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Published by Kate Cuthbert
Whether your chosen one finds themselves the victim of an inconvenient prophecy or setting off on an epic quest, falling in love with their enemy or in a small town with big secrets, tropes can make or break a story. But what is a trope? What do they actually do? And how do writers choose them? Join host Kate Cuthbert as she delves into the world of tropes – what they mean, what they bring, and how they can go wrong – by interviewing some of the best fiction writers from her home country of Australia. Will they find themselves in a room with only one bed, or in possession of a spooky McGuffin? Only time (and story) will tell.
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Trope: Reverse Age Gap Guest: Jodi McAlister Book: A Study in Sparkling , Atria Australia, 28 July 2026 Jodi McAlister, PhD, is an author and academic from Kiama, Australia. She is the author of An Academic Affair and the Marry Me Juliet trilogy. She is currently a senior lecturer in writing, literature, and culture at Deakin University in Melbourne and is the president of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance. For more, visit JodiMcAlister.com.au or find her on Instagram @JodiMcAlister . Jodi brought us the Reverse Age Gap trope, wherein a romance happens between an older woman and a younger man. Examples of this trope include Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie, Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez, and That Kind of Guy by Talia Hibbert. She talks about her book A Study in Sparkling , a romance novel about Fiona Fisher who thought she had it all: a loving husband, three kids, and a life far away from the suffocating expectations of her family. But when her husband reveals that he's leaving her for his secret second family, Fiona is left devastated and humiliated. Satoshi Tsukamoto wants it all. He’s the owner of a popular wine bar, and he’s studying for the hardest test in the world: the Master Sommelier exam. There aren’t enough hours in the day for anything else – except maybe Fiona, his favourite customer, and the woman he’s head-over-heels in love with. On paper, Fiona and Satoshi make no sense. He’s eight years younger than her and has no time for romance. She’s a single mother and doesn't know if she'll ever be able to trust anyone again. But how can Fiona resist when Satoshi suggests they give into their mutual attraction to let off some steam? And how can Satoshi resist when the woman he adores is finally within his grasp – even if they’ve agreed to keep things casual? A Study in Sparkling is available at a bookstore near you!
Host Kate Cuthbert introduces the Enough Trope project and podcast, and teases a few of the guests and tropes you’ll be hearing in future episodes. In this episode, as well as Kate Cuthbert, you heard the voices of future guests Freya Marske, Amie Kaufman, Michaella Clements, Rebecca Lim and Stacey McEwan.
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Apple Podcasts rankings via the Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed September 20, 2026.
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