Romance: Characteristics

With the romance genre, we have shifted away from the more plot-based genres. Now we will be focusing on those stories which are mainly driven by the internal conflict of the characters and their growth.

As a result, emotional struggles are central to the romance genre. There will be an external plot, but it will be focused on bringing the hero and the heroine together. Frequently misunderstanding and opposite goals are used to keep hero and heroine apart. Therefore, it is not unusual for this genre to have no human villain. Instead, the romance genre focuses on its double protagonists.

Lastly, the whole genre is built around romantic love, which has a physical side. Therefore, you will see various forms of intimacy in romance novels, ranging from hand-holding and kissing to, in the most extreme cases, explicit sex.