What is contemporary romance?

Contemporary romance is romance set in the present day, in the real world, without supernatural or historical framing. The biggest sub-genre in publishing by volume — it covers everything from rom-coms to emotional-drama to high-spice modern romance.

What sub-categories live within contemporary romance?

The big ones: rom-com (Emily Henry, Christina Lauren), small-town romance (Lucy Score, RaeAnne Thayne), sports romance (Hannah Grace, Elle Kennedy), workplace romance, single-parent romance, and second-chance romance. Most readers develop preferences across two or three of these rather than reading everything the sub-genre covers.

How spicy is contemporary romance?

It varies widely — that's part of what makes the sub-genre hard to summarise. Emily Henry skews mild-to-mid; Colleen Hoover sits mid-range with emotional intensity; Ana Huang, Lucy Score, and most sports/NA crossover is mid-to-high. Check the spice rating on individual book pages.

Contemporary romance vs new adult romance — what's the difference?

New adult protagonists are 18-26 (usually college or early-career); contemporary protagonists skew late-20s+ with established careers. Many books sit on the border — Colleen Hoover and Hannah Grace are variously categorised. The age of the protagonists and the life-stage concerns they face are the main distinguishing features.

Where should I start with contemporary romance?

Emily Henry for smart rom-com voice (Beach Read, Funny Story); Colleen Hoover for emotional heft (It Ends with Us); Hannah Grace for spicy sports romance (Icebreaker); Lucy Score for small-town cozy spice.