You honestly seem to have a good grasp on CEO novels that I learned something new today :D

I think the ML getting drunk and helping himself on the FL tends to be a thing too. I'm not quite sure.

There's a Cinderella-esque moment when FL is brought to a Business Dinner or something and walks in and gains the attention of people and often the time where she meets the villainess

    Never read a CEO-oriented novel but have read some webcomics on it. I have encountered several times the "one-night stand" beginning - an FL sleeps with the super-rich ML, under whatever circumstances. It can be a good start but never seen a webcomic that properly delivered the story. Again, not sure if it's a common plot for novels.

      Insolit situation where plain Jane is lead into a flash marriage with a hetero, filthy rich and handsome guy unable to seduce women any other way than blackmailing or throwing money on them.
      The MC usually is unable to make friends with people around her.
      She's often introverted and clumsy, and if she's not the "ex villainess" herself, will be humiliated so the ML can defend her (by her back, because for unknown reasons, he suffers paralysis when someone is humiliating her in front of him)

        neaht3 It seems there are some books on the theme ("in control woman finds a CEO'"), though I think it escapes entirely the classic CEO trope.
        Another classic cliche: MC needs something from CEO. Ranging from saving her own life from ninja assassins to money to save life of Little Timmy. If at work, he's her boss or the next billionaire contract of her company.

            SrtaA :D :D :D

            I imagined it more like the FL being the CEO facing an ML who is also a CEO. Rivaling companies of sorts? Nor sure if that would be still in the CEO trope but would certainly be an interesting play of cards.

            Your second half of the reply cracked me up. :D :D :D
            I have noticed, in general, that the Romance genre relies a bit too much on cliches. I have rarely encountered something that breaks free from the stereotype. Hm.

                neaht3 I remember seeing some novels with a CEO lady clashing the ML who is also a CEO, but it didn't intrigue me enough to remember any titles. It definitly is a thing, too. Perhaps because, being in a creative job myself, the 'office struggles' and the power play doesn't entice me.
                Another cliche: shower of expensive gifts: cars, jewels, branded items, personal staff, etc.
                It reminds me that in my first romance, the tentative rich (but not filthy rich) ML remember the tropes of romance and tries to shower the (struggling) MC with branded bags... She tells him to shove them ... well. I tried the non cliche romance. It didn't go popular, of course.

                    SrtaA That's why I avoid romance though not completely as it is not possible to void the novel off of the character bonds and emotions; it is not the genre I enjoy the most but is nice when I see it as a sub-genre. Maybe you should try to go after action novels? If you haven't given them a go, you should. Anyway, I will stop spamming as I have nothing else to contribute lol.

                    P.S. Not sure if 'blackmailing' was mentioned here. The clumsy and helpless FL being blackmailed by the CEO is the thing I dislike the most lol.

                      neaht3 Ohhh oki I'll see if there's a way to hint at something along those lines

                      SrtaA LOL I'm actually dead reading this. You're totally right - But oof about that other story

                      neaht3 I think it's hard to escape from certain things entirely because people's notions of "romance" are in general pretty similar. But the idea of these cliches is a bit too much rip .-. And also isn't blackmailing technically illegal?

                      john_john_OO Got it thanks -

                                I think you've nailed it. You just need to emphasize how young and handsome the CEO is + how he oozes money from his blackheads and how his bank account has more digits than the FL's telephone number.

                                The ML is a red-flag level of possessive despite having a legion of women by his side and the FL? Hanging out with other men? nope. The secondary ML is a scapegoat tossed into the story in order to advance their relationship.

                                The FL is all into that anyway because the CEO is hot (and rich). He's good at everything, apparently, and the FL herself can't sort a pile of documents without tripping and falling on his expensive suit (+points if she spills coffee on him).

                                There must be also be an arc featuring a convenient memory loss - namely, amnesia due to a car accident.

                                  Jenjibread I didn't mean to sound so satirical aha -nervous sweats-
                                  Oh yes - the car accident. It's gotta happen right at the point where they begin to develop feelings too.
                                  Some cliches are fun to read, and they're cliche for a reason :) so I guess these stories just cater to a certain audience!

                                      yoo thanks for this thread, i'm writing a cliche-mockery vampire ceo fic and this is nice reference material :0

                                      don't forget that a FL's family structure is usually sisters/half sisters being evil, brothers being obsessive/good, father either being absolute trash or heavily spoils the FL, mother usually being dead or mistreated, and there's probably a 2nd/3rd wife out there having an affair with the trash father. oh, and the grandparents are usually super doting on FL.
                                      (or at least, CEO webcomics have told me this, haven't read more than 10 chapters of any CEO webnovel, but since comics are based off of novels... :joy:)

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