Is it Romance, Trauma Romance, OR POst-Trauma Romance?

Since the announcement regarding my identification of a new subgenre of romance - coined post-trauma romance - I have received messages from writers asking whether their work classifies. To make identification simpler, I have decided to write this blog in which I outline the differences between romance, trauma romance, and post-trauma romance.

What is romance?
My definition of romance is a work of fiction that includes a love story as the central element, between two or more characters, with a happy and satisfying ending.

It must:
1. Feature a love story with a HEA (happily-ever- after) or HFN (happy-for-now) as a central element of the narrative

What is trauma romance?
My definition is a work of fiction that depicts a traumatic experience/s within a romantic narrative.

It must:
1. Feature a love story with a HEA (happily-ever-after) or HFN (happy-for-now) as a central element of the narrative
2. Feature at least one love interest who has experienced trauma
3. Describe and/or explore the trauma, and its associated symptoms

What is post-trauma romance?
My definition is a work of fiction that depocts a traumatic experience/s and the processes of recovery from the traumatic experience/s within a romantic narrative.

It must:
1. Feature a love story with a HEA (happily-ever-after) or HFN (happy-for-now) as a central element of the narrative
2. Feature at least one love interest who has experienced trauma
3. Describe and/or explore the trauma, and its associated symptoms
4. Include a representation of post-trauma recovery attempts in the narrative

I hope this makes the distinctions clearer.

Do you have questions about this subgenre of romance? Pop them in the comments.

Yours in love and romance books,

A.K. xo