Most Popular Romance Subgenres {with Examples!}

What is a Romance Subgenre?

Romance is a huge category of books. Head to your local bookshop and you'll find it is an entire section outside of just Fiction.

Within those shelves, you will find a wide variety of options that fall into several subgenres but still solidly fit within the romance genre's promise of a HEA (happily ever after ending.)

A subgenre is different than a romantic trope. While a trope is a plot tool that can be mixed and matched within a variety of genres, the subgenres help categorize books with similar settings, themes, or overall focus.

Slow Burn Romance

A "slow burn romance" is one where the two romantic leads take their time falling in love and the explosive connection happens somewhere past the 50% mark of the book.

Books that Use the Slow Burn Trope:

• Done and Dusted
• The Crimson Moth Duology: Heartless Hunter and Rebel Witch
• First-Time Caller
• Hello Stranger

Small Town Romance

A small town romance is set in a small town and features a cast of characters entwined in the plot. Often authors will make this a series where each book features one of the side characters from a prior book.

Alternatively, you may have a Big City character coming to a Small Town and falling in love with a local.

Small Town Romance Books:

• Done and Dusted
• Part of Your World
• The Dream Harbor Series
  • The Pumpkin Spice Cafe
  • The Cinnamon Bun Book Store
  • The Christmas Tree Farm

Historical Romance and/or Regency Romance

A historical romance is similar to historical fiction but falls solidly into the romance genre because of a guaranteed HEA (happily ever after ending.)

The vast majority of historical romance takes place during the Regency period, an era in England between 1811 and 1820. King George III was alive but unable to rule, the Prince Regent assumed his duties, thus giving the era its name.

If you enjoy Jane Austen vibes and Bridgerton, Regency Romances will be exactly what you're looking for.

Historical Romance Books:

• 20 Books Like Bridgerton for Regency Romance Lovers

Paranormal Romance

A paranormal romance features romantic love with plot elements that defy scientific explanation. This could include time travel, magic, haunting, or the after life. This can also cover fantasy novels with a romantic subplot.

Paranormal Romance Books:

• The Love of My After Life
• The Seven Year Slip
• The Crimson Moth Duology: Heartless Hunter and Rebel Witch

Fantasy Romance

While a paranormal romance is more often set in our world, a fantasy romance is set in an alternative world of its own. There are magical creatures, sorcerers, witches, or other fantastical world-building elements that make it clear it isn't your average everyday world.

Fantasy romance often features much more thrilling plot points and adventure than a typical romance. Be careful, they also often feature more violence.

Fantasy Romance Books:

• Fourth Wing
• Assistant to the Villain
• Lightlark
• A Fate Inked in Blood
• Divine Rivals
• The Crimson Moth Duology: Heartless Hunter and Rebel Witch
• Hot Romantasy Books {Romance + Fantasy}

Cowboy Romance

If you're looking for horses, boots, ranches, and rugged romantic heroes, a western romance or cowboy romance is what you need. These stories take place in the American West, often on a ranch or in the wilderness. They can feature either historical elements or be solidly modern contemporary romances.

Cowboy Romance Books:

• Done and Dusted

Workplace Romance

In a workplace romance, our two main romantic leads meet and/or work together. Their job features predominately in the plot and the work space is the backdrop for much of the action.

Workplace romances also include the tension that as co-workers they may be forbidden by office rules to have a relationship and are forced to keep their growing feelings a secret.

Workplace Romance Books:

• The Ex Talk
• You Had Me at Hola
• First-Time Caller
• The Hating Game
• The Love Hypothesis

Holiday Romance

One of my personal favorite romance sub-genres is Holiday Romance where the book is set during the Christmas season. It will likely feature all the festive details that would make a Hallmark Christmas movie proud.

Holiday Romance Books:

• The Christmas Fix
• Once Upon a December
• The Twelve Dates of Christmas
• Royal Holiday

Sports Romance

There are several sub-sub-genres that would fall under a Sports Romance. Some of the most popular would include hockey romances or football romances.

Sports Romance Books:

Vacation Romance

Vacation romances often feature a couple that meets on vacation, develop feelings for one another, and then need to decide whether or not to be together when the vacation ends. Sometimes the characters are forced to go on a vacation together, and there may be a forced proximity or one bed microtrope involved.

Vacation Romance Books:

• The Unhoneymooners
• People We Meet on Vacation
• The Paradise Problem
• The Highland Fling