Romance Genres and Subgenres
While all romances have central love stories and emotionally satisfying endings, they may have any tone or style, be set in any place or time and have varying levels of sensuality.
According to the Romance Writers of America, there are two formats for romance fiction:
- Series or category romances: books issued under a common imprint/series name that are numbered sequentially and released at regular intervals, usually monthly, with the same number of releases each time. These books are most commonly published by Harlequin's Silhouette imprint.
- Single-title romances: longer romances released individually and not as part of a numbered series. Single-title romances may be released in hardcover, trade paperback or mass-market paperback formats.
While all romances have central love stories and emotionally satisfying endings, they may have any tone or style, be set in any place or time and have varying levels of sensuality.
Romance fiction can be broken down further into various subgenres, based on setting and plot elements. These subgenres include:
- Contemporary: Romance novels that focus primarily on romantic relationships and typically set after 1945.
- Historical: Romance novels set in any time period prior to 1945 and taking place in any location.
- Inspirational: Romance novels in which religious or spiritual beliefs (in the context of any religion or spiritual belief system) are a major part of the romantic relationship.
- Novels with Strong Romantic Elements: A work of fiction in which a romance plays a significant part in the story, but other themes or elements take the plot beyond the traditional romance boundaries.
- Paranormal: Romance novels in which the future, a fantasy world or paranormal happenings are an integral part of the plot.
- Regency: Romance novels in which the majority of the story is set in the Regency period of the British Empire.
- Romantic Suspense: Romance novels in which suspense, mystery or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot.
- Young Adult Romance: Novels with a strong romantic theme geared toward young adult readers.
Photo caption: Hiroko & Seiich at the Ballroom Dance Championship
Credit: Julie Moggan
Sources:
» Romance Writers of America.