Woman reading a book in front of a fire with a glass of wine

A Complete Guide to the Swoon-Worthy Subgenres of Romance Books

Damsel-in-distress, cowboy fantasies, contemporary tear-jerkers—whatever your vibe may be, there’s a romance book waiting for you. The romance book genre is one of the most popular on the market—and with good reason! But with so many subgenres, how are you meant to know what you’re getting into? Find your favorite happily ever afters with our guide to the many subgenres of romance books.

Romantic Reads Have a History Rooted in Girl Power

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Believe it or not, romance books are nothing new! The romance genre as we know it today has been around for generations, evolving and morphing since the 18th century to match new social climates and interests of its traditionally female readers.

As far as genres go, romance books set themselves apart, as they are primarily written by women, for women, and about women’s perspectives. We love to hear that at Novel!

5 Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Next Romance Book

We love buying books from all genres, but the next time you’re shopping in the romance book section, don’t shop willy-nilly! There are plenty of subgenres, so let these five factors guide you to the perfect romance read for you:

1. Emotional Depth and Tone

The best romance books evoke strong feelings from the reader. When it comes to the romance genre, it’s essential to know that different titles will have varying degrees of emotional depth and overall tone. Determining what you’d like to feel when reading a romance book will help indicate the subgenre or author you’d enjoy best.  

If you’re searching for a romance book filled with silly scenarios and lighthearted conflict, you’d probably prefer the rom-com section, where stakes are low and the laughs are plentiful. If you want a story of the heart and don’t mind shedding a few tears, the more dramatic romance reads will suit you best. While there’s a time and place for romance books from every subgenre, making this tonal distinction ahead of time will get you to the reading or audiobook-listening experience you desire much faster.

2. Character and Relationship Dynamics

Jane and the Year Without a Summer by Stephanie Barron

Romance books are nothing without compelling leading characters! When you’re researching which title to get, consider what kinds of characters you enjoy. Do you prefer a strong, independent heroine who doesn’t need a man to feel complete? Someone with their heart on their sleeve and a little more vulnerability? Someone who reminds you of you—or the complete opposite?

This can apply to the type of love interest, as well! More often than not, the main character and their love interest need strong chemistry and undeniable attraction—but you still have options!

Does dark and brooding do it for you? Heart-of-gold and perfect smile? Black cat and golden retriever energy? Relationship dynamic options in romance books are endless!

3. The Spice Level

When it comes to sexual content, not all romance books are created equal. The romance book genre has something for readers of all ages and comfort levels, ranging from clean and sweet stories with minimal intimacy to more descriptive erotica and steamy stories. Fans of romance refer to this type of content as “spice.” When you shop, you can ask your bookseller for low, medium, or high spice recommendations!

The Chili Pepper Scale

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

With no official system, it can be challenging for authors and readers to describe exactly how spicy a romance book is. That’s why more and more fans are turning to the chili pepper scale for their spice ratings:

  • 1 pepper: no sexual content or references to sexual content; these mild ratings are often used for YA romance
  • 2 peppers: slight sexual content and tension, but no on-page explicit scenes; considered moderate or low spice
  • 3 peppers: a little heat with at least one intimate scene that the reader is “in the room for;” here’s where we start getting spicy or medium spice
  • 4 peppers: more graphically described scenes throughout the book, where sex is an important part of the plot; would be considered very spicy
  • 5 peppers: multiple explicit and exploratory sex scenes throughout the story, normally called extra hot or high spice

4. Standalone vs. Series

Before you shop for physical romance books and audiobooks, you have an important decision to make: do you want a standalone novel or series? They both have their own pros and cons, so it all boils down to whatever you’re in the mood for!

Can you commit to a grand, sweeping story over multiple installments? Or is a quick, one-off novel more your vibe? There are even a few authors who write multiple standalone romance books within the same world, so you don’t have to say permanent goodbyes to your favorite characters.

5. Tropes, Tropes, and More Tropes

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Haters say romance books are predictable, but they clearly don’t understand the power of a good trope! Tropes provide a familiar, comforting pattern and can be applied to basically any scenario, whether it’s a dragon-riding romantasy series or a light and breezy romantic comedy.

Fans of romance books tend to have strong opinions about tropes, both good and bad. Before you buy a book, it’s always worth researching the tropes beforehand to determine if it’s a good fit for your potential purchase or book club pick.

A Few Popular Romance Book Tropes:

  • One-bed
  • Forced proximity
  • Second chance
  • Fake dating
  • Opposites attract
  • Love triangle
  • Best friend’s brother

HEA vs. HFN Romance Books

If you’re shopping for romance books online, you’ll notice two funky abbreviations—HEA and HFN. HEA, which stands for “happy ever after,” dictates that the story will end with a satisfying, long-term commitment. HFN, or “happy for now,” suggests a favorable resolution without promising a long-term ending. For some, this is an essential factor when choosing a book, so ask yourself: do you prefer a classic fairytale ending or something a bit more modern and realistic?

Explore the Most Popular Romance Book Subgenres

Believe it when we say there really is a romance book subgenre for every kind of reader! Not sure where to start? Learn a bit more about these popular subgenres and see what sparks your interest before shopping at our Rochester, Michigan, bookstore:

Contemporary Romance Books

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

Contemporary romance books are set in more modern times (traditionally post-WWII) and reflect the social issues of the period. The main difference between contemporary romance and contemporary fiction is that the main plot revolves around the love and relationships between characters. The themes, conflicts, and tones can vary from book to book, depending on when and where the story was written, but they all have one thing in common—one day, they could be considered classics!

Popular Contemporary Romance Books:

Historical Romance Books

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Historical romance books take place in the past and feature romantic elements front and center. Fans of this subgenre love the specificity of watching tension build and connection appear with historical scenarios in the background. Whether you prefer the scary vibes of the Salem Witch Trials, the drama of the Revolutionary War, or the fancy attire of Victorian England, this romance book genre was made for you.

The Best Historical Romance Books:

YA Romance Books

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Love stories are popular at all age levels. While the YA romance genre is traditionally geared towards “young adult” readers ages 12 through 18, adults love them too!

YA romance books focus on the love stories of teenage characters and often explore coming-of-age themes, awkward and relatable adolescent mishaps, and the sweet feelings of young love. If you’re searching for a romance book genre with little to no spice, check out this subgenre the next time you’re at a Novel event!

Our Top YA Romance Book Picks:

Paranormal Romance Books

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

If you love all things spooky, paranormal romance books are where it’s at! Paranormal romance combines heart-racing love stories with supernatural elements in the characters, settings, and plot. These eerie yet loveable titles often focus on the romantic bond between a human and a variety of non-human entities, such as ghosts, witches, vampires—oh my!

Popular Paranormal Romance Books:

Second-Chance Romance Books

Happy Place by Emily Henry

Contrary to Taylor Swift’s famous lyrics, second-chance romance books are all about couples getting back together. From high school sweethearts separated by distance to love-scorned exes reconnecting after an affair-ridden relationship, there are countless tropes within this romance subgenre to explore. Each page-turner is filled with empathy, growth, and unavoidable attraction, making second-chance romances a must-read. 

Our Favorite Second-Chance Romance Books:

Romantic Comedy Books

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Rom-com isn’t just a beloved film genre—it translates to the book world, too! Filled to the brim with wacky scenarios, giggle-inducing banter, and swoon-worthy love interests, rom-com books make up a large portion of the most popular titles on the market. If you love feel-good reads from authors like Emily Henry that perfectly balance romance and humor, rom-com books are the subgenre for you.  

The Best Rom-Com Books:

Sports Romance Books

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey

Throw yourself into the thrilling world of sports romance books! This popular romance book genre combines the exciting and competitive edge of sports with classic love story elements to give readers a uniquely action and passion-packed tale. With strong characters, nitty-gritty sports details, and athletic settings, what’s not to love?

Popular Sports Romance Books:

LGBT+ Romance Books

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

LGBT+ romance books are more than love stories—they’re essential representations of the queer community! Everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in their favorite titles, and why should that be any different for romance book readers? Anyone, whether you are a part of the community or an ally, can celebrate queer love, explore non-heterosexual relationships, and unlearn stereotypes with LGBT+ romance books.

Best LGBT+ Romance Books:

Billionaire Romance Books

A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn

Have you ever dreamed of getting swept off your feet by a handsome billionaire? Well, you’re not alone! Billionaire romance books follow a hard-to-beat formula: your average girl meets an unbelievably wealthy suitor, they fall for one another, and the rest is history! If you’re searching for a rags-to-riches title, this is the subgenre for you.

The Best Billionaire Romance Books:

Romantasy Books

The Serpent & The Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

Romantasy combines all the best romance tropes with the fascinating world of fantasy to create a beloved magical book romance genre. These romance books often feature intense relationships, magic systems, strong heroines, powerful love interests, and, more often than not, unbelievably spicy scenes. Romantasy books certainly have our hearts—they’re bound to get yours, too!

Popular Romantasy Books

Romantasy vs. Romantic Fantasy

Booksellers and readers sure do have a lot to say about this debate! Though the two terms are often used interchangeably to describe this romance book genre, they are technically two different subgenres. In romantasy books, romance is the main driving force behind the plot and characters. In romantic fantasy books, the fantasy elements are more prominent, with the romance acting as a subplot.

Dark Romance Books

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

Dark romance books are where taboo fantasies come to life. This romance book genre explores dark, complex, and morally gray aspects of love and relationships.

As you shop, it’s important to note that dark romance books are best suited for adult readers looking for spicy content. These titles are known to include themes of violence, abuse, power dynamics, and more, so we recommend looking into potential trigger warnings before you dive in!

Our Top Dark Romance Books:

Festive Romance Books

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

The holidays are all about spending time with loved ones, partaking in winter festivities, and, for many readers, diving into festive romance books! With cozy tropes, happily ever afters, and winter wonderland settings, this romance book genre is perfect for reading right around Christmas time.

Popular Festive Romance Books:

Enemies-to-Lovers Romance Books

As one of the most popular romance tropes, we think enemies-to-lovers romance books deserve their own subgenre! With tension bubbling in every conversation and undeniable attraction, there’s nothing more satisfying than the inevitable moment of enemies becoming lovers. But don’t take our word for it—read the romance book genre for yourself!

Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

Our Top Enemies-to-Lovers Romance Books:

The next time you swing by for Silent Book Club or dine in with a delicious bite from our sandwich menu, keep your eyes peeled for these romance book genres on the shelves at Novel. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Don’t hesitate to contact us online or flag down one of our staff members—we’re happy to help!

Back to blog