The Victorian era's social conventions and gender roles had a significant impact on the portrayal of romance in novels. Romantic relationships were often idealized and unrealistic, with women being portrayed as passive and submissive in romantic relationships. However, there were also novels that challenged these conventions and explored the power of love to overcome social barriers.

The French Revolution had a profound impact on the development of romanticism in literature. It led to a renewed interest in individual freedom and emotion, inspired writers to explore themes of social justice and equality, and encouraged a focus on the natural world and the beauty of nature.

The rise of feminism in the 19th century had a significant impact on the portrayal of romantic relationships in novels. It led to a more realistic and nuanced portrayal of women in romantic relationships, encouraged writers to explore the complexities of female desire and sexuality, and challenged traditional gender roles and expectations in romantic relationships.

The Cold War had a significant impact on the development of romantic suspense novels. It created a heightened sense of tension and uncertainty that was reflected in the plots of romantic suspense novels, led to the rise of the spy thriller genre, which often featured romantic elements, and inspired writers to explore themes of political intrigue and international conflict in their novels.

The Civil Rights Movement in the United States had a significant impact on the portrayal of interracial relationships in romantic novels. It led to a more positive and nuanced portrayal of interracial relationships in novels, encouraged writers to explore the challenges and complexities of interracial relationships, and helped to break down stereotypes and prejudices associated with interracial relationships.

The AIDS crisis in the 1980s had a significant impact on the portrayal of romance and sexuality in novels. It led to a more open and honest discussion of sexuality in novels, inspired writers to explore the complexities of love and relationships in the face of adversity, and encouraged writers to address the social and political issues surrounding the AIDS crisis in their novels.

The rise of social media in the 21st century had a significant impact on the development of romantic comedies in novels. It led to a renewed interest in the rom-com genre, with many novels being adapted into popular films and television shows, inspired writers to explore the complexities of modern relationships in the digital age, and encouraged writers to incorporate elements of social media and technology into their romantic comedies.

The #MeToo movement had a significant impact on the portrayal of consent and sexual assault in romantic novels. It led to a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of consent in romantic relationships, encouraged writers to explore the complexities of sexual assault and its impact on survivors, and inspired writers to address the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace in their novels.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the development of romance novels during the early 2020s. It led to a surge in the popularity of romance novels, as people sought comfort and escapism during the pandemic, inspired writers to explore themes of resilience, hope, and love in the face of adversity, and encouraged writers to incorporate elements of the pandemic into their romantic novels.

The Black Lives Matter movement had a significant impact on the portrayal of race and ethnicity in romantic novels. It led to a more diverse and inclusive representation of characters in romantic novels, encouraged writers to explore the complexities of racial identity and interracial relationships, and inspired writers to address issues of racial injustice and systemic racism in their novels.

The rise of LGBTQ+ rights movements had a significant impact on the development of queer romance novels. It led to a surge in the popularity of queer romance novels, as readers sought stories that reflected their own experiences, inspired writers to explore the complexities of queer identity and relationships, and encouraged writers to address issues of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in their novels.

The economic recession of 2008 had a significant impact on the portrayal of wealth and class in romantic novels. It led to a renewed interest in stories about characters who are struggling financially, inspired writers to explore the complexities of class differences and economic inequality, and encouraged writers to address issues of poverty and homelessness in their novels.

The rise of social media influencers and online dating had a significant impact on the development of contemporary romance novels. It led to a surge in the popularity of romance novels that feature characters who are social media influencers or online daters, inspired writers to explore the complexities of online relationships and the impact of social media on modern romance, and encouraged writers to address issues of cyberbullying, online harassment, and digital privacy in their novels.

The climate crisis had a significant impact on the development of eco-romance novels. It led to a surge in the popularity of romance novels that feature characters who are environmental activists or eco-conscious individuals, inspired writers to explore the complexities of the relationship between humans and the natural world, and encouraged writers to address issues of climate change, environmental degradation, and sustainability in their novels.

The rise of artificial intelligence and virtual reality had a significant impact on the development of science fiction romance novels. It led to a surge in the popularity of romance novels that feature characters who are AI or VR developers or users, inspired writers to explore the complexities of relationships between humans and AI or VR entities, and encouraged writers to address issues of technological singularity, the ethics of AI, and the impact of VR on human society in their novels.