What Makes a Good Historical Romance for Modern Readers?

Many readers have regarded romance as a non-legitimate genre of fiction, especially those who think they’re too cool for anything emotional. It’s typically associated with low-quality writing and some unserious plot outlining. Yet despite this, the genre remains to be a money-generating industry.

Among its many subgenres, historical romance tops most readers’ lists with its unique storytelling approach and interesting plotlines. However, uniqueness doesn’t always equate to high quality.

What makes a good historical romance for modern readers, in particular?

Author Eileen Kirksey Triplett has mastered the intricacies of historical romance and showcased this in her debut book, Jeremiah’s Journey. A historical romance with family and community themes, the book brings readers along a meaningful and wholesome trip down memory lane, following a path where romance blooms. While enjoying it is not for everybody, novels like this make a strong statement that historical romance books continuously captivate modern readers.

The Surprisingly Enduring Appeal of Historical Romance

Given the common concepts it’s associated with, history gets a bad reputation with the youth. They often perceive it as boring, uninteresting, and even useless to explore. So, it’s unexpected how a fraction takes a sudden interest in such a concept when it’s fused with storytelling.

Perhaps this is because literature has the power to elevate even the most mundane topics, contributing to people’s enthusiasm about them. Authors turn a commonplace theme into something magical, which is what they do with historical romance novels.

A good historical romance for modern readers becomes widely popular throughout different generations. Perfect examples would be the timelessness of Jane Austen’s novels turned movies. They’re fit and typically enjoyed by a wide range of audiences—whether young or old—and it’s simply because elements of these stories aren’t time-bound. They don’t require young people to have a deep knowledge of history, nor does it ask the old to be familiar with dating apps.

Historical romance perfectly blends escapism with rich storytelling. It focuses more on the love blooming rather than spotlighting era-relevant themes. This makes such stories more inclusive and easily relatable across different ages.

But What About History Makes Love Stories Special?

“Readers like to be transported away from their everyday lives… Past eras often seem more romantic than our own. Regency England, for example, can conjure marvelous visual images of fashions for men and women that were perhaps the most attractive and sexy of any age.”

– Mary Balogh.

This is what Mary Balogh, a New York Times bestselling author, says about why readers love historical romance. In addition to satisfying their desire to be taken to a different world, good historical romance for modern readers adds an extra layer of magic and attraction due to the eras it is set in.

Think about it. Would you rather fall in love at a ball wearing a beautiful gown or at a club after matching a stranger on a dating app?

Historical romance engages people on a different level of romance, banking on the happy illusion of being transported to a different world or era. History is also the perfect space to experiment with heavier themes and place a higher stake in love.

A good historical romance for modern readers sounds magical, but it puts quite a responsibility on authors. There is a lot to examine when it comes to writing historical romance.

What Makes a Good Historical Romance for Modern Readers?

Crafting a good historical romance requires the challenge of balancing historical elements with modern expectations. It’s expertly merging different tones into a single, coherent story.

Even the best historical romance authors would deem completing such stories a challenge. But for budding authors, this shouldn’t be a reason to get discouraged. Here are some key elements to consider, and for readers, these can be metrics to base what stories should be good:

Strong and Relatable Characters

Characters are at the heart of a good historical romance for modern readers. They play a critical role in bringing the plot to fruition, so the author should prioritize them heavily.

The hero and heroine should showcase a healthy balance of strength and vulnerability, making the romance even more meaningful and moving. As a love story, both characters should have dynamic chemistry that grows from romantic tension. Authors should also remember that while these stories are fictional, these relationships should still be believable.

Historical Accuracy

Again, despite being fictional in nature, a good historical romance for modern readers should still be accurate in its era. Authors should get the settings and details right, especially regarding the norms and realities of that era. Inaccuracies will take readers out of the story, making it not only problematic but also less entertaining.

Historical romance shouldn’t only bank on the grandness of specific eras. It should also get people’s interest with its authenticity, something that makes it refreshing from modern romance.

Historical Themes and Perspectives

Historical romance is great because of its differences. It doesn’t only follow two people falling in love. Instead, it also tackles concepts that are relevant and significant back then. For instance, it can play into the newfound strength of women in history, weaving empowerment and feminism—consequential themes that resonate with the modern audience.

When utilized and incorporated into the narratives, these themes add depth and raise the stakes in the main love story. While it’s not the focus, history becomes an accessory that enhances stories.

Take a Peek Back Into History

Beyond the classics, countless more untapped historical fiction gems are waiting to be discovered.  Make your move into healthy escapism and turn your imagination back to decades ago. Historical romance brings a different beauty to romance, and you can begin to experience it through Eileen Kirksey Triplett’s Jeremiah’s Journey.

Grab a copy of this historical romance with family and community themes today!