15 romance subgenres for writers to fall in love with
I’ve been wanting to write a post on romance subgenres for a while, since romance is one of my favourite genres to both write and edit! As an editor, one of the most common questions writers ask me is What genre do you think this best fits into? Lists like this can be so helpful for pinning down genre and learning the definitions are associated with each. Knowing these definitions can help you make sure your book adheres to the conventions of your genre. And who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to write in a romance subgenre you haven’t heard of!

Romance subgenres: the list
Some of these subgenres may seem more like tropes (which means a significant/recurrent theme, such as a love triangle), but many of the items on this list have grown so popular that they do seem to have become a genre of their own now. So I’ve included them anyway!
Other subgenres here are related to heat or spice levels, but only where these are already firmly established as a “genre” in their own right.
Christmas/holiday romance
Set at Christmas or over another holiday period, such as New Year or Valentine’s Day. Christmas romances are probably the most popular type. These stories can be cozy and heart-warming, with themes of family, love, hope, and healing.
Examples: Christmas in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcroft (Christmas) and Celebrations at the Chateau by Jo Thomas (New Year).
Clean and wholesome romance
Focuses on romance with no on-page sex – “clean” is generally taken to mean that there will be no sexual content. Characters might only share kisses, or any intimate scenes might “fade to black” or take place behind closed doors. Sometimes clean may also mean there is no swearing. Wholesome is very much the same and the emphasis may be more on the emotional relationship. You might also hear the term “sweet romance” which is similar, with an emphasis on feelings/emotional attraction over physicality.
You can read more about these terms – and other subgenres related to heat level that are not listed here – in my post on romance heat levels.
Examples: The Comeback by Lily Chu, The Bodyguard by Katherine Center, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han.
Contemporary romance
Takes place in the modern day, with a real-world setting. As you can imagine, this area of romance is broad – it’s a big umbrella category, and other categories and tropes exist within the umbrella, such as sports romance, workplace romance, and billionaire/millionaire romance.
Examples: Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams, Book Lovers by Emily Henry.

Cozy romance
These stories can either be set in the real world as contemporary romance, or set in another world as a fantasy or paranormal romance. This subgenre is defined by the cozy feeling you get while reading – usually coming from the setting or atmosphere created in the story. Many cozy books take place in coffee shops, apothecary shops, or in small, cozy towns during autumn or winter. Cozy books tend to be low-stakes, and have an uplifting tone or feel.
Examples: Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, Snowed In at the Cat Café by Rachel Rowlands (shameless plug!).
Fairy-tale romance
Focuses on mythology, folklore, or fairy-tales. These romances are often retellings of popular stories such as Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella, but some are more original and only loosely inspired by fairy tales and myths.
Examples: the Goddess Summoning series by P.C. Cast (mythology), Radiance by Grace Draven (fairy-tale retelling), Curse of the Wolf King by Tessonja Oddette.
Fantasy romance
Combines fantasy elements with a romance story, but the primary focus of the plot is the love story. Characters either live in or find themselves in a fantastical or supernatural world. The storyline is all about the development of the relationship and the characters overcoming obstacles in order to be together. The fantasy setting is simply a backdrop, but it does contribute to the unfolding romance.
Examples: A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.
Gothic romance
Combines elements of Gothic fiction with romance. This usually comes into play with the setting – Gothic romances tend to be set in dark and uncanny locations (such as castles or remote, spooky landscapes), and there may be elements of suspense and danger threaded into the story. There may even be paranormal aspects such as ghosts or witches. Love interests are typically more mysterious and brooding and may hide a dark past or troubling secret that needs to be unravelled.
Examples: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

Historical romance
Romances that take place in a historical setting. It’s quite a big category and some eras are more popular than others. Regency romance is huge, and characterised by non-explicit relationships with very little sex. Other offshoots include Viking romance, medieval romance, wartime romance, and Tudor romance.
Examples: Girl Meets Duke series by Tessa Dare, A Wartime Welcome by Rosie Meddon, The Secrets of Saffron Hall by Clare Marchant.
Military romance
Features military characters and themes – from the Army to the Marines and the Navy. One of the love interests will be a part of the military, or ex-military. Elements you might expect to see in military romances include long-distance relationships/separation, high-conflict situations such as wartime, protective heroes, adjusting to life back home, grief/loss, and mental health. Military romances don’t necessarily have heavy themes: tones can range from comedy/romcom to darker romance.
Examples: Pretend You’re Mine by Lucy Score, The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros.
New adult (NA) romance
A new adult romance follows characters who may be between the ages of eighteen to their mid-twenties. While the romance plot is the primary focus of the story, new adult romances also explore experiences such as college or graduation, living independently for the first time, entering the workforce, and early career struggles, all through the lens of the relationship. Settings can range from the real world to a fantasy world.
Examples: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, The Bride Test by Helen Hoang, The Anti-Relationship Year by Katie Wismer.
Paranormal romance
Paranormal romance includes elements of the supernatural or the paranormal. The setting may be a completely unique world with paranormal aspects, or the real world with paranormal elements weaved in. The romance usually involves a relationship between a human and another non-human creature such as a vampire, witch, werewolf, faerie, etc.
Examples: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Bride by Ali Hazelwood, The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling.
Romcoms (romantic comedies)
Romcoms introduce comedy into a romance plot – this comedy could be fairly mild (with just a few comedic scenes or quips) or quite heavy, with more outrageously funny plotlines. These books are uplifting, focused on light-hearted themes and topics.
Examples: Love at First Knight by Megan Clawson, Book Lovers by Emily Henry.

Sci-fi romance
This subgenre merges elements of romance and sci-fi. Futuristic or alien settings may the backdrop for the romantic relationship (such as a spaceship or another planet), but these books may also be set in the real world, with a lighter sci-fi slant. This blend of genres allows an author to merge thrilling aspects of sci-fi such as action, danger, and high stakes with a developing romance.
Examples: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Pride and Prejudice in Space by Alexis Lampley, Axrel by Olivia Riley.
Small-town romance
Romances that are set in a small town – this subgenre works very well for series books as readers can come to enjoy the setting and want to spend more time there. Books in this subgenre may include elements such as town gossip, consistent locations such as a neighbourhood coffee shop or café, a sense of community, local festivals/events, and tropes like the “outsider” visiting the town temporarily.
Examples: It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey, Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borrison, The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker.
Young adult (YA) romance
Young adult romances feature characters in their mid-to-late teens, with the intended audience for these books also typically in that age bracket. Coming of age themes are common in these stories, which explore the emotional experiences of growing up and falling in love. YA romances may feature elements like first love, crushes, heartbreak, and social issues. The tone of these books is often much lighter than adult romances, and the romance sweeter, but there are some YA romances that explore heavier themes as well.
Examples: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, The Selection by Kiera Cass, Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon.
You might also like…
- 4 ways to outline a romance novel
- Writing romance: What are heat levels?
- World-building tips for fantasy authors
Follow blog
Follow this blog by email and receive notifications when I post new writing and publishing advice.