📚 Romance & Fantasy Glossary

Whether you’re new to the genre or brushing up on your bookish vocabulary, here’s your go-to glossary for understanding the stories you love.

• Enemies to Lovers: A beloved trope where characters who begin as rivals or enemies slowly (or explosively!) fall in love.
• Forced Proximity: When characters are stuck together — snowstorm, shared cabin, assigned partners — leaving tension to do its job.
• Fae: Magical, otherworldly beings known for beauty, power, mischief… and often danger.
• High Fantasy: A fully invented world with deep lore, magic systems, political structures, and heroic quests.
• Paranormal Romance: Romance mixed with supernatural elements like vampires, witches, shifters, or ghosts.
• Spice Level: A rating that reflects how steamy a book is — from sweet to scorchingly explicit.
• Slow Burn: A romance that builds tension and chemistry over time before the characters finally get together.
• Found Family: A group of characters who form deep, family-like bonds through loyalty, love, and shared journeys.
• Grumpy/Sunshine: A pairing where one character is moody or reserved, while the other radiates cheer, optimism, and warmth.
• Age Gap: A romance involving partners with a significant age difference.
• Friends to Lovers: A trope where longtime friends realize their bond has become something deeper.
• Small Town Romance: Set in close-knit communities where charm, familiarity, and cozy vibes shine.
• Witch/Magic: Romance blended with spellcraft, curses, magical lineage, and mystical adventures.