This Week's Topic
Trope Talk - The Caretaker
Happy Friday! I hope everyone is having a great week.
I am not sure if this is a trope, but it is definitely a plot device used in many romance books, and it's the caretaker. Have you ever read a romance where one of the characters falls ill or gets into a situation where they need someone to take care of them? I have, and I LOVE IT!
I think taking care of someone when they are unwell is one of the most honest ways to show you care. You have to give up your time to tend to their needs, and sometimes, it can be difficult. It could involve bodily fluids or said person being cranky. It could involve a lot of moving parts or rearranging your life to be there for them. I personally have never felt more cherished than when someone cared for me when I was ill. When I see this in a book, I automatically get all warm and fuzzy.
It's also a great way to force proximity. The caretaker would have to spend time with the other person where the sick person could be in a fairly vulnerable position. This is great when you are dealing with a prickly character or one that is hard to get close to. A different side of them is revealed, and it can help one understand them or the attraction more.
Think about it, the other person is seeing you at your worst and still loving you while showing their nurturing side. This accelerates that intimacy you want in a romance and helps build trust between the characters. This is especially delightful for me when it's HIM caring for HER. I feel like women are often shown as nurturers. It's assumed they will care for you. Seeing a hero assume that role makes me swoon.
Below are some books I have read that had a character in the caretaker role at some point in the book which often was a turning point for the couple.
- Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt
- Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
- Love at First by Kate Clayborn
- Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
- Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
- When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
- The Roommate Pact by Allison Ashley
- Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
- Secret or Shutout by Leah Brunner
- Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Now it's your turn!
Do you enjoy this trope?
Let us know in the comments!
Let us know in the comments!
Yes it is nice to see men in that role.
ReplyDeleteIt really is.
Delete"This is especially delightful for me when it's HIM caring for HER. I feel like women are often shown as nurturers. It's assumed they will care for you. Seeing a hero assume that role makes me swoon."
ReplyDeleteLet's normalise "him caring for her" please! 🙂
No doubt you could feel this one as a caregiver. My father was a firefighter, so he would work a 24 hour shift every few days. I saw him a lot more than my mother who worked a corporate job, so he was the one who really took care of us as kids.
DeleteYes I have read that trope and depending if it's in a love story or a generational friendship story I love it! The most heartbeaking I have read with that trope is Me Before You!
ReplyDeleteThat one definitely came to mind. Heartbreaking, BUT I love that the author wrote more books for Lou.
DeleteI do think it's sweet when a main character gets sick and their love interest cares for them. The Shippers by Katherine Center (I'm listening to it now) has a little bit of that when Jojo gets sunburned.
ReplyDeleteYes! Now I remember. He was a sweet friend.
DeleteYes, I do like that in a romance and agree, there is no better way to show you care than by taking care of someone. I can't think off the top of my head, but I have read some.
ReplyDeleteCaretaking is a special skill and done with your whole heart.
DeleteI absolutely agree- especially since the statistics say that men leave women who need care far more than the reverse (which is gross, frankly) so I am definitely going to find that romantic in a book! And, it's like, REAL love- you know someone is in it for the long haul when they're caring for you at your worst!
ReplyDeleteThat's so sad, but I am not shocked.
Delete