Romance set in a specific historical period, where the era's social constraints create both obstacles and chemistry.
Historical romance sets its love stories in the past, most commonly the Regency, Victorian, or medieval period, though the genre spans all eras. The historical setting isn't just a backdrop; the social rules, gender expectations, and class structures of the period create obstacles and stakes that would be impossible in a modern setting. A woman's reputation, an arranged marriage, a scandal: these are the engines of historical romance conflict.
Historical romance is one of the most enduring and popular romance subgenres. It demands real research skills (readers will catch anachronisms), and it teaches you how to use social constraints as plot drivers. If your contemporary romance feels low-stakes, studying how historical romance creates tension from manners and expectations will give you new tools.
Write a scene between two characters in a historical setting where they can't say what they actually feel because social convention forbids it. Their true emotions must come through in what they do with their hands, where they look, and what they don't say. The restraint is the romance.