Recently, my bookstagram friend @jenniferk_reads asked, "Does every book in the romance genre need to have a happy ending?" While the romance community in general would answer yes, this is a question with mixed opinions when it comes to readers in general and the marketing of novels. However, as someone who works with books, I have a firm opinion on this one that I would say even borders on fact: To be considered a true romance novel, a book must have a HEA (happily ever after) or HFN (happy for now).

Happily Ever After

A HEA (or happily ever after) happens at the end of most romance novels. The two main characters (or more in the case that a polyamorous relationship is featured) end up together, giving the reader the impression that they will be together for the rest of their lives. Often, they engage in traditional practices like marriage and raising a family, though just an indication that they are in a serious relationship is considered a HEA.

Happy For Now

The HFN (or happy for now) is a newer traditional ending to romance novels. This is especially popular for young adult and new adult romance novels. These characters aren't ready for a commitment like marriage or moving in together, and we might even get the impression that this relationship might not last forever. But for now, these characters have committed to one another and are in a serious romantic relationship.

Why does a romance novel need to have a happy ending?

Genres are all about formula. Oftentimes, people complain about romance novels being formulaic, but any genre relies on tropes and certain expectations. In general, a mystery novel ends in the big question being solved. A thriller ends in the final girl, etc. escaping. Likewise, a romance novel should end with a happily ever after.

Of course, it's exciting when a book takes you by surprise and throws you for a loop. But this isn't what the average romance reader is looking for. As a librarian, if a patron were to ask me for a romance novel, I would not give them a book with a bittersweet ending unless they indicated that was what they were looking for. It is presumed that a romance reader wants a happy ending, and we often do. What makes romance such an exceptional genre is that romance readers know what they want from their reads, and use cues from the covers and blurbs to indicate which of their favorite tropes will be used. In general, the last thing they want is for the couple on the cover to not end up together.

Then why am I seeing more and more romance novels with bittersweet endings?

Publishers want to make money! They market books as romance novels and put them out with less traditional covers, like the minimalistic cartoon covers that are so popular nowadays. This attracts romance readers and non-romance readers alike. While it is the publisher's duty to be truthful about the genre, they're going to do that's best for their bank account.

Then what genre are books with a central romance that don't have a happy ending?

These books still feature romance, and that's great, but romance is the secondary genre. Generally these novels are considered romantic dramas or romantic comedies, but it really depends on the content of the story. They could belong to any genre and the romance subgenre within that category. (I could go on a rant about how IMO rom-coms are a subgenre of romance and not comedy and therefore should always have a happy ending... But I'll save that for another post on another day.)

Isn't this a matter of opinion?

Ehh, yes and no. As a reader, you're welcome to classify a book however you want. However, professional reviewers, booksellers, publishers, and other in the industry have a duty to know what the terminology they are using means and to use that terminology correctly. If you are going to describe a book that doesn't end in a HEA or a HFN as a romance, the least you can do is disclose that in your review. (But more on that in the next section.)

Is disclosing that a book ends in a HEA - or doesn't - a spoiler?

Hmm... I think this is a fine line! If it's a traditional romance and that is clear from the cover, then absolutely not. For certain readers it might be a spoiler, but only if they're unfamiliar with the romance genre. After reading one or two romance novels, a happy ending will be something readers come to expect. However, if the book is what I've described as a romance subgenre, then it could be a spoiler. Think critically about this one if you consider yourself a book reviewer.

Are there exception to this rule?

I would say yes! A romance novel can end on a cliffhanger if the author clearly discloses that the book is part of a romance duology or series. But the reader needs to know that this is just Book 1 from the first page. Serialized romance is becoming wildly popular, especially with ebook publishing on the rise. The genre is constantly growing and changing.

So what about you? Do you read romance? What's your opinion on the HEA/HFN? Do you, as a reader, feel a book can have a bittersweet or even sad ending and still be considered a romance novel?