understanding the romance genre

The Ever-Evolving Romance Genre

Whether you’re a long-term romance bookworm or just starting with the genre, you may know that romance is very popular. In fact, romance is one of the few genres of books where sales are continually increasing instead of dropping.

To understand what keeps this genre so engaging, it helps to know what makes a romance a romance. This guide covers the major elements of the romance genre, introduces some of romance’s many subgenres, and tracks trends of classic romance novels and contemporary works.

Understanding Romance Terminology

Before we dive in, let’s answer a core question: What makes a romance novel?

Ultimately, there are only two required elements: a strong central romantic plot and a happily ever after (HEA) or happy for now (HFN) ending. If it has a romance plot but doesn’t end happily, it can still be a love story, but it is not officially a romance novel. 

Understanding Romance Subgenres

Because romance’s core definition is so expansive, there is a lot of opportunity for subgenre diversity. Each subgenre has its own tropes and conventions, so understanding the terminology helps you know what you’re likely to see on the page:

Contemporary Romance

Contemporary romance operates in the real world in approximately the current day. While this broad definition includes various subgenres, a romance labeled simply “contemporary” likely doesn’t fall into any of those narrower categories. Contemporaries are less prone to serialization than other romance subgenres. Colleen Hoover’s popular 2016 novel It Ends With Us is an example of contemporary romance.  

Rom-coms, or romantic comedies, are an exception to this rule, as they strongly overlap with contemporary romance. The popularity of the rom-com has led to some criticism that books that are not focused on comedy and would therefore better be termed straightforward contemporary romance get the rom-com label for marketing reasons. With its lighthearted tone, Red, White & Royal Blue is an unambiguous example of romantic comedy.

Historical Romance

Historical romance takes place in the real world but in the past (typically defined as anything pre-1980, though some make this divide pre-1945).

Historical romance novels encapsulate different periods, including the extremely popular regency romance subgenre. The regency era, or the late 18th through early 19th century in England, is represented in Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series. The Victorian era (later in the 19th century) is also a popular setting for romance books; Evie Dunmore’s A League of Extraordinary Women series looks at the politics of this era. Western romance, like Lorraine Heath’s Texas Trilogy, also has a significant place among historicals.

Historicals can also take place closer to the modern day. KJ Charles’s Will Darling Adventures series takes place in post-World War I England, while Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malindo LO looks at the 1950s in San Francisco. Historicals are often serialized.

Paranormal Romance

Paranormal romance books take place in the real world but have some sort of supernatural element to them. If you’re looking for vampire romance books, this is your subgenre; Michelle Read’s Vampire Academy is a popular choice. Werewolf romance books, like Wolfsong by TJ Klune, are also a paranormal mainstay, as are titles featuring ghosts and other forms of shapeshifters.

Paranormal series are sometimes very long. Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series, for example, has 15 installments—and a spinoff series with eight more. Some monster romance (featuring minotaurs, krakens, or other unusual creatures as protagonists) fits into this genre, though titles with monster protagonists that take place in other worlds are usually considered fantasy romance books.

Science Fiction Romance

Science fiction romance can take place either in the real world, in fictional worlds, or in both. This subgenre sees aliens (Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon), space travel (The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton), or futuristic settings. This last category may overlap with dystopian or cyberpunk romance; Lily Mayne’s Monstrous series looks at a dystopian future for the United States after monsters arrive through a rift between worlds.

Holiday Romance

Holiday romances used to be dominated by Christmas romance books like Christina Lauren’s In a Holidaze, and while this subgenre still sees overlap with other Christian romances (romance books that have an ideological bent that comes from Christianity), recent years have seen other religious and cultural traditions increasingly represented. For example, Jean Meltzer’s The Matzah Ball focuses on Hannukah. Meanwhile, the Amor Actually anthology, though focused on Christmas, features stories from Latina authors that highlight holiday practices unique to their cultures.

Mystery Romance

Mystery romance books require an ending that both solves some sort of mystery and provides an HEA for its protagonists. Jesse Q. Suntano’s Dial A for Aunties offers a comedic look at this subgenre.

Sports Romance

Sports romance books take place in and around the world of athletics, with typically at least one romantic lead as a player of that sport. Hockey romance, like Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, has seen runaway popularity on BookTok. Intercepted by Alexa Martin focuses on the NFL, while The Prospects by KT Hoffman moves to the minor leagues to tell the story of the first out trans player in minor league baseball.

Dark Romance

Dark romance books feature antiheroes with questionable morality—without asking them to give up their wicked ways—and include mafia romance books like Danielle Lori’s The Sweetest Oblivion. While fans of this subgenre consider dark romances some of the best spicy romance books out there, be sure to check content warnings, as these works may depict sensitive content.

Young Adult and New Adult Romance

Young adult romance is different from other subgenres in that it’s defined by the age of its characters and the age of its presumed readers. These books tend more toward an HFN than an HEA (since teens are less likely to end up in lifelong relationships than adults) and are usually less sexually explicit, as they involve minors. Coming-of-age elements are often intertwined with the love story for YA romance protagonists. YA romances may also fall into one or more subgenres of romance broadly; Stephenie Meyer’s popular Twilight series, for instance, is among the most famous examples of vampire romance. 

New adult (or NA) romance is another category defined by age—though this subgenre focuses more on its characters than its audience. NA books are often more explicit than YA since their characters are legally adults, and they may include characters that are in, or recently graduated from, college. Such is the case with Jamie McGuire’s Beautiful Disaster, which also features the “good girl”/“bad boy” dynamic common to many romances.

Steamy and Spicy Romance, Erotic Romance, and Erotica

If you’ve seen recommendations for “steamy romance novels” or “spicy romance books,” don’t conflate these with subgenres. These terms refer to the amount of sexual explicitness (sometimes called “heat”) in each text. With its racy depiction of an age-gap romance, Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas shows one way to make a romance “spicy,” though steamy romances do not necessarily need to feature “taboo” elements.

On the other end of the spectrum are “clean” or “sweet” romances, which have little to no sexual content—though these terms are sometimes criticized for framing sex as “dirty.” Graeme Simsion’s The Rosie Project is an example of a book that focuses much more on romance than sex. 

These terms are not entirely separate from genre. Spicy fantasy romance books, for example, are so popular that the “romantasy” genre commonly features explicit sexual encounters. Contemporary romance has more variance, often including “fade to black” or “closed door” scenes that imply but do not describe sex. Young adult romance books are also typically more limited in their descriptions of sex due to minor characters and a presumed teenaged audience.

Erotic romance and erotica are genre terms, however, as they refer to specific ways that sex operates within a narrative. Erotic romance refers to spicy romance where the sexual encounters materially inform the plot; in erotic romance, sex is the impetus for romantic feelings instead of romantic feelings being the impetus for sex.

In erotica, meanwhile, sexual encounters are the plot. Erotica is sometimes seen as living on the fringe of romance due to its complicated relationship to an HEA; while romance demands that characters end up together and happy, erotica may offer characters who are happy though apart at the end of its narrative—as in erotica that depicts casual sexual encounters.

The Emergence of Romantasy

Romantasy is the newest hit subgenre in the romance world. This subgenre has sparked debate in the romance-reading world regarding which genre takes precedence—i.e., whether romantasy books are fantasy romance or romance fantasy.

Though the distinction might not seem significant on the surface, romance readers have debated whether books described as “romantasy” can truly be called romance or would be better framed as fantasy with a romance subplot. For example, some bookstores shelve Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing as romantasy, particularly given Yarros’s romance backlist. Others call it simply fantasy—no “romance” involved—since the series’ significant romance plot might not end in an HEA or HFN.

Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series also deserves special mention for its role in popularizing romantasy (the first novel was published in 1991). Once again, however, genre distinctions are blurry; though the series has a strong romantic focus, its incorporation of time travel means that it involves elements of not only fantasy but also historical fiction.

Romantasy titles have seen a sharp increase in popularity in recent years. These books are often part of a series and take place in fantasy worlds. Popular romantasy titles include:

·        The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

·        From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

·        A Court of Thorn and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

·        Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Romance Tropes

Genres and subgenres give the big picture of what to expect from a romance novel, though romances are also often defined by their tropes, or repeated motifs of plot events or character interactions. This romance tropes list will get you started:

·        Enemies-to-lovers: The characters start off as enemies before they fall in love.

·        Friends-to-lovers: The characters start off as friends before falling in love.

·        Second chance romance: Exes reconnect and decide to give love another chance.

·        Fake dating: Two characters must pretend to be in love (usually for a zany reason) until true emotions arise.

·        Grumpy/sunshine: One character is moody and the other upbeat, but they fall in love anyway.

·        Fish out of water: One person doesn’t belong while the other is right at home.

·        Forced proximity: The couple is stuck together for an unavoidable, external reason.

·        Slow burn: The characters take a long time to embrace their feelings.

·        Insta-love/Inta-lust: The characters know right away that they’ve got feelings (or at least attraction) for one another.

·        Why choose: These romances involve more than two people.

Though there are more romance book tropes than this, these tropes are some of the most common and can extend across genres. For example, while fish out of water is common in small-town romance (one person is new to town), it also works in sci-fi (someone is new to the planet), romantasy (one person is magical), or dark romance (the “innocent” character in a mafia narrative).

The Evolution of Romance: From Classic to Contemporary

Origins of the Romance Novel

Romantic love first rose to real prominence in Western literature during the Middle Ages in tales of “courtly love,” a genre of chivalric romance that featured knights doing great deeds for their ladies. However, these love stories usually did not end happily; Tristan and Isolde, popularized in Gottfried Van Strassburg’s Tristan, are actually among the earliest examples of “star-crossed lovers.”

The direct origins of modern romance novels lie in 18th and 19th-century fiction. Samuel Richardson’s epistolary novel Pamela and Jane Austen’s social satire (e.g., Pride and Prejudice) looked critically at the emotional struggles of female protagonists and featured a prominent focus on romantic relationships culminating in marriage. Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, like other classics from this era, saw its heroine rewarded for pursuing her own desires—a form of escapism for readers shackled by strict social norms.

In the early 20th century, romance expanded. Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca (1938) led to a boom in gothic romance books, while Georgette Heyer’s 1921 The Black Moth and 1950 The Grand Sophy led to greater demand for historical romances.

In 1972, The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss shook up romance by introducing “the bodice-ripper”—sexually explicit romances that frequently relied on patriarchal norms. In these books, an “innocent” female character would be seduced by a dominant male protagonist. These texts often romanticized sexual assault, framing it as a sign of the heroine’s “goodness” and the hero’s insatiable desire for her, which has led this narrative to fall out of fashion.

Transition to Modern Romance

While romance sales have long been a mainstay of the publishing industry, romance sales have more than doubled since 2020. While some of this success is attributed to social media communities like BookTok, increased interest in the genre may also reflect the expansion of the romance genre to include a broader range of topics, characters, and experiences.

While the HEA remains central, modern romances often look beyond the relationship between the romantic leads to ask what makes a romantic pairing work. For some characters, this may be professional fulfillment (The Hating Game by Sally Thorne), while for others, repairing family relationships or overcoming trauma feature prominently (Kate Clayborn’s The Other Side of Disappearing). These contemporary romance books hold that while happiness can be found in romantic relationships, finding romantic love is not the be-all-and-end-all of happiness.

Some top romance books also discuss social activism. Scarlett Peckham’s The Rakess, for example, takes the regency romance trope of the “rake”—a man who habitually seduces women—and looks at how it might reinforce patriarchal norms. Similarly, The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai tackles the sexism women face when they use dating apps.

Racial diversity in romance has increased in recent years. Some romance books with BIPOC authors and protagonists deal explicitly with issues of racism, while others address race more tacitly. Alyssa Cole’s An Extraordinary Union discusses abolition, while Talia Hibbert’s Get a Life, Chloe Brown discusses Black British identity and neurodivergence. This has prompted ongoing discussions in the romance community about the importance of representation in romance. In particular, advocates of diversity stress the importance of romance that frames its protagonists as inherently worthy of romantic love, even when in marginalized positions.

Though the romance genre is often stereotyped as heteronormative based on the influence of early “bodice-rippers,” LGTBQ+ romance authors have found greater purchase in the recent publishing market. If you’re looking for gay romance books, try Alexis Hall’s Boyfriend Material or Cat Sebastian’s We Should be So Lucky. Lesbian romance novels include Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake and Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner. Claire Kann’s The Romantic Agenda offers a romance with an asexual protagonist.

Modern romance writers have also pushed expectations of what gender looks like in the context of a romance novel. Casey McQuiston’s The Pairing offers a thoughtful discussion of gender in its exploration of the “right person, wrong time” trope, while Second Chances in New Port Stephen by TJ Alexander features a second-chance romance between a trans man and the boyfriend he dated before he transitioned.

Current Trends and the Future of Romance

As romance’s popularity continues to grow, it’s easy to wonder where the genre is heading.

Romantasy, as discussed, is an emerging subgenre, as are other hybrid genres. Subgenres that were once more niche are now getting mainstream releases, as well; Lana Ferguson’s My Fake Mate, for example, is an omegaverse novel. The trope, which entails characters who fall on a spectrum of dominance (often biologically rooted and largely manifesting in sexual relationships), long lived strictly in indie or self-publishing lanes.

A shift in physical books is affecting romance, too. Mass market paperbacks (smaller, less durable paperbacks typical of old-school romance) are being produced less often, which means that more romance novels are closer to $20 than $7-8. High-volume readers are increasingly turning to other cost-saving options, like Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program, which works on a subscription model that has been popular with romance writers and readers alike.

The Cultural Impact of Romance

The Impact of Romance on Popular Culture

The popularity (and profitability) of romance novels makes them abound in pop culture. Netflix’s 2020 adaptation of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novels saw both a boom for the streaming platform and Quinn’s novels, released more than a decade prior. Meanwhile, adaptations of romance novels into movies have participated in what some are calling a “renaissance” for romcoms in the film world.

The increased popularity of “steamy” romance has also inspired conversations about sexuality, particularly among women, who were historically discouraged from admitting to sexual desire.

Criticism and Controversy in the Romance Genre

Diversity in romance might have improved, but racism remains an issue in the genre. According to The State of Racial Diversity in Romance Report (published annually by The Ripped Bodice, an LA and New York-based indie romance bookstore), only 10.2% of romance books published in 2023 were by BIPOC authors. Afro-Dominicana romance author Adriana Herrera frequently speaks out about the difficulties faced by authors of color in romance publishing, which are amplified for those with intersectional identities.

The definition of different titles as romance is also subject to ongoing debate among romance readers. Though E. L. James’s Fifty Shades of Grey is an iconic romance, some debate if it is truly a romance novel, as the first installment doesn’t have an HEA (though the whole series does).

Notable Romance Authors and Iconic Works

Pioneers of the Genre

Jayne Ann Krentz (1979-present)

Krentz has written over 120 books under seven pseudonyms, including Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick. Try Second Sight (2006) or The Waiting Game (1985).

Nora Roberts (1981-present)

Romance readers call her “Queen Nora” for a reason—since her first release in 1981, Nora Roberts has released more than 225 romance novels. To get started with Roberts’s enormous backlist, try Vision in White (2009) or The Next Always (2011).

Lisa Kleypas (1987-present)

Though she’s best known for her 30+ historical romances, Lisa Kleypas also has eight contemporary titles on her list. Favorites include Dreaming of You (1994) and Cold-Hearted Rake (2015), the first in her series The Ravenels.

Beverly Jenkins (1994-present)

Beverly Jenkins, who boasts more than 50 titles, writes African American historical romance, typically set in the 19th century. Her titles Vivid (1995) and Indigo (1996) are so iconic they got 25th-anniversary editions to celebrate their enduring popularity.

Brenda Jackson (1995-present)

Brenda Jackson was the first African American writer to make the New York Times Bestseller’s List as a romance writer, and in her long career since, she has released more than 140 books and novellas. Try Bane (2015) and Private Arrangements (2012).

Modern Masters and Rising Stars

Kresley Cole (2003-present)

Cole’s books are not for the faint of heart. In A Hunger Like No Other (2006), the title that launched her Immortals After Dark series, a character rips off his own leg to get to his fated mate—on the first page.

Naima Simone (2009-present)

Simone has done it all—sports romance, small-town romance, etc.—in her 40+ releases, frequently featuring Black protagonists. Popular titles include The Road to Rose Bend (2021) and Scoring off the Field (2018).

Sarah MacLean (2009-present)

Sarah Maclean is primarily known for her historical romances, though she has select contemporary and YA titles as well. Readers can enter the “MacLeaniverse,” as the author calls her lightly interconnected texts, with Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake (2010).

Christina Lauren (2013-present)

The pen name of writing duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, Christina Lauren has 30+ contemporary and YA titles to their name. Try The Paradise Problem (2024) or The True Love Experiment (2023).

Kennedy Ryan (2014-present)

Ryan’s emotional contemporary romances made her the first Black winner of a RITA award for romantic fiction. Try The Kingmaker (2019) or Before I Let Go (2022).

Romance Recommendations

Now that you understand how significant and wide-reaching romance is, you may be looking for some good romance books—maybe even the best romance books. We’ve sorted recommendations of the best romance novels for adults and teens to get you started exploring the genre.

Top Romance for Adults

Contemporary Romance Books:

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

Top Romance Books for Teens

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

Genre-Blending and Niche Recommendations

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck is a modern reworking of When Harry Met Sally.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna involves a burn so slow that the romance fades to the background at times.

The Enduring Appeal of Romance

The wide world of romance can be overwhelming, even when you’re looking for specific subgenres like romance fantasy books or romance with a twist. Once you dive in, though, you’ll learn what so many other readers find so engaging about it. Knowing that the book ends with an HEA doesn’t ruin the surprise—it helps you pay attention to the journey.

If you’re not sure which of these recommendations to start with, try checking out SuperSummary’s guides—and the ultra-quick Before You Read sections—to help you get started.