The romance genre can feature many types of settings or character dynamics, provided that the work focuses primarily on a romantic relationship. A romance novel usually features a happy ending, wherein the characters must be shown to have resolved their core conflicts and have a secure future. Delilah Green Doesn’t Care relies heavily on these two elements, though Herring Blake uses story structure and plot elements to underline how her narrative is unique in its approach to the genre.

For example, Delilah Green occupies the Cinderella trope, as she is the mistreated stepdaughter of her late father’s cruel second wife and has an estranged relationship with her stepsister. However, the twist is that both sisters view each other as the antagonist while feeling insecure over their own flaws and mistakes—Delilah even calls herself the “wicked stepsister” to Claire’s daughter, Ruby. The expectations of the Cinderella trope are subverted when Delilah and Astrid reconcile, allowing the familial and romantic relationships to develop in a healthy manner alongside each other.

The novel’s opening chapters partly subvert genre expectations by introducing Delilah and Claire separately before they encounter one another.