An underdog story in romance books is about a character who starts off at a disadvantage. This character often faces many challenges and is underestimated by others. Despite these obstacles, they work hard and eventually achieve success. In the end, they often find love and prove everyone wrong. These stories are all about rooting for the unlikely hero and celebrating their triumphs.
Definition of an Underdog: Character who is at a disadvantage but strives to overcome obstacles.
Appeal of an Underdog Story – Why Do We Like Them?
Readers and viewers root for underdog characters because they’re relatable and inspiring. They face tough challenges but keep going, which makes their journey exciting to watch. We love seeing them overcome obstacles and prove themselves. Their struggle and triumph make their love story feel more special.
Cheering for the underdog is like rooting for the little guy to win big, and it makes the happy ending even more satisfying.
Common Tropes in Underdog Stories
- Hidden Gem: It is all about a character who seems ordinary or overlooked at first. However, as the story unfolds, they reveal surprising talents, qualities, or strengths that make them extraordinary. This unexpected brilliance often helps them overcome challenges and win the admiration or love of others. It’s a feel-good trope because it shows that greatness can be found in the most unexpected places.
- Cinderella Story: A character from a modest background rises to achieve great things and finds love.
- Transformation: The underdog undergoes a big change, whether it’s personal, social, or physical.
- Rivalry to Romance: Two characters who start off as rivals end up falling in love.
- Unlikely Match: A romance develops between two characters who seem very different or mismatched. This trope is all about two characters who don’t seem like they belong together. They might have very different backgrounds, personalities, or lifestyles. Despite these differences, they find love and connect deeply. This trope is fun because it shows how opposites can attract and how love can surprise us. It’s about finding that special connection even when it seems unlikely.
- The Outsider: The underdog is an outsider or misunderstood, but they find acceptance and love.
Examples in Galatea Books
Unlikely Match Trope: The Playmaker by Natalie Ashee
Nova Conners is both a physics enthusiast and a huge football fan. So when the Atlanta Cruisers offer her a job based on her final thesis, she’s over the moon. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. However, the team’s star quarterback, Maxwell Garland, is an arrogant and stubborn player who doesn’t take advice from anyone—not his coach, not his teammates, and definitely not a physics nerd. But if they want to keep their careers on track, they’ll have to stay professional—despite the undeniable chemistry and intense attraction between them.
Rivalry to Romance Trope: Keily by Manjari
Transformation Trope: Feelin the Burn by E.L. Koslo
Hannah Daniels, facing serious health risks, is advised by Dr. Isaacs to make major lifestyle changes. She hesitantly joins a gym, supported by her best friend Parker. Hannah struggles at first, especially with her intimidating trainer, Mal, but she pushes through with encouragement from the gym staff. She grows closer to her coach, Jordan, who she later discovers is the man named J she had met earlier. Their relationship deepens as they spend more time together. Despite some awkward moments, they develop mutual respect and attraction.
Cinterella Story Trope: Family Matters by C.B. Rose
Cassidy Parker has endured a rough life. Abandoned by her drug-addicted parents at fourteen, she’s spent years bouncing between abusive foster homes. Her high school sweetheart relationship was also deeply toxic. Now, she has a chance to turn her life around and find happiness with the charming Xavier Montero. The question is, will her troubled past allow her to seize this opportunity?
Depicting an Underdog Character
At the beginning of a book or novel, an underdog character is often depicted in a few key ways:
- Overlooked or Undervalued: They might be ignored or underestimated by others. They could be seen as ordinary or unimportant.
- Facing Challenges: They usually start with significant personal or external obstacles. This could be a tough background, low self-esteem, or difficult circumstances.
- Lack of Resources: They might not have the advantages, skills, or support that others do. This can make their journey seem more difficult.
- Unsure or Struggling: They may feel doubtful about their abilities or uncertain about their future. Their confidence is often low.
- Isolated or Misunderstood: They could be a bit of an outsider, feeling disconnected from the people around them.
Overcoming Every Single Challenge
The “overcoming challenges” theme is popular in underdog stories because it’s both engaging and uplifting. People love watching characters face tough obstacles and work hard to beat the odds. It’s exciting to see how they tackle problems and grow from their experiences. This theme is interesting because it shows resilience and determination, making the character’s eventual success feel really rewarding.
Differences Between Heroes and Underdog Characters
| Aspect |
Underdog Character |
Hero Character |
| Background | The main character is often someone who’s overlooked or not seen as special. They might come from a tough background, feel insecure, or have past trauma. They start off as the underdog, needing to prove their worth. | The protagonist is typically someone with notable qualities or advantages, like confidence, skills, or status. They might be a powerful, charismatic figure who is already seen as a “hero” by others. |
| Love Journey | The journey is about overcoming external and internal obstacles. The underdog must often prove themselves, earn love, and gain respect. Their growth is central to the story, and they often surprise others (and themselves) by rising to the challenge. | The hero’s journey is more about using their strengths to protect or win over the person they love. They face challenges, but they’re usually more prepared to handle them, and the story focuses on how they come through for their love interest. |
| Conflict | The conflict often comes from the character’s struggles with self-doubt, social pressure, or personal limitations. The tension is about whether they can overcome these challenges to find love. | The conflict is usually more external—fighting enemies, dealing with rivals, or facing situations that threaten their relationship. The hero is more in control, often battling to protect what they have. |
| Change | The underdog goes through big changes. They grow a lot throughout the story, becoming more confident and finding love, often earning the respect of others along the way. | The hero might change too, but it’s more about learning to balance their strengths with their emotions. Their transformation is less about proving themselves and more about understanding what really matters in love. |
| Reader Appeal | Great for readers who love cheering for the underdog, watching someone rise above the odds, and enjoying the satisfaction of a hard-won love. | Perfect for readers who like strong, capable characters who take charge, face big challenges, and save the day while winning their love. |
How Underdog Stories Motivate Us
In underdog stories, seeing someone rise above their circumstances is really motivational. It shows that anyone can overcome difficulties and succeed, no matter how tough things are. It’s inspiring to watch a character who starts with disadvantages work hard and make their dreams come true. Their journey proves that determination and effort can lead to amazing changes.
This sense of triumph encourages readers to believe in their own ability to tackle challenges and achieve their goals.
It’s a powerful reminder that greatness can come from unexpected places.
In these stories, overcoming challenges is usually depicted through various struggles like personal doubts, societal obstacles, or intense rivalries. The characters often face setbacks but keep pushing forward. This journey is filled with moments of struggle, small victories, and personal growth, leading to a satisfying and inspiring conclusion.
