Hot Romance and Fantasy Tropes of 2025: What City Owl Press Readers Are Craving

As genre fiction continues to dominate both digital shelves and BookTok feeds, 2025 is shaping up to be a year where romance and fantasy intersect more than ever. Readers want intensity, escapism, and emotional growth—and they want it delivered through familiar tropes with fresh, inclusive spins.

At the forefront of these evolving trends is City Owl Press, an independent publisher that has built its brand around genre-forward, character-driven storytelling. With a sharp focus on romance, urban fantasy, paranormal, and speculative fiction, City Owl Press knows exactly what its audience wants—and is delivering stories that meet those desires head-on.

So, what are readers craving in 2025? Based on insights from City Owl Press’s Medium blog, their official blog, and genre trends from their latest titles, here’s a closer look at the hottest tropes right now.

❤️ 1. Enemies to Lovers—With a Magical Twist

Still one of the most beloved tropes in romance, the enemies-to-lovers arc remains a staple, but this year, readers want more complexity. City Owl Press is seeing success with stories where the antagonism stems from magical conflicts—warring realms, rival supernatural factions, or cursed bloodlines.

This heightens both the stakes and the tension, turning emotional arcs into epic journeys. Whether it’s witches and hunters or rival shifters, readers are all in for chemistry that burns and worldbuilding that stuns.

🌕 2. Found Family in Fantastical Worlds

The isolation of recent years has intensified the reader's craving for stories about belonging. One trope thriving in 2025 is the "found family" motif—especially within urban fantasy.

City Owl Press has tapped into this desire with stories where loners, outcasts, or magical misfits come together to form deep, meaningful bonds. These narratives hit emotionally, offering comfort, camaraderie, and often some quirky side characters readers can't get enough of.

🔮 3. Fated Mates—With Consent and Subversion

Fated mates are back but with a modern twist. Instead of being purely instinctual or destiny-driven, newer stories are emphasizing choice, consent, and emotional compatibility. City Owl Press authors are leading the way by deconstructing traditional power imbalances and giving characters autonomy—even when fate seems inevitable.

This evolution reflects a broader industry shift toward empowering storytelling, which resonates strongly with readers who want fantasy romance that’s both swoon-worthy and socially conscious.

👑 4. Hidden Royalty and Magical Lineage

In 2025, the "secret heir" trope is resurging, especially in stories that blend romantic fantasy with hidden legacies. Think: small-town barista discovers she's heir to a fallen fae kingdom. These stories offer the thrill of transformation, identity, and legacy.

City Owl Press's editorial team actively seeks manuscripts that offer fresh takes on this trope—particularly when they center on underrepresented voices or offer unique world-building spins.

💘 5. Second Chance Romance in Supernatural Settings

City Owl Press also reports growing reader interest in second-chance love—especially among older protagonists or characters with emotional scars. When set in supernatural or speculative environments, this trope gains a whole new dimension, allowing past mistakes, magical curses, or altered timelines to raise the emotional stakes.

Thoughts

If you’re a reader (or writer) of genre fiction, keeping an eye on the tropes that resonate is key to both enjoying and creating compelling narratives. City Owl Press continues to publish stories that not only satisfy these cravings but evolve the tropes for modern, thoughtful audiences.

For more insights into what drives their acquisitions and what readers love, check out their official blog and their ongoing editorials on the City Owl Press Medium.

Because when it comes to tropes, it’s not just about what’s trending—it’s about how well it’s told.