In this multi-post series, we hope to answer some of your questions about different genre fiction. Throughout GENRE FICTION 101, you’ll learn about different genres and their place in the publishing world. We’ll discuss popularity, profits, typical tropes, controversies, and more. Read the intro installment here and “Defining Historical Fiction” here.

What makes a romance? 

If there’s one genre that has and will continue to withstand the test of time, it’s romance. Popularized in the nineteenth century by Jane Austen, this genre remains the highest grossing in the business. But what makes a book a romance novel?

In the book world, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a book that doesn’t have a romantic subplot in it. There can be romance in any narrative, but that doesn’t mean it’s a romance. For a book to be a true romance novel, the love story has to be central to the progression of the narrative. Instead of the plot being supplemented by a cute love dynamic, it must completely hinge on it, circling the characters’ relationship.

Another qualification for a romance novel is the tone. There has to be an air of optimism. Many read romance novels for the escapism—they won’t be drawn in if they picked up a book expecting fuzzy feelings and end up only getting angst and sadness. Of course there has to be conflict in any narrative, but the themes of love and hope have to shine through and triumph. 

On that note, the last “must” of the romance genre is this: it has to have a happy ending. The book has to have a good emotional payoff for it to be a true romance novel. If the couple breaks up at the end, then it essentially voids its eligibility in the genre. When readers pick up a romance novel, they expect things to end well for the characters. They need that payoff—they need the conflict to be worth it. If Pride and Prejudice ended without Darcy and Elizabeth overcoming their misconceptions about the one another, it wouldn’t be one of the most beloved romances in fiction. 

A chameleon of a genre

If genre was a cocktail menu, romance would be a good mixer. Romance plays well with others, and because of that, there are many subgenres you can find in the romance section of a bookstore. Here are the most popular subsections of the romance genre. 

Contemporary Romance 

Reflecting a modern setting, language, and diction, contemporary romance is the largest of the romance subgenres. Example: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan.

Erotic Romance

This subgenre relies more heavily on the explicit—no sex, no book! There will definitely be multiple, graphically described sexual scenes. Example: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James.

Historical Romance 

These romance novels take place at least fifty years in the past from the time it was written, in keeping with the time period rules for historical fiction. Example: The Duchess War by Courtney Milan.

Paranormal Romance 

These romances take place outside the bounds of the scientifically explainable. One of the love interests is typically human, while their true love is paranormal. Example: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.

Romantic Suspense

Whether it’s a thriller, mystery, or even horror, this genre combines romance with a fast-paced plot that gets your heart pumping. Crime is involved! Example: Naked in Death by J.D. Robb.

Popular romance tropes

A trope is a common plot move, character feature, theme, or storyline that have become incredibly common in the genre. All genres have their own set of popular tropes and romance is no exception. This isn’t to say books that use tropes are repetitive or boring. On the contrary, tropes have become an essential part of the romance genre. With this further classification, readers can narrow down what they like to see when they’re reading. 

Here are some of the most popular romance tropes.

Friends to Lovers 

Two people who used to just see each other as friends suddenly start wondering if they could be something more. This trope is fun to read, as we get to see characters’ affection for each other evolve. Example: Emma by Jane Austen.

Soul Mate/Fate

These characters have the deepest love imaginable—they’re meant to be! Books with this trope focus on two soul mates trying to beat all the obstacles that the world throws at them to be together with their “one true love.” Example: The Princess Bride by William Goldman.

Second Chance at Love 

This isn’t love at first site, but it could be love at the second. This trope encapsulates stories where characters feel like they missed out on their chance at love, only to find that love—new or old—can come back stronger than before. Example: The Good Luck Charm by Helena Hunting.

Secret Romance

These lovers have to sneak around. Maybe they work together and they don’t want to disclose their relationship to HR. Maybe she’s best friends with his ex and she doesn’t want their new relationship to be public. Whatever the reason, this trope is bound to be full of secrecy and hilarity. Example: The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory.

First Love

There’s something extra sweet about books with this trope. These characters are brand new to love, so the feelings are warmer and the naivete stronger. You’ll see a lot of YA romance using this trope. Example: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.

Love Triangle

Probably the most popular trope in romantic literature, books with a love triangle focus on three characters. Two of them are in love with the third, but only one will end up with them. There is a lot of pining and unrequited affection in this trope, and readers will most likely split off into camps as to which love interest they support. Example: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.

Sexy Billionaire/Millionaire

Whether it’s a mysterious, brooding CEO or an arrogant party-boy prince, this trope is full of excitement for the main character. The wealthy, famous love interest takes some time out of the public eye and happens to fall in love with the ordinary protagonist who doesn’t know their true identity. Example: The Royal We by Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan.

Fake Relationship

Typically in a moment of desperation, two characters decide to fake being in love. Whether they begin the story as indifferent strangers, friends, or enemies, they find themselves forced to hold hands and pretend. All too soon though, the feelings start to become real. Examples: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, and The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren.

Forbidden love

Similar to “Secret Romance,” but in this trope, romance comes at a higher, even deadlier consequence if the lovers are discovered. Despite all danger, these characters hold onto each other—usually at a cost. Example: An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson.

Enemies to Lovers

This trope has been popular since romance novels became so. A book with this trope begins with two characters that despise each other, but along the way, their opinions slowly change. These stories end with the characters realizing their passionate hatred has flipped into passionate love. Example: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Misconceptions

Romance is a billion-dollar genre that sits on the throne of money-making fiction. Despite its success, however, there are those who are hesitant to admit that they read romance novels. Here are some of the biggest misconceptions about romance novels:

“Romances are just sex scenes.” Of course, you’re going to find some books out there that are porn-without-plot, but it’s because these are erotic romance novels. There are difference subgenres of romance, and there are many romance novels that won’t have any sex at all.

“Romances are stupid.” If you say that, you also have to admit that every genre has its duds. There are those who only think that the books you’ll find on the shelf in the romance section are the stereotypical Harlequin romances with the dramatic, shirtless men and the fawning women. Sometimes they can definitely be silly, on purpose and on accident! If that’s not your cup of tea, though, that’s fine—there are thousands of more options out there in the genre to try.

“Romances are just for women.” The most harmful idea of them all—especially when you realize that a genre many people can’t take seriously, is the same genre that they equate to women. Though historically, romance novels are told from the point of view of a female protagonist, this is slowly changing in the industry. In 2017, Romance Writers of America (RWA) led a study about who buys and reads romance novels. With a sample size of 2,000, 82% of the readers were female, but 18% were male, many points higher than subsequent years. As the genre evolves with new and diverse voices, we’ll continue to see people besides women enjoy romance novels.

Why do we read romance? 

Simply put—because they’re fun! Whether they’re fanciful, serious, hilarious, or absurd, romance continues to be popular because it provides readers with those fuzzy feelings that we all crave. In a cynical world, romances are typically seen as trivial, when in fact, they remind us about the most important things—endurance, hope, and love. Are they taken seriously? Maybe not. Will we still devour them? Absolutely.