By a Thread

By a Thread is a work of contemporary romance that falls under the romantic comedy subgenre. The novel can also be categorized as a workplace romance that uses the professional realm to create narrative tension between the two love interests, something Score credits E. L. James’s 2011 novel Fifty Shades of Grey with inspiring. In her author bio on her website, Score claims that reading Fifty Shades of Grey gave her “the idea of writing a romance novel” and incited her dream of becoming a full-time author after she lost her marketing job. The workplace and power dynamics central to James’s novel recur in By a Thread. Score’s novel also overtly references Lauren Weisberger’s The Devil Wears Prada (2003), with its similar setting at a fashion magazine, and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813), with Ally and Dominic’s combative relationship. By including these allusions and borrowing elements from other works, Score is participating in the tradition of fan fiction, fittingly since Fifty Shades of Grey was itself fan fiction inspired by Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight (2005). By referencing these iconic and familiar works, Score aims to deepen the social and cultural resonances of her writing.

By a Thread also relies on many romance genre tropes. For example, romantic comedies set in the workplace romance often feature scenes of forced proximity, forbidden romance, and enemies-to-lovers tropes. In keeping with these expectations, Ally and Dominic must spend time together when Ally starts working at Dominic’s company. Their ire for each other grows into sexual attraction as a result of their proximity, but they’re not allowed to act on their feelings because of Label’s policies. Score uses this standard structure to create barriers between her love interests, complicate their romance, and propel the narrative.