Done and Dusted

Sage’s novels, including Done and Dusted, fall into the genre of contemporary romance. Although Done and Dusted deals with serious subject matter, such as complicated family dynamics, anxiety, and the death of parents, it is underpinned by lighthearted and comedic moments that often shift the tone away from the heavier subject matter. Contemporary romances are categorized by their happy endings and familiar plotlines but often focus on the main characters’ personal growth and the obstacles they must overcome to achieve their happy ending. As in Done and Dusted, most contemporary romance heroines and heroes are flawed; these narratives often show them helping each other overcome barriers not only to becoming romantically involved but also to being better and happier people.

Just as contemporary romance novels rely on familiar narrative structures, they also often involve well-worn tropes, archetypes, and situations, such as enemies-to-lovers relationships, marriage-of-convenience plotlines, and small-town settings. Done and Dusted uses many conventions typical of contemporary romance novels, including the enemies-to-lovers trope, in which two people with a complicated past together recognize how much they are influenced by their first impressions of one another.