Romance Fiction Glossary

(Created by FlynnFlam for the “Romance for Men” Discord. Version 3.)

1st Person - A type of viewpoint featured in prose. A first person story uses “I” or “me” in the text, as if the character is talking directly to the reader. Example: I was exhausted.

3rd Person - A type of viewpoint featured in prose. A third person story is told from outside the characters, describing their actions and emotions externally. Example: Bob was exhausted.

Age Gap - A common romance trope. A relationship where one of the MCs is significantly older than the other (usually 8+ years). 

Alien Romance - Similar to monster romances, alien romances feature a non-human MC. The difference is that the non-human is explicitly an alien. Usually seen as a subgenre of science-fiction romance.

AO3 - Abbreviation of “Archive of Our Own,” a popular website for fan fiction.

Audio Book - Recorded narration of a book; a popular way to read.

Bully Romance - A type of dark romance that features an abusive character as a love interest.

Canon Ship - A romantic relationship between characters in a popular media property that reflects the official content of that property. For example, Reed and Sue are the canon ship of The Fantastic Four. Also see: Ship, Fan Ship.

Cheating - The act of being unfaithful to a partner. Cheating is very rare in romance, but some stories do feature it (particularly in dark romance).

Clean Romance - A term (somewhat outdated) that refers to romances without explicit sex scenes. Also see: Fade to Black, Closed Door, Sweet Romance.

Closed Door - A term referring to the symbolic "bedroom door." A closed door story refers to romances without explicit sex scenes. Also see: Fade to Black, Clean Romance, Sweet Romance.

Contemporary - A romance set in the modern day that contains no fantastic elements. The majority of all romances are contemporaries of some form or other, and there are many subgenres that cater to specific tastes (for example, sports romances).

Dark Romance - A romance with taboo elements or villainous characters.

Drip Feed - A romance where the relationship is secondary (or even tertiary) to the external plot. Drip feeds typically advance very gradually (or with few pages devoted to it). Outside of the romance genre, relationship plots are often drip feeds.

Dual POV - A romance that features chapters from the perspective of both MCs.

Enemies to Lovers - A common romance trope. The central characters start as enemies, but fall in love.

eReader - A digital tablet used to read books. They can be either standard tablets, or use “e-ink.”

Erotica - While often featuring romantic elements, this genre’s focus is on explicit sexual scenes.

Erotic Romance - A romance with extensive sex scenes or explicit content. Unlike erotica, an erotic romance will still possess a complete romantic plot.

External Plot - The non-relationship plot in a romance. Most romances contain an external plot which complements and frames the relationship. Some external plots are complex, giving rise to subgenres such as “romantic mystery” or “romantic suspense.”

Fade to Black - A term that refers to romances without explicit sex scenes. Also see: Closed Door, Clean Romance, Sweet Romance.

Fake Relationship - A common romance trope. The MCs pretend to be in a relationship to resolve an external problem and then develop romantic feelings for one another.

Fanfic - Fan fiction. Unofficial fiction featuring characters from popular media properties. 

Fantasy Romance - Romance that features elements of traditional fantasy, including magic, pre-industrial technology, and fantasy races (often elves, dwarves, orcs, and animal races).

Fan Ship - A romantic relationship between characters in a popular media property that does not reflect the official content of that property. For example, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are a fan ship for Zootopia. Also see: Ship, Canon Ship.

Fated Mates - Describes a mystical link between the MCs that compels them to be together.  Usually, but not exclusively, associated with shifter romance. Often paired with insta-love, but some stories feature one or both MCs fighting the pull of the bond or rejecting it.

Femdom - Romance that features an aggressive FMC that usually “takes charge” in sexual encounters. The term encompasses everything from “gentle femdom” to explicit BDSM to pegging (penetration of the male by the female).

FF - Abbreviation for female-female. It denotes a romance between two women. Sometimes written as f/f.

Fic - Shortened term for fan fiction.

FMC - Female main character. Also see: Heroine.

Forced Proximity - A common romance trope. The MCs are forced to spend a great deal of time together due to external plot complications (e.g., going on a long road trip, or being stranded in the wilderness).

Friends to Lovers - A common romance trope. The MCs have a friendship (often long-term) that becomes romantic when one (or both) develop a romantic interest.

FTB - Abbreviation for fade to black.

Golden Telescope, The - A fictitious award granted to female authors for "reciprocity in oral sex" across genders. For example, if the MMC orally pleasures the FMC to orgasm, and the MMC is likewise orally pleasured to orgasm by the FMC, it has earned "The Golden Telescope." The reciprocity doesn't have to be in the same scene. Also see: Golden Canoe.

Golden Canoe, The - A fictitious award granted to male authors for "reciprocity in oral sex" across genders. For example, if the FMC orally pleasures the MMC to orgasm, and the FMC is likewise orally pleasured to orgasm by the MMC, it has earned "The Golden Canoe." The reciprocity doesn't have to be in the same scene. Also see: Golden Telescope.

Grumpy / Sunshine - A common romance couple trope. One MC has a cheerful (possibly extroverted) disposition, and the other has a grumpy (possibly introverted) disposition.

H - A capital “H” is an abbreviation for “hero” (somewhat outdated).

h - A lowercase “h” is an abbreviation for “heroine” (somewhat outdated).

HaremLit - Alternate term for harem romance.

Harem Romance - A romance featuring one MMC and multiple FMCs. Can also be combined with other subgenres.

HEA - “Happily Ever After.” Refers to a story conclusion that implies the characters’ relationship will be positive, permanent and lasting. From the classic line that ends many fairy tales: “And they lived happily ever after.”

Hero - Alternate term for MMC.

Heroine - Alternate term for FMC.

HFN - “Happy For Now.” A more ambiguous ending where the ultimate future of the relationship is more precarious, but it’s in a good place at the end of the story. Still acceptable for a romance.

Historical - Romance that takes place in the past. Historical settings and mannerisms are often central to the challenges facing the characters’ relationship.

Hurt / Comfort - Referring to scenes or dynamics where one MC takes care of the other MC. Common examples include watching over an MC who’s sick, or treating an MC’s injuries.

Insta-Love - Love at first sight. When the MCs fall deeply in love almost immediately. Can sometimes have a paranormal element. Also see: Fated Mates, Insta-Lust.

Insta-Lust - A play on insta-love. When the MCs experience intense physical attraction upon first meeting. In stories with insta-lust, the physical relationship often occurs before the emotional one. Also see: Insta-Love.

Isekai - A popular Japanese genre. The equivalent in English is “Portal Fantasy.” Also see: Portal Fantasy.

KU - Abbreviation for Kindle Unlimited, Amazon's subscription reading service. Many romance fans like KU for its extensive collection of romance novels.

Light Novel - A popular format in Japan. Short novels catering to a young adult demo, often featuring illustrations. The styles and conventions have been adopted for some romances.

Love Triangle - A common trope of YA romance. When one MC is torn between two separate love interests (usually one FMC and two potential MMCs). Which MC will get “picked” is a central plot question.

LI - Love Interest. Often used to describe a potential romantic partner for the main character in a single POV story. Popular in HaremLit. Also see: MC.

LN - Abbreviation for light novel.

Mafia Romance - A romance subgenre centered around the machinations of a crime family. Often dark romance.

Mainstream Romance - A term for romance released by publishers and sold in stores, including bestsellers. What people think of when they think of the Romance genre. Also known as traditional romance, the traditional (or trad) market, or the mainstream market. Sometimes referred to as “Romance for Women” by male readers of romance, due to 81% of mainstream romance readers being female.

Marriage of Convenience - A common romance trope. The MCs get married for non-romantic reasons, but the relationship eventually turns romantic. Often seen in historicals. Sometimes referred to as “Marriage of Inconvenience.”

MC - Main character. Often used for stories with a single POV.

MF - Abbreviation for male-female. It denotes a romance between a man and a woman. Sometimes written as m/f.

MM - Abbreviation for male-male. It denotes a romance between two men. Sometimes written as m/m.

MMC - Male main character. Also see: Hero.

Monogamy - Being romantically involved with one partner in an exclusive relationship. Most romances feature monogamous couples.

Mono-Romance - A term used to describe a monogamous romance. Often seen in the Romance for Men community.

Monster Romance - A romance that features a non-human character as one (or both) of the love interests.

Motorcycle Club Romance - A subgenre centered around the machinations of an outlaw biker gang. Similar to Mafia romance, but more "blue collar." Often dark romance.

NA - Abbreviation for new adult.

New Adult - A genre whose stories typically include MCs that are college aged. Notably different from YA, new adult stories often include explicit sex scenes.

OM - Other man. Refers to an MC becoming involved with a male character who is not the hero.

Open Door - A term referring to the symbolic "bedroom door." An open door story means that the work in question features explicit sex scenes.

OW - Other woman. Refers to an MC becoming involved with a female character who is not the heroine.

Paranormal Romance - A subgenre featuring supernatural characters or magic in a modern setting. Vampires, werewolves, and witches are common. Can also be combined with other subgenres.

PNR - Paranormal Romance abbreviation.

Polyamory - A relationship that involves multiple sexual partners, not just a couple.

Portal Fantasy - A subgenre that will sometimes be combined with romance. It features an MC (usually modern) transported to a different world. Learning to adapt and thrive in their new environment is a key part of the story. 

Regency - A popular subgenre of historicals inspired by the works of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. Regencies are typically set in England between the years 1800-1820.

Reverse Harem - A romance featuring one FMC and multiple MMCs. Can also be combined with other subgenres.

RFE - Romance for Everyone abbreviation.

RFM - Romance for Men abbreviation.

RFW - Romance for Women abbreviation.

RH - Reverse Harem abbreviation. 

Romance - A novel, novella, or piece of short fiction that features a central love story with an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending (adapted from the RWA definition).

Romance for Everyone - Romances that appeal to both men and women, either by design or content. A sizable percentage of romances will feature crossover appeal, excepting categories that lean toward wish fulfillment fantasies for men (such as harem) or women (such as reverse harem). The RFE term is not exclusive: both RFM and RFW can also be RFE. Also see: Romance for Men, Romance for Women.

Romance for Men - A term describing romances written for a primarily male audience. Can also be used to describe “male-friendly” stories in the traditional romance market. Often used to reference the community of readers and authors who enjoy RFM stories. Also see: Romance for Women, Romance for Everyone.

Romance for Women - An alternate term for mainstream romance, frequently used to contrast “Romance for Men.” Also see: Mainstream Romance, Romance for Women, Romance for Everyone.

Romance Writers of America - A professional organization in the United States that supports Romance authors.

Romantasy - An alternate term for Fantasy Romance.

Second Chance Romance - A romance that brings the MCs back together after a failed first relationship. The prior relationship might have ended in acrimony or never even gotten off the ground, and the second chance usually occurs years later. Flashbacks are often employed.

Shifter Romance - A popular subgenre of paranormal romance that centers around shapeshifters, often wolves and wolf packs.

Ship - Short for relationship. Used in fanfic to refer to a romantic pairing (either official or hypothetical) between characters in a popular media property. Often used as a verb (e.g., “I ship Zelda and Link so hard!”). Someone who engages in this activity is “shipping.” Also see: Canon Ship, Fan Ship.

Single POV - A romance told from the perspective of only one of the characters.

Slice of Life - A type of romance that focuses on lower stakes and the daily lives of the characters rather than intense conflict. Can be a part of many different subgenres.

Slow Burn - A common romance trope. The relationship takes a long time to develop, with an emphasis on the details of growing attraction between the MCs.

Smut - A catchall term that refers to explicit sexual content in romances. Often used humorously (e.g., “I'm looking for a new paranormal, the smuttier the better!”).

Spice - See Steam.

Steam - Refers to the amount of explicit sexual content in a story. A "steamy" or "high steam" romance might have many sex scenes, intense sex scenes, or both. Also referred to as "spice." Also see: Smut.

Sunshine / Grumpy - See Grumpy / Sunshine.

Sweet Romance - A term (somewhat outdated) that refers to romances without explicit sex scenes. Also see: Fade to Black, Closed Door, Clean Romance.

There’s Only One Bed - A common romance trope. The MCs are forced to share a bed before their relationship has progressed to intimacy.

Trad Market, The - An alternate term for the mainstream Romance

Trigger Warnings - A detailed list of tropes and other elements that some readers may want to avoid. Trigger warnings are sometimes included in romances before the main text (more often in dark romances). Common trigger warnings will mention cheating, abuse, or the lack of an HEA/HFN.

TWs - Abbreviation for trigger warnings.

Why Choose - Alternate term for harem and reverse harem, but mostly used with the latter.

YA - Abbreviation for young adult.

Young Adult - A genre for readers between the ages of 12-18, but enjoyed by people of all ages. Young adult books often feature closed door romances.

NOTE - This list is far from complete, and definitions can have multiple interpretations amidst the chaos of the web.