What is the insta-love trope?

Insta-love skips the slow build: the couple falls hard and fast, and the plot is about whether that feeling survives reality. It's divisive, but beloved in shorter romances and fairy-tale-style stories.

Common variations

  • Love at first sight
  • Whirlwind romance
  • Fated bond

What to watch out for

  • Feelings that are told rather than shown

Classic examples

  • Romeo and Juliet