Romance terminology
Learn the
LINGO
Book Terminology
Bookstagram: An Instagram account dedicated to books.
Book haul: A video or post showcasing a collection of recently acquired books.
TBR: "To Be Read," refers to the list of books a person plans to read.
Bookish: Anything related to books, including accessories, merchandise, and decor.
Book nerd: Someone who loves to read and is passionate about books.
Book club: A group of people who read and discuss books together.
DNF: "Did Not Finish," refers to a book that a person started but did not complete.
Bookshelfie: A photo of someone's bookshelf.
Reading challenge: A goal to read a certain number of books or complete a specific reading list.
Buddy read: Reading the same book with a friend or group and discussing it together.
ARC: "Advanced Reader Copy," a pre-publication copy of a book that is distributed to reviewers, booksellers, and other industry professionals.
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BookTok: The community of book-related content on TikTok.
Reading slump: A period of time when a person struggles to get into or finish a book.
Bookish merch: Products such as bookmarks, candles, and other items inspired by books and reading.
Romance Tropes
Enemies to lovers: Two characters who initially dislike each other eventually fall in love.
Friends to lovers: Two characters who are close friends become romantically involved.
Second chance: Two characters who were previously in a relationship get another opportunity to be together.
Fake relationship: Two characters pretend to be in a romantic relationship, usually for some ulterior motive, and end up falling in love for real.
Forbidden love: Two characters who are not supposed to be together, often due to societal or familial constraints, fall in love despite the odds.
Billionaire romance: A wealthy and powerful man falls in love with a woman who is not part of his social class or who challenges his assumptions about love.
Marriage of convenience: Two characters enter into a fake marriage for practical or financial reasons and later fall in love.
Age gap: Two characters who have a significant age difference between them fall in love.
Small town romance: A love story that takes place in a small town, often featuring close-knit communities and charming settings.
Amnesia: One of the characters loses their memory, and the other helps them regain it while they fall in love.
Romance Sub-genres
Dark Romance: Features dark themes such as taboo relationships, violence, and unhealthy obsessions.
Sports Romance: Centres around characters who are athletes or sports enthusiasts.
Fantasy Romance: Set in fictional worlds with magical or supernatural elements, such as vampires or werewolves.
Contemporary Romance: Set in modern times and focuses on realistic relationships and issues.
Young Adult (YA) Romance: Features teenage protagonists and explores themes of coming-of-age and first love.
Erotic Romance: Contains explicit sexual content and focuses on the physical relationship between the characters.
Crime Romance: Involves romantic relationships amidst criminal activity or investigations.
Mythology Romance: Incorporates mythology and folklore into the storyline, such as Greek mythology or Arthurian legend.
Romantic Comedy (Rom Com): Humorous and lighthearted romances that often involve quirky or unusual characters and situations.
Clean Romance: Emphasizes emotional connections and avoids explicit sexual content or profanity.
Historical Romance: Set in a historical period and explores romantic relationships during that time.
Mafia Romance: Involves romantic relationships between characters involved in organized crime.
Paranormal Romance: Features supernatural elements such as ghosts, demons, or witches.
Western Romance: Set in the American West and often involves cowboys or ranchers as protagonists.
Anthology Romance: A collection of short stories by different authors, often with a common theme or genre.
Drama Romance: Intense and emotional romances that often involve tragic or difficult circumstances.
Sci-Fi Romance: Set in futuristic or science fiction worlds and often involves themes of technology or space travel.
Horror Romance: Combines elements of horror with romantic relationships.
Dystopian Romance: Set in a dystopian society with themes of oppression or rebellion.
Fairytale Retelling Romance: Retells classic fairy tales with romantic elements.
Gothic Romance: Features dark and atmospheric settings, such as old castles or haunted houses.
Greek Myth Retelling Romance: Retells stories from Greek mythology with romantic elements.