Literary Tropes. They're everywhere in books, from Insta-Love to Love Triangles to Manic-Pixie-Dream-Whoevers. Sure, they can be annoying. And critics have a lot to say about them (sometimes I have a lot to say about them). But like 'em or hate 'em, there's something comforting in the predictability of Literary Tropes, of knowing just how a certain character will act or a certain situation will play out.
As for Literary Tropes, probably my favorite sort is Instant Friends. You know, new kid in town is lonely until he/she/they hooks up with a group of friends that are so awesome they're almost too good to be true. I love this trope. I can't help it. And a fantastic example of this can be found in Emma Mills' novel This Adventure Ends.
This Adventure Ends centers on Sloane, a snarky but sweet New York teen transplanted to sunny Florida when her family moves for her father's career. Sloane has never made or kept friends easily... Until now, of course. Almost immediately she falls in with Vera, Gabe, Remy, Audrey, and Frank, like the long-lost missing piece to their near-perfect Friendship Puzzle. Add to this an Epic Quest for a missing painting, snappy dialogue, and a whole ton of feels. This Adventure Ends is a sweet story and a quick read. There's a little romance too, but the story is more about the friendship between characters.
I loved this book for a number of reasons, but mostly because it pulled me out of a seriously awful pandemic-fueled reading slump. So if you're suffering from the same sort of condition, This Adventure Ends just might work for you too. Either way, it's a quick, fun, and cute story that I highly recommend.
--AJB
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