The Ex Hex

While “romantic comedy” is more easily recognizable as a film genre, its literary presence and popularity has increased exponentially since the genre’s earliest appearances in the 20th century. As “rom-coms” became a viable film genre, the tropes, character types, and plot structures these films established profoundly affected the corresponding literary genre. By the mid-2000s, romantic comedies on the page and on the screen were nearly identical in their treatment of the genre’s major themes, so it can be useful for a reader to keep in mind the same generic conventions they might see gracing their screens. As both forms developed, the protagonists were no longer confined to “traditional” gender roles in their relationships.

The romantic comedy genre also expanded by incorporating elements from other popular genres, such as action/adventure, historical fiction, fantasy, horror, and science fiction. This new hybridity enabled romantic comedies to expand the range of conflicts that drive the plot forward. In the case of The Ex Hex, Vivi and Rhys’s romance is rekindled by magical problems and supernatural events. While romantic comedy is still the primary genre, the novel borrows from other genres to develop unique characters, push their relationships toward satisfying conclusions, and provide external conflicts and problems that require the protagonists’ collaboration to solve.