who reminds us of a grandparent or aunt.
Because we’ve seen it so many times in visual popular culture, the already vivid imaginations of readers can easily pull together their own mental configuration of shops and businesses, often interspersed with surrounding nature which separates it from the outside world. We know this setting; the author just has to pick the season that best represents the journey they need to go on and add a tiny sprinkling of individual details.
Although, I and thousands of other readers would like to petition to bring maps back to physical books.
The reader is already comfortable, the scene is set and all bets are off, leaving the rest of the work to the unique cast of characters. This is why this romance trope often works so well with other subgenres that bring in even more readers. From our familiar world we can now enjoy its unique interactions with suspense, thrillers, or even magical or paranormal themes.
No matter the array of annoying and colourful characters, we know they are going to help lead us to that end goal – falling in love – and maybe even help us solve a crime or two along the way.
We find comfort in the familiar and the protective, particularly in times where we don’t have that in our outer world. There is a comfort in the deep connections – the characters who remember the awkward teenage behaviour of our main love interest, reminding them who they are and why they are deserving of love and security.
They may be over-involved but their lack of boundaries brings broken and proud protagonists home to their true selves, despite how much they try to fight it. The power of welcoming and friendliness when they feel the world is cold has healing a million hearts. They can see the light after a whole community comes out to protect them.
They, and we, get to see the best and strangest of human nature. Maybe that encourages us to be our best, or at least embrace a little of the weird. All while traveling to places we feel like we know but have never been.
Looking to your next small town to visit? Here are some of the places I’ve been living in, mentally and emotionally, during my last few reads:
- The Bailey Brothers Series by Claire Kingsley, based in Tilikum. Start with Protecting You.
- The Puffin Island Series by Sarah Morgan, based on Puffin Island. Start with First Time in Forever.
If escape hasn’t quite been your thing then why not check out the first in the deep dive series all about enemies-to-lovers. Next time we’ll be exploring if the surprise pregnancy trope is still attractive to readers.
Words by Gemma-Louise Walsh
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